Archimedes
Cale John Lyrics

At the outset of the song, the lines “Keep me away from a naked flame/ I am made of vapor and I will explode” seem to indicate the singer's sense of imminent danger, as if they are warning someone not to get too close to them, lest they burst into flames. These lines may symbolize the singer's volatile emotional state, hinting at a fear of losing control and unleashing emotions that they might not be able to contain. The subsequent lines “There’s been something rattling in the closet trying to get out/ The car antenna’s gone missing – it’s out there somewhere/Cruising the streets” create a sense of mystery and unease, as the singer seems to be experiencing a haunting and a sense of foreboding that may be overwhelming them.
As the song continues, the singer talks about their relationship with Archimedes, a famous inventor and mathematician from ancient Greece, and the fact that they both "married" old ideas in new clothes. This line suggests that they and Archimedes were both deeply engaged with traditional forms of knowledge but were also exploring ways to make them relevant for contemporary times. The imagery of the car antenna and the desert blooming seem to imply that the singer and Archimedes were both visionary types with a deep fascination for the possibilities of technology, whether ancient or modern.
Overall, the song seems to be about someone who is struggling with their identity and grappling with a sense of existential uncertainty. The references to fire and explosion, combined with the images of rattling and missing objects, give the impression of a life on the verge of coming apart at the seams. However, the reference to Archimedes provides a sense of continuity and an acknowledgment of the power of innovative thinking to connect the past with the future.