"Please Come Home" is very proggy, but it’s more about atmosphere than technical expertise, inspired by his love of science fiction and interest in the evolution of the human race.
How Bright Is the Sun?
Lonely Robot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We cannot fear the fall
When human intervention is metaphorical
The lights in the salvation is dying all the same
The simplest solution is to end the game
And you can′t
You can't hope to be there
How bright is the sun?
The blindness is in leaving
We′ve come too far from home to fall
How bright is the sun?
A dying star in evening
You cannot hope to catch them all
We're basking in the progress
Were blinded by the cost
And in the forward motion we've never been so lost
And when the sky is quiet and choked in satellites
There′ll only be a memory of how to put it right
And you can′t
You can't hope to be there
How bright is the sun?
The blindness is in leaving
We′ve come too far from home to fall
How bright is the sun?
A dying star in evening
You cannot hope to catch them all
How bright is the sun?
The blindness is in leaving
We've come too far from home to fall
How bright is the sun?
A dying star in evening
You cannot hope to catch them all
The opening lines of Lonely Robot's "How Bright Is the Sun?" seem to hint at a sense of defiance and a realization that progress, as much as it may be costly or difficult to discern, comes at a risk—or at a fall. The thought of humans intervening in what's probably an existing matter, in the wider scheme of things, is one mirrored in the clash between progression and loss. The lyrics suggest a paradox that falls in between, something that cannot be fully grasped or understood, but is equally essential. The song seems to be leading on to a commentary on human-induced changes and the effects that our constant need for progress have on the world. The phrase "we've come too far from home to fall" probably suggests that we have gone too far in trying to change what we have, and we cannot turn back the hands of time to start over again from where we stopped the world.
As the song progresses, the repeated lines "How Bright is the Sun?" soon become apparent as a metaphor for the predicament we've placed ourselves in – deliberately or inadvertently. The lyrics say we're in a condition where we're blinded by the cost of what we're doing, and at the same time, we can't afford to not do it. The imagery in the piece indicates a dystopian, eerily prophetic future where the skies are choked with uncertainty and the memories of a time long gone will have to suffice to guide us to the light. The connotation could be a reflection of how our current relationship with climate change has put the world in a very precarious position, with both environmental and economic repercussions likely to follow. The chorus seems to be a poignant reminder of how everything we love and hate is equally susceptible to loss and gain, as the sun, caught up in the impermanent cycle of life, flickers and fades like the light we couldn't catch.
Line by Line Meaning
Although it seems like madness
Despite how crazy it may seem
We cannot fear the fall
We must not be afraid of failure
When human intervention is metaphorical
When we try to manipulate things symbolically
The lights in the salvation is dying all the same
The hope of being saved is fading away
The simplest solution is to end the game
Stopping everything might be the easiest way out
And you can't
But you cannot
You can't hope to be there
You cannot expect to be there
How bright is the sun?
What is the intensity of the sun's light?
The blindness is in leaving
We become ignorant when we leave things behind
We've come too far from home to fall
We have traveled too far to fail
A dying star in evening
A star that is fading away at night
You cannot hope to catch them all
It is impossible to achieve everything
We're basking in the progress
We are enjoying the advancements we have made
Were blinded by the cost
We are not aware of the heavy price we paid
And in the forward motion we've never been so lost
While we are moving ahead, we are more lost than ever
And when the sky is quiet and choked in satellites
When the sky is cluttered with satellites and not a lot else
There'll only be a memory of how to put it right
We will only remember how to fix it
How bright is the sun?
What is the intensity of the sun's light?
The blindness is in leaving
We become ignorant when we leave things behind
We've come too far from home to fall
We have traveled too far to fail
A dying star in evening
A star that is fading away at night
You cannot hope to catch them all
It is impossible to achieve everything
How bright is the sun?
What is the intensity of the sun's light?
The blindness is in leaving
We become ignorant when we leave things behind
We've come too far from home to fall
We have traveled too far to fail
A dying star in evening
A star that is fading away at night
You cannot hope to catch them all
It is impossible to achieve everything
Writer(s): Mitchell John Cory
Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PedroEduardoGutierrezReyes
Aunque parezca una locura
Although it seems like madness
No podemos temer la caída
We cannot fear the fall
Cuando la intervención humana es metafórica
When human intervention is metaphorical
Las luces de la salvación están muriendo de todos modos
The lights in the salvation is dying all the same
La solución más simple es terminar el juego.
The simplest solution is to end the game
Y no puedes
And you can't
No puedes esperar estar ahí
You can't hope to be there
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
La ceguera está en irse
The blindness is in leaving
Hemos venido demasiado lejos de casa para caer
We've come too far from home to fall
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
Una estrella moribunda al atardecer
A dying star in evening
No puedes esperar atraparlos a todos
You cannot hope to catch them all
Estamos disfrutando del progreso
We're basking in the progress
Fueron cegados por el costo
Were blinded by the cost
Y en el movimiento hacia adelante nunca hemos estado tan perdidos
And in the forward motion we've never been so lost
Y cuando el cielo está en silencio y ahogado en satélites
And when the sky is quiet and choked in satellites
Solo quedará un recuerdo de cómo arreglarlo
There'll only be a memory of how to put it right
Y no puedes
And you can't
No puedes esperar estar ahí
You can't hope to be there
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
La ceguera está en irse
The blindness is in leaving
Hemos venido demasiado lejos de casa para caer
We've come too far from home to fall
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
Una estrella moribunda al atardecer
A dying star in evening
No puedes esperar atraparlos a todos
You cannot hope to catch them all
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
La ceguera está en irse
The blindness is in leaving
Hemos venido demasiado lejos de casa para caer
We've come too far from home to fall
¿Qué tan brillante es el sol?
How bright is the sun?
Una estrella moribunda al atardecer
A dying star in evening
No puedes esperar atraparlos a todos
You cannot hope to catch them all
@battlespace13
Gotta share: my youngest son, who is autistic, just discovered Lonely Robot and this is his favorite song! I have to play it for him at least once a day. Because it's a lyric video (he can read), he sings along with it.
@Parrish_Muhoberac
YES I have autistic children and I have too... I know what you mean. John's song "IDLEWILD" is very very much like this. Check it out. There's a lyric video for it.
@robertkennedy9680
That’s beautiful man! This is an amazing song/album.❤️
@battlespace13
@@Parrish_MuhoberacThanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out with him.
@progrockdoc
Every song that John Mitchell touches becomes a thing of beauty.
@altisonic
Each note is beautiful in this song, and they sum up at world hit level.
@tonyfiori5253
Music is all about making humans feel emotions. This song takes my breath away with thankfulness as to why we are here in the first place. Thank you John Mitchell and your amazing musicians!
@brunostudley2191
This song and Floral Green are pure genius, amazing solo guitar work, shame the other songs dont hit the the soul like these two.
@MinhChou
The piano part is so goooood
@willemvantriet1201
Tears in my eyes. Thank You