Magnetism
Kayo Dot Lyrics
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Like water through fountain pipes
The eyes of many roll from their holes
Out to the causeway
Leering along the crooked sidewalks
At all there is to see
Follow secret back streets
Avoid the avenues teeming
Sun goes down behind landscape seeming
Alien in its nightmare evening
Step lightly over whores reaching
Up through cracks in the concrete
Grinning death masks of beauty living
Hands like scalpels reaching out
Desire killed the curious
Incision neat and clean
Magnetism spilling onto street
Less the distance between
Unfathomable points
Attraction in repulsion
Who ever wanted to live forever?
The song "Magnetism" by Kayo Dot speaks about moving through the city's back streets and hidden passageways, away from the hustle-bustle of the avenues. The song deals with the complexities of urban life where people are drawn to hidden corners of the city, lurking and observing everything happening around them. The lyrics suggest that life in the city is an attractive force that pulls the people into its web of secrets, a magnetism that cannot be resisted.
The first verse of the song speaks of walking through hidden passageways like water through fountain pipes, showcasing the fluidity of movement amidst the serpentine pathways of the city. The second verse speaks of avoiding the main streets teeming with people and following secret back alleys. The lyrics convey the feelings of being trapped in a nightmare while walking through an alien landscape. The third verse of the song talks about the desire for beauty and how it has killed many curious souls. Overall, the song portrays a dark and poignant picture of life in the shadows, where human desires and magnetism meet.
Line by Line Meaning
Steal through passageways
Move stealthily through narrow alleys and paths
Like water through fountain pipes
Moving effortlessly and fluently like water flowing through pipes
The eyes of many roll from their holes
People watch suspiciously and curiously through their windows
Out to the causeway
Watching the view of the road and bridge from their windows
Leering along the crooked sidewalks
Looking at everything with a malicious or lustful intent, walking through the winding paths
At all there is to see
Relishing in the surroundings and scenery
Follow secret back streets
Take hidden paths
Flow just like water through a pipeline
Moving smoothly through the hidden paths like water flows through pipes
Avoid the avenues teeming
Bypass crowded streets
Sun goes down behind landscape seeming
The sun sets and transforms the scenery, making it look different and unfamiliar
Alien in its nightmare evening
The night feels strange and unwanted, like a nightmare
Step lightly over whores reaching
Walk carefully over prostitutes trying to reach out
Up through cracks in the concrete
Reaching out of the cracks in the sidewalk
Grinning death masks of beauty living
The prostitutes, with their fake and superficial beauty, wear death masks as they offer their services
Hands like scalpels reaching out
The prostitutes' hands appear sharp and precise, reaching out to their clients
Desire killed the curious
Curiosity led to desire, and then to trouble, resulting in a warning and a reminder of the dangers of desire
Incision neat and clean
Making a precise and sterile cut, perhaps metaphorically suggesting a surgical or cold detachment
Magnetism spilling onto street
A mysterious and powerful force is present, influencing and affecting people and things
Less the distance between
Reducing the space between people or objects
Unfathomable points
Dealing with inscrutable and incomprehensible concepts or domains
Attraction in repulsion
Being repelled or disgusted by something, yet unable to resist or ignore it as it draws your attention and curiosity
Who ever wanted to live forever?
A philosophical and existential question about human desires and mortality
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
silver
A strange dystopia, I think? ( referring to the lyrics. ) Some kind of technological catastrophe
Steel through passageways like water through fountain pipes
... avoid the avenues teeming
... Desire killed the curious
... Magnetism spilling onto street
The last line is kinda interesting. "Whoever wanted to live forever?" Sort of implies a connection. I do, anyway.
Miname Ishid
Steal through passageways
Like water through fountain pipes
The eyes of many roll from their holes
Out to the causeway
Leering along the crooked sidewalks
At all there is to see
Follow secret back streets
Flow ljust like water through a pipeline
Avoid the avenues teeming
Sun goes down behind landscape seeming
Alien in its nightmare evening
Step lightly over whores reaching
Up through cracks in the concrete
Grinning death masks of beauty living
Hands like scalpels reaching out
Desire killed the curious
Incision neat and clean
Magnetism spilling onto street
Less the distance between
Unfathomable points
Attraction in repulsion
Who ever wanted to live forever?
Finger Picking Good
Toby Driver. You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
ØDDBLØØD
@NoJoshinJoshy lyrics from holy diver... A Dio song
Finger Picking Good
@NoJoshinJoshy Oh... don't you see what I mean?
NoJoshinJoshy
Please explain..
Rick Henderson
Oh don't you see what I mean?
ˈMɛtəSɛlf
Dope?
Tim2049
Wow...cannot believe Toby is still peaking creatively. Incredible song..
Griss
Incredible. The atmosphere and setting this creates is like no other. Thank you lord Driver.
NattoSumi
quite possibly the catchiest song i've ever heard in my 30 years. This will play randomly in my head throughout the day. Can't get enough of the hooks, they sink in that deep
DeadODST
This is amazing. I liked the previous album but it had some low moments. I think you have perfected the style with this song. Already ordered the album!