Sunlight
Ghostlimb Lyrics
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But it is one way to live
The ascetic answer of passive removal isn't an answer at all you're no Antony or Benedict crying in a cave
The denial of connection is disingenuous
Because being born is painful
And you may wade through the streams of others' delusions the languid seed of self-exile never yielded solutions
In Ghostlimb's song Sunlight, the lyrics seem to explore the notion of asceticism or self-denial as a way of living. The first two lines of the song almost sound like a warning, as if the singer is cautioning against adopting this lifestyle, but goes on to acknowledge that it is indeed one way of life. The next line talks about how this philosophy of passive removal is not really an answer to anything and draws a comparison to figures like Antony or Benedict, who were known for retreating into caves or other isolated spaces as a form of spiritual asceticism. However, the singer argues that this sort of self-inflicted exile is not a genuine solution to any problems.
The second half of the song explores the idea of connection and how it is ultimately an unavoidable aspect of life. The line "being born is painful" seems to suggest that we are all brought into this world in a way that is both joyful and traumatic. Along the way, we might encounter other people's delusions or ways of thinking that we might not agree with, but avoiding these things completely is not feasible. The final line indicates that this sort of isolation never yielded any real solutions to problems, suggesting that the singer believes in a more engaged and connected way of living.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not something I would recommend
I don't necessarily endorse this way of life
But it is one way to live
Regardless, it is a viable way of existence
The ascetic answer of passive removal isn't an answer at all you're no Antony or Benedict crying in a cave
Simply disconnecting from the world, like famous hermits Antony and Benedict, does not provide a real solution for most people
The denial of connection is disingenuous
To completely deny human connection is insincere and untrue to our nature
Because being born is painful
The fact of life is that simply being born comes with some amount of pain
And you may wade through the streams of others' delusions
As you navigate through life, you're bound to encounter other people's illusions and delusions
The languid seed of self-exile never yielded solutions
Isolating oneself and giving up on the world is not a real solution in the long term
Contributed by Ella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.