Orpheus
D.Sylvian Lyrics

Standing firm on this stony ground
I am rooted in a difficult situation, unyielding and immovable.

The wind blows hard
Despite my resilience, forces beyond my control are working against me.

Pulls these clothes around
The external pressures weigh heavy on my physical being.

I harbour all the same worries as most
I carry the same fears and concerns as the average person.

The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost
I am tempted to abandon my current situation or even succumb to death.

I wrestle with an outlook on life
I struggle with my perspective on existence.

That shifts between darkness and shadowy light
My view of life oscillates between despair and hope.

I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear
I have difficulty expressing my thoughts out of fear of judgement.

But orpheus sleeps on his back still dead to the world
Despite my challenges, I find solace in the fact that Orpheus, a symbol of artistic expression, remains inactive and untouchable.

Sunlight falls, my wings open wide
Despite my struggles, I find moments of beauty and release.

There's a beauty here I cannot deny
I recognize and acknowledge the beauty and wonder that still exists in life.

And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs
The chaos around me, represented by the clattering bottles, displays the lack of care and disregard of others.

Are just so many people I knew never cared
These sounds are indicative of the people in my life who have let me down.

Down below on the wreck of the ship
Below my surface, there are remnants of my past failures and mistakes.

Are a stronghold of pleasures I couldn't regret
Despite these regrets, there are moments of joy and fulfillment that I hold on to.

But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide
Over time, my regrets and past experiences will be forgotten and washed away by the passage of time and unstoppable forces.

As orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side
Just as Orpheus remains, so does my drive for creative expression and hope.

Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
I acknowledge that I have much to discover and understand.

Understand, these fires never stop
The struggles and turmoil of life do not cease, but continue on.

Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing
Eventually, even the seemingly endless amusement and novelty of life will lose its luster.

I will hear the promise of my orpheus sing
Despite this, I will still find comfort and hope in my drive for artistic expression.

Sleepers sleep as we row the boat
Others may remain dormant or unaware as I push on through life's struggles.

Just you the weather and I gave up hope
Others may have given up, but I continue on with only the elements and myself.

But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps
The obstacles and challenges that impede our progress.

Were fuel for the fire and straw for our backs
Instead of hindering us, these barriers have fueled our desire to continue forward.

Still the voices have stories to tell
Despite our perseverance, there are always more stories to be heard.

Of the power struggles in heaven and hell
These stories may even exemplify the larger power dynamics at play in the world.

But we feel secure against such mighty dreams
Despite this, we are confident in our own ability to keep moving forward.

As orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring
Again, the symbol of Orpheus and artistic expression gives us hope for the future.