RTO
Benoît Pioulard Lyrics
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Oh beneath the throne of God
Subtle sighs singe a silent sky
Through which drifts a post-full hazen moon
Into clouds of our own creation
Oh darling I can’t leave this room
So save your breath & desire
Set my house on fire
Our avenues are crumbled in aftershocks & rumbles
Sun seems to come from behind the altar
We swim in fearsome waters trying to drown each other
Ceding to a connection that’s bound to falter
A sense of right is humbled, apologies are mumbled
This seems completely unfamiliar
I made a scale model of the inner planets
I couldn’t find a home in particular
(I loved you)
The lyrics of Benoît Pioulard's "RTO" are a poetic and melancholic musing on the difficulties of connection and the complexities of love. The song is divided into two parts, with the first few lines expressing a desire to stay in a safe and familiar space, while the latter half explores the struggles of trying to connect with others and finding one's place in the world.
The opening lines of the song are filled with imagery that suggests a longing for security and comfort, as the singer speaks from beneath the throne of God about a silent sky and a hazen moon. The repetition of the phrase "Oh darling" gives the impression of a yearning for connection, but the lines "I can't leave this room / so save your breath & desire / set my house on fire" suggest a resistance to change that could jeopardize the safety of the singer's emotional world.
The second half of the song is more chaotic and unsettled, with descriptions of "crumbled" avenues, "fearsome waters," and a "connection that's bound to falter." The singer seems to be grappling with a sense of disorientation and a difficulty in finding a place where they belong. The last line, "I loved you," is a poignant expression of a past connection that may have been lost, or a love that was never fully realized.
Overall, "RTO" is a beautifully written and reflective song that captures the complexities of human emotion and the struggles of trying to find meaningful connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh beneath the throne of God
In a place of great power and authority, there lies a hidden truth.
Subtle sighs singe a silent sky
Quiet noises burn and scar the peaceful surroundings.
Through which drifts a post-full hazen moon
Amidst the chaos, a lonely and melancholic moon floats by.
Into clouds of our own creation
We have made our own illusions, hindering our perception of reality.
Oh darling I can’t leave this room
I am trapped in my own thoughts, unable to escape.
So save your breath & desire
Don't bother pleading or wanting me to change.
Set my house on fire
Destroy everything I have built and hold dear.
Our avenues are crumbled in aftershocks & rumbles
Our paths have been destroyed by the aftershocks of past trauma.
Sun seems to come from behind the altar
A glimmer of hope shines from an unexpected place.
We swim in fearsome waters trying to drown each other
We are in a dangerous situation, trying to hurt one another instead of helping ourselves.
Ceding to a connection that’s bound to falter
Giving into a relationship that is doomed to fail.
A sense of right is humbled, apologies are mumbled
Our morality is diminished and apologies are insincere.
This seems completely unfamiliar
Our situation is so dire that it is unlike anything we have experienced before.
I made a scale model of the inner planets
I tried to understand the complexities of the universe on a smaller scale.
I couldn’t find a home in particular
I am lost and searching, unable to find a true sense of belonging.
(I loved you)
Despite everything, I still loved you.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Benjamin S.
I'm in love with this track. Sort of like a reformed Sebadoh with Boards of Canada as a backing band after they've ditched most of their gear. Great songwriting. Thanks for posting it.
Christian .Szabo
Radio or bloody TV would only ruin this beautiful music