Smoke and Mirrors
Elline Lyrics
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She is bathing in pearls and diamonds
And in her own reflection
The magazines,
Dressed her up to be the perfect girl
for your fantasies
But your love is not enough
And when that's not enough
She'll see her empty heart, that's dark in broad daylight
See the broken little mirror in her e-eyes
Slowly drawing you into it
See the fractured little mirror in her e-eyes
And it's slowly drowning you
Salt water eyes,
She's been waiting all night in the desert
Crawling with two hands tied
She sold her heart,
And her body turned liquid marble
If only you could save her
But your love is not enough
She craves a different type of lust that comes with flashing lights
And when that's not enough
She'll see her empty heart, that's dark in broad daylight
See the broken little mirror in her e-eyes
Slowly drawing you into it
See the fractured little mirror in her e-eyes
And it's slowly drowning you
We're climbing ladders made of lies
We're closer to the edge of falling down
We're building a prison for ourselves
Oh no, Oh no
See the broken little mirror in her e-eyes
Slowly drawing you into it
See the fractured little mirror in her e-eyes
And it's slowly drowning you
The song "Smoke and Mirrors" by Elline tells the story of a woman who appears to have everything - wealth, beauty, and fame - but beneath the surface, she is desperately unhappy and yearning for something more. The first verse describes her lavish lifestyle, living in the lap of luxury and pretending to be perfect for the sake of others. Despite being adored and desired by many, she feels an emptiness inside that cannot be filled by material possessions or attention from others.
The chorus reveals that she is chasing after a different type of fulfillment - one that comes from the thrill of the spotlight and the rush of fame. She is so desperate for this feeling that she is willing to sacrifice her own well-being and self-respect to achieve it. The broken mirror imagery in her "e-eyes" (electronic eyes) represents how she sees herself - fragmented and incomplete - and how this ultimately ensnares those around her.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is not alone in her desperation. The bridge highlights the fact that everyone is complicit in perpetuating the illusion of success and happiness, even when it is detrimental to themselves and others. The song ends on a haunting note, with the reminder that the fantasy world of "smoke and mirrors" is a trap that threatens to consume us all.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dark,
She is hiding her true self from the world.
She is bathing in pearls and diamonds
She's trying to impress others with her outward appearance.
And in her own reflection
She's trying to find validation in her own image.
The magazines,
Society has influenced her perception of beauty.
Dressed her up to be the perfect girl
She's trying to live up to societal standards of beauty.
for your fantasies
She's trying to be the perfect girl for someone else's satisfaction.
But your love is not enough
No matter how much you love her, it's not enough to fill her emptiness.
She craves a different type of lust that comes with flashing lights
She's attracted to the glamorous, attention-filled life of fame and fortune.
And when that's not enough
Even the allure of fame and fortune eventually fades for her.
She'll see her empty heart, that's dark in broad daylight
She'll realize that her craving for attention and validation only highlights her inner emptiness.
See the broken little mirror in her e-eyes
She's reflecting on her own brokenness and inviting you to join her in that brokenness.
Slowly drawing you into it
She's subtly luring you into her world of despair.
Salt water eyes,
Her tears are evidence of her internal struggle.
She's been waiting all night in the desert
She feels alone and helpless in the vast expanse of her internal desert.
Crawling with two hands tied
She's struggling to move forward and make changes in her life.
She sold her heart,
She's given away her heart to her pursuit of validation and recognition.
And her body turned liquid marble
She has become lifeless, emotionally and spiritually.
If only you could save her
She's longing for someone to save her from her inner turmoil.
We're climbing ladders made of lies
We are chasing illusions of happiness and fulfillment that only lead to disappointment.
We're closer to the edge of falling down
We've pushed ourselves too far and are about to collapse.
We're building a prison for ourselves
We are allowing ourselves to be trapped by our own desires and external pressures.
Oh no, Oh no
The situation is dire and there seems to be no escape.
See the broken little mirror in her e-eyes
She's still inviting you to join her in her world of brokenness and despair.
And it's slowly drowning you
The more you engage with her, the more you're pulled down into her world of pain and hopelessness.
Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bnp777
Relentlessly good song!
@radkid06
This is my new favorite thing. Yes, completely addicting!!
@Vinqent
Even if the remix is more popular, original track is magical!!
@edwood
Loved it when I first heard 7 years ago even now very unique
@musjam2
Incredible track Elline! You ROCK!!
@alyen589
Underrated
@musictravellife5164
Thanks for this. I love this song
@msfainefurstenfeld
I am working on this from Indaba. This is catchy. Beautiful voice.
@MusicianPR
Nice work!
@andresmarinmusic
super cool video!!!