Picture A Vacuum
Kate Tempest Lyrics

Picture a vacuum
Imagine a space devoid of anything.

An endless and unmoving blackness
A vast expanse of emptiness that does not move.

Peace, or the absence at least, of terror
The feeling of calm that comes with being in a place without fear.

I see and amongst all this space
Amidst this vast nothingness, I notice something.

That speck of light in the furthest corner
I see a small glimmer in the distance.

Gold as a pharaoh's coffin
It shines with a brilliance like that of a richly decorated tomb for a king.

Now follow that light with your tired eyes
Let your eyes track that light, although you are weary.

Its been a long day, I know
The artist acknowledges that the listener may be tired and suggests they rest.

But look
However, the artist invites the listener to continue to observe.

Watch as it flickers and it roars into fullness
As the light draws near, it becomes more brilliant and brighter.

And fills the whole frame blazing a fire
The light now takes up the entire view and appears to burn like a great fire.

You can't bear the majesty of
The splendor is so great that it almost hurts to look at it.

Here is our sun
The singer reveals that what the listener is seeing is our star: the sun.

And look:
Now the singer directs the listener's attention to something else to consider.

See how the planets are dangled around it?
The other planets in our solar system orbit the sun as if suspended on strings.

And held in that intricate dance
Their movement is choreographed in a precise and complex pattern.

There is our Earth
The focus moves to our planet.

Our Earth
The singer emphasizes that Earth is the planet where we live.

Its blueness soothes the sharp burn in your eyes
The sight of Earth provides relief for the viewer's eyes, which have been straining to look directly at the sun.

Its contours remind you of love
The visual appearance of our world causes the viewer to reflect on the emotion of love.

That soft roundness!
The artist focuses attention on the curves and fluid shapes of Earth.

The comfort of ocean and land mass
The varied but familiar terrain of our planet is soothing and reassuring.

Picture the world
The singer asks the listener to mentally visualize the entire planet.

Older than she ever thought that she'd get
The planet is older than anyone could have imagined.

She looks at herself as she spins
The perspective shifts to that of Earth as a living being.

Arms loaded with the trophies of her most successful child
Humanity is referred to as Earth's most successful offspring.

The pylons and mines
The singer acknowledges the negative impact of human civilization.

The powerplants shimmer in her still, cool breath
Despite humanity's flaws, the artist notes the beauty of our creations.

Now is that a smile that plays across her lips?
The artist suggests that the planet may be expressing joy in our existence.

Or is it a tremor of dread?
However, there is also the possibility that the planet is feeling fear about our future.

The sadness of mothers as they watch the fates of their children
The relationship between Earth and humanity is compared to that of a mother and her child.

Unfold
The uncertainty and unpredictability of the future is highlighted.

In now
The artist emphasizes the immediacy of the present moment.

In fast
But also points out that time moves quickly.

Kaleidoscopic vision
The shift in focus creates a dizzying and constantly changing view.

The colors like drugs in your belly
The vividness of what the artist is describing feels overwhelming and almost intoxicating.

Churning
The physical reaction to this heightened experience is reminiscent of nausea or anxiety.

Your skin pulled loose as a puck shaken and tighten
The physical sensation of goosebumps or skin tightening is described.

Now everything's flashing and the waves are magnified
The singer's attention focuses on the movement and sound of water.

As they roll up towards you and you're tiny as sand
The listener is still feeling small and insignificant compared to the rest of the world.

Just a speck
The artist emphasizes the tiny scale of the listener's existence compared to the vastness around them.

And as you approach the surface, all of that peace that you felt
The tranquility of the earlier scene is replaced by something more intense and exciting.

Is replaced with this furious neverknown passion
The listener is experiencing something new and intense that they have never felt before.

You're feeling
The focus is now on the listener's own personal experience of this moment.

The people
The artist shifts focus to be on human beings specifically.

The life
The vibrancy and energy of humanity is highlighted.

Their faces are bright
The positive emotions people exhibit are emphasized.

In your body
The artist suggests that what the listener is feeling is a physical response to seeing humanity in such a positive light.

You're feeling
The listener's personal experience is the focus once again.

You want to be close to them
The listener desires to be among other people.

Closer
They want to be near humanity and part of the community.

Cause these are your species
The artist acknowledges the listener's connection to the human race.

Your kindred
The listener is part of a larger community of people.

Where have you landed?
The singer shifts focus once again to the listener's physical surroundings.

Uncurl yourself, stand up, and look at your limbs
The listener is encouraged to stretch their body and take notice of their immediate surroundings.

All intact
The artist reassures the listener that they are safe and unharmed.

Clothed and the fashion
The listener is wearing clothes that are representative of a particular style or trend.

This is a city
The listener is in a populated area.

Let's call her, London
The specific location is identified: London.

And these are the only times you have known
The artist points out that this moment is unique and will never be repeated.

"Is this what it's come to?", you think
The listener reflects on their current situation and how they got there.