Hollow Ponds
Damon Albarn Lyrics

The lyrics of Damon Albarn's "Hollow Ponds" provides a nostalgic reflection of his personal history between the years 1976 and 1993. The lyrics are infused with vivid imagery and references that reveal an understanding of shifting landscapes and changing times. The song begins with the idea of chilling on the hollow ponds, which is followed by a memory of setting sail in a boat as a child in 1976 - the heatwave that hit everyone. Here, he reflects on the innocence and carefree nature of childhood in a time before the world became more complex.

In the second verse, Albarn talks about how he felt the percussion when the green man disappeared and his road became a motorway in 1991. This passage can be interpreted as both a personal and societal commentary. He talks about how nature was destroyed to make way for progress - this could be a reference to the ecological impact of human activities during the time. In contrast, the third verse depicts his journey to the Black Sea in 1979. Albarn describes the sea's spiny urchins and the sound of the new school bell. The change into the lakeshore in January signifies a change in perspective and time, and possibly shows his understanding of the cyclical nature of certain events.

The final verse of the song changes things up a little. Here, Albarn talks about where the horses and passing trains have been tangled and revealed in the green woods where he once walked. He then moves to describe the ship on the hollow pond that was filled up with their dreams. The reference to CDs and LCDs gives an idea of progress and the direction that society was headed at this point in time. The repetition of "Every moment now and everyday" reveals the need to hold onto these nostalgic memories while still living in the present.