A Poetic Retelling of an Unfortunate Seduction
Bright Eyes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The language in the dimmer rooms
Seems to represent the light source well
How soft they speak and seem to be at peace
With the music and the madness that is pulling me into this

And the shades of the lamps are woven red
The light, it stains and consecrates
Anointing all forgotten forms that swirl and smoke
And haunt this place

The girls in gowns all nurse the dark
Pulling it near to their swelling breasts
And watch as it seeps to their hearts
And beats within their virgin chests

And here I know seduction breeds
From wanton hearts that would seduce
And grows and spreads it's vine and leaves
Embracing those who might have moved

But now remain to drink the night from vials black and thick
With intoxicating delights would leave you drunk
Inside this dream
And you watch them take the light from you

And you find yourself on a velvet couch
Tasting the skin of a foreign girl
Her eyes are black and wet like oil
And she ties your hands with a string of pearls

And you tremble like a frightened bird
As she closes in and captures you to place you
In a silver cage deep within her poisoned womb
So once you're safe inside, she might let you out

To fly in circles around the room
But it's always night and there is no moon
And you wonder if you are still alive
And you're not sure if you want to be

But you drink her sweat like it was wine
And you lay with her on a bed of blue




And it's awful sweet
Like the fruit she cuts and feeds to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "A Poetic Retelling of an Unfortunate Seduction" can be interpreted in many ways, as each listener may have a unique understanding of the poetic imagery that Conor Oberst evokes. The song opens with an image of a dimly lit space, where the language spoken by those present reflects the quality of the light source. The softness and tranquility of these voices lures the listener in, despite the music and madness swirling around them.


The shades of the lamps in this space are described as woven red, creating a sense of mystery and enchantment. The light itself is sanctified, anointing long-forgotten forms that haunt this place. The young women present in this scene are dressed in gowns and nurse the darkness, letting it seep into their hearts and beat within their chests. The seduction referenced in the song stems from these "wanton hearts," which would lure unsuspecting visitors into their realm.


As the song progresses, the listener is drawn deeper into this alternate reality. The imagery becomes more surreal and dreamlike, as the listener finds himself on a velvet couch, tied up with a string of pearls by a mysterious woman with black, wet eyes. He trembles like a frightened bird as she captures him and places him in a silver cage deep within her "poisoned womb." Although the listener is unsure if he is still alive, he drinks the woman's sweat and eats the fruit she feeds him, unable to resist her allure.


Overall, "A Poetic Retelling of an Unfortunate Seduction" is a haunting and intriguing song that speaks to the power of desire and seduction. The lyrics are rich with poetic imagery, allowing listeners to interpret the story in their own unique way.


Line by Line Meaning

The language in the dimmer rooms
The way people speak in the darker rooms is fitting to the atmosphere


Seems to represent the light source well
Their softness embodies the music and madness pulling me into them


How soft they speak and seem to be at peace
Their gentle and tranquil voices hypnotize me


With the music and the madness that is pulling me into this
Being pulled towards a chaotic yet enticing environment


And the shades of the lamps are woven red
The red lamps cast a warm, seductive glow


The light, it stains and consecrates
The light's stain is welcome and sacrosanct


Anointing all forgotten forms that swirl and smoke
Everything in the smoky haze is sanctified through light


And haunt this place
The sensations seem ever-present


The girls in gowns all nurse the dark
These women embrace their inner darkness


Pulling it near to their swelling breasts
Their love of darkness is consuming


And watch as it seeps to their hearts
Their darkness envelopes them


And beats within their virgin chests
Their hearts, untouched by darkness before, now palpitate with it


And here I know seduction breeds
This is a place ripe for seduction


From wanton hearts that would seduce
Willful hearts seeking to tempt


And grows and spreads it's vine and leaves
The seduction spreads like a plant


Embracing those who might have moved
Any movement is futile in this embrace


But now remain to drink the night from vials black and thick
The only option left is to indulge in the temptation


With intoxicating delights would leave you drunk
The temptations are so strong they will inebriate you


Inside this dream
This seduction is surreal


And you watch them take the light from you
Your energy is being absorbed by the seduction


And you find yourself on a velvet couch
The seduction has fully taken hold, and you are on the verge of surrender


Tasting the skin of a foreign girl
Experiencing something new and forbidden


Her eyes are black and wet like oil
Her eyes exude an alluring, hypnotic quality


And she ties your hands with a string of pearls
You are tied to the seduction, unable to resist


And you tremble like a frightened bird
You're scared to realize the full implications of surrendering


As she closes in and captures you to place you
You know there is no escape


In a silver cage deep within her poisoned womb
You are trapped, covered by her darkness and seduction


So once you're safe inside, she might let you out
Only she has control, and only she can let you go


To fly in circles around the room
Any movement is carefully watched and controlled


But it's always night and there is no moon
You are lost in a world that is unfamiliar and unpredictable


And you wonder if you are still alive
You're not sure what remains of you in this surreal world of temptation


And you're not sure if you want to be
Though you're seduced, you're also unsure


But you drink her sweat like it was wine
You indulge and give in to her darkness and temptation


And you lay with her on a bed of blue
You revel in the actual seduction, overwhelmed with your new-found sensations


And it's awful sweet
Temptation brings a sweetness that's almost too much to bear


Like the fruit she cuts and feeds to you
It's a fruit that you couldn't resist even if you tried




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions