Silence ft. Sarah McLachlan
Delerium Lyrics


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Give me
Release
Witness me
I am
Outside
Give me peace

Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up
When the rage in me subsides

I can't
Help this longing
Comfort me
I can't
Hold it all in
If you won't let me

Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up
When the rage in me subsides

In this white wave
I am sinking
In this silence
In this white wave
In this silence
I believe

In this white wave
I am sinking
In this silence
In this white wave
In this silence
I believe

I have seen you
In this white wave
You are silent
You are breathing




In this white wave
I am free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Delerium's song Silence describe a yearning for inner peace amidst feelings of rage and longing. The singer pleads for a release from their emotions and for comfort to quell their restlessness. The lyrics paint a picture of heaven as a place of wonder and hope where one can escape their earthly struggles. The recurring phrase "in this white wave, in this silence, I believe" suggests that the singer finds solace in stillness and breath, despite sinking in the tempest of their feelings.


The lyrics are poignant and resonate with many who have struggled with their emotions and seek to find a way to cope. The song's music video, which features a woman drifting through a dreamlike world, reinforces the theme of searching for inner peace amidst chaos. Silence is known for its ethereal sound and haunting vocals, which have made it a popular song in the electronic and ambient genres.


Line by Line Meaning

Give me
I am requesting for something


Release
I need to be freed from something


Witness me
Please pay attention to me


I am
I exist


Outside
I am not where I want to be


Give me peace
I need something to calm me


Heaven holds a sense of wonder
The divine offers an awe-inspiring experience


And I wanted to believe
I desired to have faith in something


That I'd get caught up
I hoped to be enveloped by something


When the rage in me subsides
When my anger dissipates


I can't
I am unable


Help this longing
I cannot stop this yearning


Comfort me
I need solace


I can't
I am not capable of


Hold it all in
I cannot endure the burden alone


If you won't let me
Without your support


In this white wave
In this overwhelming moment


I am sinking
I am being swallowed up


In this silence
In this stillness


I believe
I have faith


I have seen you
I have witnessed the divine


You are silent
The divine is quiet in this moment


You are breathing
The divine is alive and present


In this white wave
In this overpowering moment


I am free
I am liberated from my troubles




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Broma 16, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nowell Rhys Fulber, Sarah Ann McLachlan, Wilhelm Anton Leeb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@morganarose344

Give me release
Witness me
I am outside
Give me peace
Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe that I’d get caught up
When the rage in me subsides
Passion
Chokes the flower
Until she cries no more
Possessing all the beauty
Hungry still for more
Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe that I’d get caught up
When the rage in me subsides
In this white wave
I am sinking
In this silence
In this white wave…
In this silence…
I believe I can’t help this longing…
Comfort me I can’t hold it all in…
If you won’t let me…
Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe that I’d get caught up
When the rage in me subsides
In this white wave
I am sinking
In this silence
In this white wave…
In this silence…
I believe I have seen you…
In this white wave
You are silent
You are breathing
In this white wave…
I am free



@superproductions3964

Interpretation:

I have to wonder whether a lot of people have heard the original version of this song from the album, "Karma". Since there have been at least 10 dance/trance remixes in the last 13 years, I think the original has gotten lost in the shuffle a bit.

The original version of the song is MUCH darker than any of the remixes (save maybe Fade's Sanctuary mix, which was, I believe, the first remix ever done of this song).

Taken in the context of a club remix, the track loses a lot of its darkness, bleakness, despair and rage. The themes seem a little less depressing when the vox and lyrics are set to an upbeat, faster tempo remix. I believe there are only two remixes (again, Fade's Sanctuary mix, and Above & Beyond's 21st Century) that give even the slightest nod to the gorgeous cathedral choirs and gregorian chant from the original song, which are a very significant part of the reason I love this song so much.

Don't get me wrong, I think some of the remixes of "Silence" have been absolutely brilliant, but for me, all of them seem to lack depth, particularly some of the more recent ones like the Lissat & Voltaxx remix and the Niels van Gogh mix. Even the Tiesto (who I am a huge fan of) remix is at times loud and obnoxious. I'll give him credit though, I think he captured a lot of the darkness of the original, but in also trying to capture the power, he used volume rather than letting Sarah McLachlan's voice do the work. As I said, I think the Sanctuary mix by Fade is probably the best mix of all that have been done.

Now, as far as meaning goes, if you take the song in the context of the original, I think the themes are extremely sinister. For a long time, I interpreted them as having to do with drugs, and I still believe they can be looked at that way, but the more I really pay attention, I am really coming to think that the song is about severe depression and suicide, and the desperation of just simply needing to be SEEN for who and what we really are, instead of the masks we hide behind that conceal our deepest fears and bleakest feelings. I lost my father-in-law to suicide earlier this year, and I think that may have been the catalyst that changed my perspective about this song. The lyrics are so sad, so desperate, begging for a release from the pain of living- whether that means actual physical death, or some kind of way to just release all the building pressure and darkness within. I think the character Sarah McLachlan is singing from has reached a crossroads: she can no longer deal with what's going on in her mind, so she has two choices: Reaching out for help, whether that's from her idea of God, or simply from another person. The alternative for her is ending her own life. I think we've all been where she is at one point or another in our lives, when we have this internal dialogue going on with the universe, or God, or simply ourselves...desperately pleading for things to change, one way or another.

-----------------------

"Give me release;
Witness me;
I am outside;
Give me peace."

She wants nothing more than to be released from the hell of her own brain. She's outside of herself looking in, the sole being in her dark world. She feels invisible, and is begging for someone to see her (Witness me).

"Passion choke the flower;
'Til she cries no more;
Possessing all the beauty;
Hungry still for more."

The first stanza in this verse (Passion choke the flower; 'til she cries no more) suggests that she has used sex or other forms of superficial human contact to fill the void inside herself, and as a means to quiet the screaming in her head. She has lived her life always striving to be loved and accepted, making herself beautiful on the outside, but as beautiful as the mask she wears is, she is crumbling and disintegrating inside.

"Heaven holds a sense of wonder;
And I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up
When the rage in me subsides."

To me this suggests she has been trying so hard to live up to some unattainable ideal that she's never experienced (heaven), and she's always thought she'd get there if she could be strong and overcome the darkness that swirls around in her brain. "Heaven" could also suggest the lure of death; to be free from the pain.

"I can't help this longing;
Comfort me;
I can't hold it all in;
If you won't let me."

She's screaming for help. She's longing for death, and wants nothing more than for someone to just SEE her, and recognize what she's going through. She's never told anyone about the darkness, and has always been able to hide it so well, but she knows if someone actually SAW her, and was able to make her open up just a little bit, there's no way she'd ever be able to keep it all bottled up inside anymore and feel like she has to continue to deal with it alone. It would be like opening a flood gate, but in order to do that, she needs someone to pull the pin and open the door.

"In this white wave, I am sinking, in this silence;
In this white wave, in this silence I believe;
I have seen you, in this white wave, you are silent;
You are breathing, in this white wave I am free."

In the end, I believe she has chosen death. I think the 'white wave' represents death itself. She's letting it wash over her and she is finally set free from her pain. In death, she finally catches a glimpse of the person she desperately wanted to become: happy, at peace, and living the life she always wanted. That image of herself has finally appeared. She has accepted that the fight is over, and she's finally laid down her sword and is succumbing to the only thing she knows will give her the peace she could never find anywhere else



@DMorrie1

Give me release, witness me
I am outside, give me peace

Heaven holds a sense of wonder, and I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up when the rage in me subsides

Passion chokes the flower, till she cries no more
Possessing all the beauty, hungry still for more

Heaven holds a sense of wonder, and I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up when the rage in me subsides

In this white wave I am sinking, in this silence
In this white wave, in this silence, I believe

[Foreign content]

I can't help this longing comfort me
I can't hold it all in, if you won't let me

Heaven holds a sense of wonder, and I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up when the rage in me subsides

In this white wave I am sinking, in this silence
In this white wave, In this silence, I believe

I have seen you in this white wave you are silent
You are breathing, in this white wave I am free



All comments from YouTube:

@seraphik

20 yrs later I'm somehow a functional and successful adult in my late 30s, but this song still takes me back to some gloriously misspent late nights. those of you who are that age right now: ignore those who tell you you're wasting time having fun. none of that derailed my life in the long run, and it made for some unforgettable memories. i wouldn't take a minute of it back.

@soldier4truth49

@jessicaanderson3465

20 years?!?!? it was like yesterday when it was new, but 41 now and still stuck in this area

@mariagodman3445

Yes!! U speak the truth and I’m 39! Lol

@GirlMomma

Oh heck yeah!! 👍 42 here!

@GirlMomma

The techno version is the BEST

74 More Replies...

@rachelroy839

Why can't we have music like this again? Music you can feel in your soul and feel something

@PACormier

Someone doesn't want humanity at peace and happy.... because it does make a huge difference...this music!

@robertd.7060

Music that CAN reach your SOUL , can NEVER be beaten ! It is what MAKES you fell , live & remember life . One of the vary FEW things as a human we CAN make in our vary short lives .

@kuljeetsingh8395

Very simple, because music is all about emotions and understanding the rythm but today's generation is obsessed with digital life and not witnessing real life with people and places. Kids now a days are just mehanical. To learn emotions and reaching new heights one must go out is real world. Digital maniacs cannot give birth to bethoven or Mozart. So they cannot produce good music.

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