Hallucinations
Buckley Tim Lyrics

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I saw you walking
Only yesterday
When I ran to catch you
You disappeared
And the street was gray

The candle died
Now you are gone

For the flame was too bright
Now you are gone

I heard you laughing
With your laugh of gold
When I called out to you
Silence returned
And the air was cold

The castle fell
Now you are gone

No more rings the bell
Now you are gone
I found a letter
On the day it rained
When I tore it open
There in my hands
Only ash remained

The castle fell
Now you are gone
No more rings the bell
Now you are gone

I felt you breathing
As I fell asleep
When I reached out to touch you
No one was there
And the night was deep

The candle died
Now you are gone
For the flame was too bright
Now you are gone

I saw you walking
Only yesterday
When I ran to catch you
You disappeared
And the street was gray

The castle fell
Now you are gone

No more rings the bell
Now you are gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Hallucinations by Tim Buckley are introspective and poignant, showcasing the overwhelming nature of loss and the impact it has on a person. The opening lines of the song depict the singer reminiscing about the past when they saw someone walking on the street, but by the time they attempted to catch up with them, the person had disappeared, leaving behind emptiness. The imagery of the gray street captures the melancholic mood of the singer, reflecting the absence of color and life in their surroundings.

The second verse of the song talks about the laughter of the person that the singer misses. The gold laugh is indicative of the beauty and the warmth that the person brings to their life. However, when the singer calls out, no response comes, the silence becomes deafening, and the air gets cold. The symbolism of the castle falling emphasizes the suddenness of loss and how it can dismantle the structure of one's life.

The third verse reveals the finality of the loss when the singer finds a letter on a rainy day, hoping to find solace in the missive. However, the letter turns to ash, signifying the futility that comes with attempts to hold onto something that is gone. The final section of the song repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of grief, a vicious cycle that repeats, with the castle falling and the bell no longer ringing. The singer feels the person's presence as they fall asleep but wakes up to the realization that they are no longer there. The candle and the flame being too bright signify the intensity of emotions and how they can consume a person.

Line by Line Meaning

I saw you walking
I have recently seen you walk.

Only yesterday
It was only yesterday when I saw you walk.

When I ran to catch you
When I hurried to you as I saw you walking.

You disappeared
You vanished all of a sudden.

And the street was gray
The street seemed dull and unhappy in your absence.

The candle died
The symbol of hope and passion, which was lighted by you, is now gone.

Now you are gone
You left me alone.

For the flame was too bright
You were too intense and passionate for me to handle.

I heard you laughing
I remember the sound of your laughter.

With your laugh of gold
Your laughter was precious, just like gold.

When I called out to you
When I tried to communicate with you.