Blackstar
Jherek Bischoff & Amanda Palmer feat. Anna Calvi Lyrics

In the villa of Ormen
This is the setting where the story takes place

In the villa of Ormen
The story takes place in the villa of Ormen

Stands a solitary candle
There is a single glowing candle present in this setting

In the centre of it all
The candle seems to be the focal point of the place

In the centre of it all
The candle sits in the very middle of everything else

Your eyes
The singer is fixated on someone's eyes

On the day of execution
This event is taking place on the day someone is being put to death

On the day of execution
The story takes place during an execution

Only women kneel and smile
The only people present seem to be women and they look happy despite the situation

At the centre of it all
The women are also focused on the same thing as the candle - the central point

At the centre of it all
All attention seems to be directed at the central focal point

Your eyes
The artist is specifically drawn to the eyes of the person they are focused on

Your eyes
The gaze of the singer is fixated on someone's eyes

Something happened on the day he died
A strange occurrence happened on the day of someone's death

Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside
The spirit of the person that died seems to have moved on and made room for something else

Somebody else took his place
Someone else replaced the person that died

And bravely cried:
They yelled out courageously

(I'm a blackstar)
The person that replaced the dead one is proclaiming that they are a "blackstar"

(I'm a blackstar)
The replacement is insisting that they are a "blackstar" again

How many times does an angel fall?
The artist is questioning how often good things can turn bad

How many people lie instead of talking tall?
The artist is questioning how often we present ourselves as better than we are

He trod on sacred ground
Someone has apparently done something wrong and/or offensive

He cried loud into the crowd:
The offender made an emphatic proclamation

(I'm a blackstar)
The person that was previously crying out has now started calling themselves a "blackstar" again

(I'm a blackstar)
Re-emphasizing that they are indeed a "blackstar"

(I'm not a gangster)
They want to make it clear that they are not a gangster

I can't answer why
The singer is unsure of the reason for certain events

(I'm a blackstar)
The artist is insistent on being recognized as a "blackstar"

Just go with me
They are urging someone to follow them

(I'm not a filmstar)
They want whoever they're talking to to know that they are not a movie star

I'm-a take you home
They are making a promise to take someone to their destination

(I'm a blackstar)
Once more asserting that they are a "blackstar" to whoever they're speaking to

Take your passport and shoes
They are further detailing what they want this person to bring with them

(I'm not a popstar)
They are clarifying that they are not a pop music star

And your sedatives, boo
They want whoever they're talking to to bring their sedatives along with them

(I'm a blackstar)
The artist is still intent on being recognized as a "blackstar"

You're a flash in the pan
They are implying that the person they're speaking to is only temporary and not long-lasting

(I'm not a marvel star)
They want whoever they're speaking to to know that they are not featured in Marvel comics or movies

I'm the great, I am
The singer seems to be proclaiming their greatness

(I'm a blackstar)
They are still insisting they are a "blackstar"

I'm a blackstar, way up, on money, I've got game
The artist is confident in their status and fortune

I see right, so wide, so open-hearted pain
The singer has a unique perspective on the world, potentially having experienced a lot of pain

I want eagles in my daydreams
The singer desires to have grand, awe-inspiring dreams

Diamonds in my eyes
The artist desires to have wealth and opulence, personified by "diamonds"

(I'm a blackstar)
Re-emphasizing that they are a "blackstar"

(I'm a blackstar)
Still insisting that they are a "blackstar"

Something happened on the day he died
The same line as earlier, alluding to a strange event occurring during someone's death

Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Same as earlier, implying that something spiritual or mystical is happening

Somebody else took his place
Same as earlier, someone has taken the place of the person that died

And bravely cried:
Same as earlier, they made an emphatic proclamation

(I'm a blackstar)
Same as earlier, the new person is insisting that they are a "blackstar"

(I'm a star's star)
They are calling themselves a "star's star", potentially even higher than a "blackstar"

(I'm a blackstar)
The new person is back to insisting that they are a "blackstar"

I can't answer why
Same as earlier, the singer is still unsure of the reason for certain events

(I'm not a gangster)
Same as earlier, the new person wants to make it clear that they are not a gangster

But I can tell you how
They may not know the reason, but they can explain the way things are

(I'm not a filmstar)
Same as earlier, the new person is clarifying that they are not a movie star

We were born upside-down
The artist and the person they are speaking to were born into the world in a way that is out of the ordinary

(I'm a star's star)
Still calling themselves a "star's star"

Born the wrong way ‘round
Further emphasizing that they came into the world in a way that is uncommon or "wrong"

(I'm not a white star)
They are clarifying that they are not a white star, perhaps meaning something pristine or angelic

(I'm a blackstar)
Once more emphasizing that they are a "blackstar"

(I'm not a gangster)
Same as earlier, wanting to make it clear that they are not a gangster

(I'm a blackstar)
Still insistent on being called a "blackstar"

(I'm a blackstar)
Same as earlier, re-emphasizing that they are a "blackstar"

(I'm not a pornstar)
They are clarifying that they do not participate in pornography

(I'm not a wandering star)
They are denying that they are a random or aimless star

(I'm a blackstar)
Still insisting on being called a "blackstar"

(I'm a blackstar)
Re-emphasizing their identity as a "blackstar"

In the villa of Ormen
The same setting as earlier

Stands a solitary candle
The candle is still present and glowing

At the centre of it all
The candle is still the central focal point of the setting

Your eyes
The singer is still focused on someone's eyes

On the day of execution
Still the same situation as earlier

Only women kneel and smile
The women in attendance during the execution are still smiling despite the gravity of the situation

At the centre of it all
The same central focal point

Your eyes
Still fixated on someone's eyes

Your eyes
The singer is unwilling or unable to take their eyes off of someone