Burlap To Cashmere is an alternative group that draws heavily on folk and w… Read Full Bio ↴Burlap To Cashmere is an alternative group that draws heavily on folk and world music influences, especially flamenco-style guitar work.

Cousins Steven Delopoulos and John Philippidis were performing in a New Jersey coffeehouse when they were "discovered" by manager Jamison Ernest. The Brooklyn based cousins then assembled a larger band under the name "Burlap to Cashmere", recruiting guitarist Mike Ernest, bassist Roby Guarnera, keyboardist Josh Zandman, drummer Theodore Pagano and percussionist Scott Barksdale (John Degrazio eventually joined the band on bass when Guarnera left).

The group drew on a wide range of musical styles and influences, but their signature sound was rooted in lightning-fast acoustic guitar rhythms. The band began performing in local New York-area venues, and quickly developed a cult following. In 1997, they independently released their first EP under the label Squint, Live at the Bitter End. In 1998 Burlap to Cashmere signed with A&M Records and released the full-length recording Anybody Out There?, followed by an A&M re-release of Live at the Bitter End.

Ancient Man
Burlap To Cashmere Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you believe in ancient destiny?
This food you've been givin' me,
Is making me blind, ya see.
My soul needs to be,
My soul needs to be,
Free.
(Bridge) So many times you won.
So many souls you burned.

(Chorus) Ancient man, where are you roaming?
I cannot follow the dream.
Ancient man, why are you crying?
I cannot follow the schemes.
You came to me with open arms, and stuff.
You said you had holy bread.
Man, ya know that was just wonder bread.
Look here, my soul needs to be,
My soul needs to be,
Free
(Bridge)
(Chorus)

(Bridge)
(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The song "Ancient Man" by Burlap to Cashmere appears to be a commentary on religious hypocrisy and disillusionment. The lyrics suggest that the singer is questioning their faith and the institutionalized system that has been imposed on them. The opening line, "Do you believe in ancient destiny?" sets the tone for the rest of the song, which seems to be an exploration of spirituality and the idea of a predetermined fate.

The second verse contains the lines "This food you've been givin' me, is making me blind, ya see. My soul needs to be, my soul needs to be free." Here, the food may be symbolic of the religious doctrine that the singer has been exposed to. They believe that it is causing them to be spiritually "blinded" and that they need to break free from it in order to find true spiritual fulfillment. The reference to "holy bread" in the third verse serves to reinforce this idea; the singer has been promised something divine but has been given something cheap and artificial instead.

The chorus, with its haunting repetition of the phrase "Ancient man, where are you roaming? I cannot follow the dream," seems to suggest that the singer is feeling lost and disconnected from the spiritual path they were once on. They cannot find their way back to their former beliefs and are struggling to make sense of their new reality.

Overall, "Ancient Man" is a thought-provoking song that challenges the listener to examine their own beliefs and consider what it means to be truly spiritually free.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you believe in ancient destiny?
Asking if the belief in predetermined fate exists.

This food you've been givin' me,
The teachings or ideology being pushed on them.

Is making me blind, ya see.
It's causing a lack of clarity or insight.

My soul needs to be,
The true, inner self is lacking something.

My soul needs to be,
Reiterating the previous line, emphasizing a sense of urgency.

Free.
The soul needs to be liberated from outside influence and control.

So many times you won.
Acknowledging the prevalence of manipulative authority or power structures.

So many souls you burned.
People have been hurt or damaged by those in power.

Ancient man, where are you roaming?
Questioning the direction and purpose of human existence.

I cannot follow the dream.
They cannot accept or comply with accepted social norms or expectations.

Ancient man, why are you crying?
Asking why there is a sense of sadness or despair in the world.

I cannot follow the schemes.
Refusing to participate in manipulative agendas or systems.

You came to me with open arms, and stuff.
Alluding to religious or spiritual figures offering salvation or guidance.

You said you had holy bread.
Claims of a divine or sacred component to the message being delivered.

Man, ya know that was just wonder bread.
Sarcastic dismissal of the idea of actual holiness in the teachings or message.

Look here, my soul needs to be,
Repeated plea for personal liberation and autonomy.

My soul needs to be,
Restating the urgency and necessity for personal freedom.

Free
Final affirmation of the importance of individual agency and self-determination.

(Bridge)
Recurring section that emphasizes the damage done by oppressive power structures.

(Chorus)
Refrain that highlights the themes of lost direction and lack of clarity in the world.

(Bridge)
Refrain of the bridge section.

(Chorus)
Refrain of the chorus section.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMISON ERNEST, JOHNNY PHILIPPIDIS, STEVEN SOCRATES DELOPOULOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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