Ah! Why Because the Dazzling Sun
Lauren Laverne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Restored my earth to joy
Have you departed, every one,
And left a desert sky?
All through the night, your glorious eyes
Were gazing down in mine,
And with a full heart's thankful sighs
I was at peace, and drank your beams
As they were life to me
And revelled in my changeful dreams
Like petrel on the sea.
Thought followed thoughtstar followed star
Through boundless regions on,
While one sweet influence, near and far,
Thrilled through and proved us one.
Why did the morning rise to break
So great, so pure a spell,
And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek
Where your cool radiance fell?
Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight,
His fierce beams struck my brow
The soul of Nature sprang elate,
But mine sank sad and low!
My lids closed downyet through their veil
I saw him blazing still
And bathe in gold the misty dale,
And flash upon the hill.
I turned me to the pillow then
To call back Night, and see
Your worlds of solemn light, again
Throb with my heart and me!
It would not dothe pillow glowed
And glowed both roof and floor,
And birds sang loudly in the wood,
And fresh winds shook the door.
The curtains waved, the wakened flies
Were murmuring round my room,
Imprisoned there, till I should rise
And give them leave to roam.
O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night
O Night and Stars return!
And hide me from the hostile light
That does not warm, but burn
That drains the blood of suffering men
Drinks tears, instead of dew:
Let me sleep through his blinding reign,
And only wake with you!
The poem of Emily Bronte upon which this song is based is a lamentation for the loss of nighttime darkness and its comforting companionship. It sings of the thousand stars whirling in the sky and the sweet dreams arising from the darkness, so different from the terrifying and scorching light that burns without warming. The singer recalls an idyllic night when they reveled in the sun’s descent and the stars’ rising, peace that was broken when morning came and obliterated the darkness. The poem's speaker is saddened and tired by the light of the day, the burnt cheek, and the misery wrought on suffering humanity that the sun represents.
The song shows that while the sun is a sublime source of life and joy for humankind during the day, the darkness of night also plays an essential role in comforting the human soul. The lyrics are infused with Emily’s distinct Gothic style to depict a sense of melancholy and lack of hope, often seen in Emily's poems. The poem depicts the struggle between desire and reality, between a pure ideal and the humdrum of existence. It conjures a world of magic and beauty that is paradoxically lost, with the coming of sunlight.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah! why, because the dazzling sun
Why is it that after the sun restored joy to my world, everyone has departed and left a deserted sky?
All through the night, your glorious eyes
Throughout the night, your eyes shone down on me, and I felt grateful for that divine watch.
Were gazing down in mine,
Your eyes were fixated on mine.
And with a full heart's thankful sighs
I expressed my gratitude with a full heart.
I blessed that watch divine!
I praised that divine moment!
I was at peace, and drank your beams
I found tranquillity in your light, as if it were the essence of life itself.
As they were life to me
Your beams were what kept me alive.
And revelled in my changeful dreams
I enjoyed my ever-changing dreams, much like a bird navigating the ocean.
Like petrel on the sea.
As if I were a bird navigating the ocean.
Thought followed thought; star followed star
My thoughts led me through the cosmos, where stars punctuated my journey.
Through boundless regions on
I traversed the cosmos limitlessly.
While one sweet influence, near and far,
The sweet influence of your presence was felt both near and far, connecting us.
Thrilled through and proved us one.
That influence thrilled and proved that we were one.
Why did the morning rise to break
Why did the morning have to come and break that spell?
So great, so pure a spell,
The spell was great and pure.
And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek
The sun scorched my once-tranquil cheek with its fire.
Where your cool radiance fell?
Where your cool light once fell?
Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight,
The sun rose like an arrow and red as blood.
His fierce beams struck my brow
His beams fiercely struck my forehead.
The soul of Nature sprang elate,
Nature blossomed cheerfully.
But mine sank sad and low!
But I felt saddened and downcast!
My lids closed down, yet through their veil
My eyes were closing, yet still seeing.
I saw him blazing still
I could still see the sun blazing.
And bathe in gold the misty dale
The sun bathed the misty valley in gold.
And flash upon the hill.
And flashed upon the hills.
I turned me to the pillow then
I turned to my pillow, seeking comfort.
To call back Night, and see
To bring Night back and see once again
Your worlds of solemn light, again
Your solemn stars and lights, once again.
Throb with my heart and me!
And resonate with me in harmony!
It would not dothe pillow glowed
It could not be done - the pillow was glowing.
And glowed both roof and floor
The roof and floor were glowing too.
And birds sang loudly in the wood
The birds in the wood sang loudly.
And fresh winds shook the door.
And fresh winds shook the door, wanting to come in.
O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night
Oh stars, dreams, and gentle Night!
O Night and Stars return!
Oh Night and stars, please return!
And hide me from the hostile light
And shelter me from the unforgiving light
That does not warm, but burn
That does not heat, but burns
That drains the blood of suffering men
That saps the lifeblood of suffering people.
Drinks tears instead of dew
Drinks our tears instead of nourishing dew.
Let me sleep through his blinding reign
Please let me sleep through his oppressive rule
And only wake with you!
And only wake up when you come back!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Emily Brontë
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GeistDesKapitalismus
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