The Recipe
Carptree Lyrics
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The tables set, everything is in place
But was it vegetable or fish?
You search your memory for the faintest of trace
Laying out the cutlery
The utensils and scribbled notes from early efforts up until now
And
It slowly floats in view
For you to behold
Yes, then one day
How everything just grew
In search for fools gold.
Was it hot or was it cold?
So long ago, was it you, was it true?
Bits and pieces in a mould
Put together to what you pursue
Looking for the perfect recipe
Looking for something but not the way it was at all but how you recall
And
Then one day
You surprisingly behold
How all the days flew
And
Then one day
You've looked for something old
Instead of something new
The song "The Recipe" by Carptree is about the search for the perfect recipe. The lyrics depict a scene where everything is in place for preparing the dish, but the memory of the main ingredient is vague. The lyrics beautifully capture the moment of laying out the cutlery and utensils while searching through scribbled notes from early attempts in the quest to create the perfect dish. The search for the perfect recipe is not just about the food, but a metaphor for the search for something that is missing in life. Something that will fill the void, much like the missing ingredient in the dish.
The chorus of the song states that one day, the missing ingredient slowly floats into view, and suddenly everything falls into place. The journey is worth it because when one finally finds what they were looking for, everything grows beyond imagination. However, the search is not for something new but for something old. The past is not to be forgotten, but instead, it is to be used as a template to create something better.
Overall, "The Recipe" is a beautiful and profound song that highlights the intensity and passion that goes into the search for the perfect recipe. The lyrics transcend the kitchen and illustrate the search for the meaning of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Time to make the perfect dish
It's time to create something perfect
The tables set, everything is in place
Everything is prepared for the perfect creation
But was it vegetable or fish?
The creator is unsure of what ingredients to use
You search your memory for the faintest of trace
The creator looks back into their memory for any clues
Laying out the cutlery
Setting up the tools needed for the creation
The utensils and scribbled notes from early efforts up until now
The creator is looking back onto their previous attempts for inspiration
And
Continuing the ongoing story
Then one day
Suddenly, one day
It slowly floats in view
An idea starts to come to mind
For you to behold
It's an idea that the creator is excited about
Yes, then one day
Again emphasizing the sudden appearance of this new idea
How everything just grew
The idea blooms and takes shape in the creator's mind
In search for fools gold.
It may not be the perfect idea, but it's something that the creator hopes will work
Was it hot or was it cold?
The creator isn't sure about the idea, whether it's good or bad
So long ago, was it you, was it true?
The creator looks back at their past self, questioning their previous decisions
Bits and pieces in a mould
The creator's thoughts and ideas coming together
Put together to what you pursue
The creator's idea coming together to form what they have been trying to achieve all along
Looking for the perfect recipe
The creator continues to search for perfection
Looking for something but not the way it was at all but how you recall
The creator is searching for something that might not exist in reality, but in their own memory and imagination
And
Continuing the story
Then one day
Suddenly, again
You surprisingly behold
The creator is suddenly surprised at the result of their creation
How all the days flew
Time has flown by while the creator was working towards their goal
And
Continuing the story
Then one day
One more sudden moment
You've looked for something old
The creator returns to their roots, old ideas rather than looking for new ones
Instead of something new
The creator decides to work with what they have always known and stick to their style
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.