Charming the Gods
Bryan Kelley Lyrics


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She bathed in the Lethe River
Then laid in the arms of Morpheus
But could she rise above the ashes?
And will she ever endure?

Is she charming the gods?
As the world floats beneath her, she's free
Is she charming the gods?
Or only slipping deeper, she's free....she's free

She woke in the shrill of mourning
Burdened by the uphill stone




She almost touched the heavens
Now her wings slowly melt away

Overall Meaning

In Bryan Kelley's song "Charming the Gods," the lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has undergone some kind of trial or test that has left her questioning her own strength and endurance. She has bathed in the Lethe River and lain in the arms of Morpheus, suggesting that she has tried to forget her past and find solace in sleep. The Lethe River is a mythical river in Greek mythology that causes forgetfulness, while Morpheus is the god of dreams. However, despite her attempts to forget her troubles, the woman is still plagued by doubt and uncertainty. The key question posed by the song is whether she is "charming the gods" – winning favor with the divine powers that be – or slipping deeper into despair and hopelessness.


The chorus of the song reinforces this tension, with the repeated line "she's free" suggesting both freedom from the constraints of the mortal world and freedom from the responsibility of taking care of herself. The woman in the song is trying to transcend her earthly troubles and possibly reach a higher state of being, but it is not clear whether she will be successful in doing so. In the final verse, the woman wakes up feeling burdened by the challenges of her life and realizing that her wings are slowly melting away. This can be seen as a metaphor for her belief in her own abilities and potential crumbling away.


Overall, "Charming the Gods" is a thought-provoking song that explores the themes of perseverance, hope, and transcendence. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to rise above one's troubles and connect with something greater than oneself, but it is also easy to fall back into despair and hopelessness. The song leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, encouraging them to reflect on their own journey through life.


Line by Line Meaning

She bathed in the Lethe River
She forgot her past and all previous memories


Then laid in the arms of Morpheus
She fell asleep and dreamed


But could she rise above the ashes?
She wonders if she could overcome her past


And will she ever endure?
She's unsure if she can survive the challenges ahead


Is she charming the gods?
She wonders if she's winning favor from the deities


As the world floats beneath her, she's free
She feels elevated and liberated


Or only slipping deeper, she's free....she's free
She could also be sinking into more trouble


She woke in the shrill of mourning
She woke up to sorrowful sounds


Burdened by the uphill stone
She's weighed down by a heavy burden


She almost touched the heavens
She had a brief moment of incredible achievement


Now her wings slowly melt away
She's losing her power or ability to succeed




Contributed by Vivian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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