Undestroyed
Free Salamander Exhibit Lyrics


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Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds

Here, locked in my own shadow for almost 40 years
I have reached my hand through stone and steel and razor wire
And touched the heart of the world

Here in the shadowed night
Walls, bars, gratings dissolve into light
(And I unloose my soul)
Into light
(And fly through the inner darkness of my being)
Into light
(I become transparent)
Into light
(A bright shadow)
Into light
(A bird of dreams singing from the tree of life)

I am undestroyed
My life is my sundance
I am undestroyed
My life is my sundance

I am undestroyed
My life is my sundance
I am undestroyed
My life is my sundance

A man who has hung from the tree of life
Has a special compact with pain
He'll be hard to break
Sundance takes place inside, not outside of me
Hard to break
To give your flesh is to give your life
And what you have given you can no longer lose

Pain explodes into bright white light
Of wordless vision, revelation
Of what it is to be in touch with all being and all beings

Every time a pin pricks your finger from then on
The small pain will be a reminder of that larger pain
And a still greater realm beyond reach of all pain
I am undestroyed
My life is my sundance

Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds
Slur the buds





(And if the stars have a meaning)
(Then my life has a meaning)

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song "Undestroyed" by Free Salamander Exhibit do not seem to have any clear meaning. They simply repeat the phrase "Slur the buds" several times in succession. However, the rest of the lyrics contain powerful and meaningful language that speaks to themes of imprisonment, inner transformation, and spiritual transcendence.


The singer of the song is someone who has been locked away for nearly four decades. They describe reaching through the walls and touching the "heart of the world." This suggests an inner journey of self-discovery and connection to something larger than oneself. The singer then describes a process of transformation in which walls and barriers dissolve, and they become transparent and weightless like a bird. This transformation is internal and is characterized by a deep connection to the self and the universe.


The repeated refrain "I am undestroyed, my life is my sundance" speaks to the singer's resilience and inner strength. They have endured great pain and hardship and have emerged on the other side, transformed and unbroken. The idea of a "sundance" suggests celebration and movement, a joyful expression of life in the face of adversity. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer has found meaning and purpose in their life, despite their difficult circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

Slur the buds
Repeated phrase with unclear meaning, possibly referencing the act of using or abusing drugs


Here, locked in my own shadow for almost 40 years
The singer has been trapped in a metaphorical shadow, possibly referencing imprisonment or some other form of long-term confinement


I have reached my hand through stone and steel and razor wire
Despite physical barriers, the singer has managed to connect with the world beyond their confinement


And touched the heart of the world
The artist has had a profound and meaningful experience, possibly spiritual or philosophical in nature


Here in the shadowed night
The artist is reflecting on their inner world, possibly during a quiet and introspective moment


Walls, bars, gratings dissolve into light
The physical barriers of the singer's confinement seem to disappear as they focus on something more abstract and transcendent


(And I unloose my soul)
The singer feels a sense of release, possibly associated with spiritual liberation or enlightenment


Into light
The artist is overcome with a feeling of brightness or warmth that seems to represent something important to them


(And fly through the inner darkness of my being)
The artist is exploring their innermost self, possibly searching for deeper meaning or understanding


(I become transparent)
The artist seems to have achieved a state of clarity, where their true self is more visible


(A bright shadow)
The singer is both bright and shadowy, possessing qualities that are both visible and hidden


(A bird of dreams singing from the tree of life)
The artist feels elevated and inspired, as if they are part of a larger and more meaningful existence


I am undestroyed
The singer has had a difficult life, but they remain resilient and unbroken


My life is my sundance
The singer seems to have found meaning and purpose in their life, perhaps through a personal ritual or philosophical outlook


A man who has hung from the tree of life
The singer is referencing a symbolic, mythological image of suffering and transcendence


Has a special compact with pain
The artist has endured significant pain, and has developed a relationship with that suffering that is unique and meaningful


He'll be hard to break
The artist is confident in their ability to endure and overcome further difficulties


Sundance takes place inside, not outside of me
The singer believes that their personal ritual, or their way of finding meaning, is not something that is visible or evident to others


To give your flesh is to give your life
The singer values the idea of sacrifice, and believes that true commitment requires a willingness to suffer


And what you have given you can no longer lose
The artist believes that their endurance and sacrifice have given them something that is permanent and cannot be taken away


Pain explodes into bright white light
The artist is describing a transformative experience of pain, where it becomes something illuminating and profound


Of wordless vision, revelation
The artist is suggesting that their encounter with pain has given them new insights or understandings that cannot be put into words


Of what it is to be in touch with all being and all beings
The singer seems to have had a life-changing experience of interconnectedness and empathy


Every time a pin pricks your finger from then on
The artist is reflecting on the lasting impact of their experiences, and suggesting that their way of seeing the world has been permanently altered


The small pain will be a reminder of that larger pain
The singer seems to believe that even minor discomforts will be meaningful to them, because of the larger pains they have endured


And a still greater realm beyond reach of all pain
The singer believes that there exists some form of existence that transcends pain or suffering, and that this is a goal to strive for


If the stars have a meaning
The singer is using a poetic image to suggest that the universe might have a sense of purpose or direction


Then my life has a meaning
The artist sees themselves as part of that universe, and suggests that their own life must have some purpose or significance as a result




Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

3 legged shark kicks surfer in balls

Imma buy this at my earliest convenience. Just discovered Sleepytime, Idiot Flesh, Book Of Knots, etc. Jesus Christ and two triplets on a trike am I late to the party! This lot of musicians are outfuckinstanding. I'm honestly pretty poor atm, but have been purchasing as much of their stuff as I can. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go without all this glorious music. Also been sharing with anyone and everyone that I think might be interested but haven't yet had the honour of having this beautiful stuff in their earholes. <3!

House Music Catalog

Got to see these guys in a small venue on the same night Ween was in town. The crowd was pretty small, and they walked on and off the stage all playing horns and ended the show in the middle of the crowd. It was a joy to see these guys in such an intimate setting compared to the big venue show I saw SGM play with SC3 It should be noted these guys are all very talented multi-instrumentalist, constantly changing roles with each song. Unforgettable experience.

3 legged shark kicks surfer in balls

So I ordered this album from WoM and it arrived to me here in Aus already! How exciting. Thanks for giving us a "taste test" here. I know bands have mixed feelings about their music being posted online, and i totally understand, but the last 4 albums I bought are due to the fact that I stumbled upon them here on YT. Otherwise I might not have ever heard of any of them. Sad but true. So THANK YOU for introducing me and others to these sounds. I'll continue buying as much music as i can for the rest of my life. Music is life 🎶🤘🎶

d walsh BrokenMuseum #zer0fix

this stuff is great, followed idiot flesh and sleepytime but in glorious times had to be the end.
it was time to get HEAVY AGAIN

Derek Waugh

O. My. I truly thought there would never be another musical project comparable to SGM. How fantastic to be wrong!

Mr Jingles

First listen last night of this album, really nice love the prog and the textures. Wow what a listen!

ふぁみ

didnt even know this band existed. my night just got way better ngl.

ReplicantSeven

This is my favorite stuff of theirs since Acid Rain, honestly. Catchy as fuck, groovable, and completely fucking bent and hilarious.

bop517

Okay, never heard of this before until my cousin told me about her brother's bands. Prog isn't really in my wheelhouse but man, I'm digging the shit out of this.

Eric mcKay

@Matthew Pumphrey yes! And idiot flesh (also same vocalist composer)

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