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Slowly
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The veil between the world and the faceless bride
There's nothing yet but a bunch of white
Oh potential, well, you're a loaded line
Tomorrow, well, I'll wait for you
Laying right here floating in this swimming pool
There's a lot of things I got left to do
The days keep slipping down into the cracks
It takes a while to realize where you're at
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly, it's slowly ending
Dementia, you better treat me good
The human race is in its second childhood
I never learn but I understood
Oh dementia, you better treat me good
Sometimes I need a place to go
Classical music plays from the radio
I sit real still, let my shadow grow
Yeah, sometimes I need a place to go
My mind keeps slipping back into the past
I hope someday that I can get it back
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly, they're slowly ending
So slowly
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly, it's slowly ending
And soon that train is going to pull away
I hear it whistling, I try to wave at a glowing face
They can't tell who I am
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly (so slowly)
Slowly, it's slowly ending
The lyrics in Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band's song Slowly seem to center on the theme of the passing of time, and how potential, tomorrow, dementia, and memories all slowly fade as time marches on. In the first verse, potential is compared to a loaded line, waiting to be released but still separated from its potential outcome. The veil between the world and the faceless bride adds to the imagery of not being able to see what lies ahead. This is a metaphor for how we often have so much potential in life, so many possibilities, but they remain just out of reach. The second verse speaks to the idea of waiting for tomorrow, while still acknowledging there are things left to do. The days slipping into the cracks, and the slow and repeated use of the word "slowly" in the chorus convey the sense of time slipping away.
The refrain also touches on the idea of dementia, and how it impacts memories, while the final verse addresses the theme of longing for things in the past. Classical music symbolizes a time before, and the singer sits still, allowing his shadow to grow, emphasizing the passing of time. The line "My mind keeps slipping back into the past, I hope someday that I can get it back" speaks to the idea of growing old and losing one's memories, and how we often long to hold onto the past, but it slips through our fingers like sand. The final lines refer to a train pulling away, and the idea of not being remembered, of not mattering anymore, as everything slowly ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Potential, well, you're a loaded line
The idea of potential is often associated with uncertainty and unpredictability
The veil between the world and the faceless bride
There exists an inexplicable barrier between the real world and the non-human entities that inhabit it
There's nothing yet but a bunch of white
The future is uncertain and therefore, undefined
Oh potential, well, you're a loaded line
The concept of potential is complicated, intimidating and may not manifest in the foreseeable future
Tomorrow, well, I'll wait for you
The future holds promise and the artist is hopeful for it
Laying right here floating in this swimming pool
The singer is in a state of relaxation and is taking time to reflect
There's a lot of things I got left to do
The singer has unfinished business and wants to live life to the fullest
Oh tomorrow, but I'll wait for you
The artist is content with waiting for the future, rather than trying to force it to happen
The days keep slipping down into the cracks
Time seems to move faster than the artist can keep up with, and it's easy to lose track of it
It takes a while to realize where you're at
It's difficult to figure out one's place in this world and what one wants in life
Slowly (so slowly)
Time seems to slow down when the singer is reflecting or waiting
Slowly (so slowly)
The artist is comfortable with moving at a slow pace in life
Slowly, it's slowly ending
As time progresses, life is slowly winding down
Dementia, you better treat me good
As the singer ages, they fear losing their mental faculties
The human race is in its second childhood
The world is backwards, with adults acting like children and children being made to grow up too fast
I never learn but I understood
The artist is aware of their faults, but is unsure how to fix them
Oh dementia, you better treat me good
The artist is pleading with their own mind to stay sharp and alert
Sometimes I need a place to go
The singer needs a break from the real world and all of its problems
Classical music plays from the radio
The singer finds solace in classical music, which helps them relax and reflect
I sit real still, let my shadow grow
The artist is still and reflective, and is exploring the depths of their own mind
My mind keeps slipping back into the past
The artist is having trouble letting go of old memories and experiences
I hope someday that I can get it back
The artist wants to revisit their past memories, but doesn't know how to do so
Slowly (so slowly)
Time moves slowly when the singer is reflecting or having an introspective moment
Slowly (so slowly)
The artist is content with the slow passage of time
Slowly, they're slowly ending
As time passes, things are slowly coming to an end, including life itself
And soon that train is going to pull away
Life is constantly moving forward, and the singer is aware that they must go with it
I hear it whistling, I try to wave at a glowing face
The singer is seeing a metaphorical train (that may represent the future) and is trying to hold onto it
They can't tell who I am
Others cannot know the true nature or identity of the artist, even though they strive to understand them
Slowly (so slowly)
Time moves slowly when the artist is reflecting on their place in the world
Slowly (so slowly)
The singer is comfortable with taking their time and being patient
Slowly, it's slowly ending
As time moves forward, everything is gradually coming to a close
Contributed by Alyssa P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.