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Archaeologists
Lotus Child Lyrics
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Dont lie, what am I but a sick sycophant?
Oh you pretty men with your pretty demands
Is there an honest way that I can knock em dead?
The capitals deserted, its returning to the woods
Patience, patience.
The roots push up the sidewalks in suburban neighbourhoods
There are bodies everywhere
The silent decks of arks litter the sea.
The archaeologists
they start to sift the darkest century.
And now theres not enough.
Theres nothing here for me
Though your eyes are bright
I cant tonight.
Theres a blight parasite in the countryside so the camps are shipping
Lean, sweet, cuts of meat off the bodies of banished poets.
They arrive, boxed up, in frozen trains
and delivered in the night to the butcher man who asks no questions.
And all asudden, songs are budding, hearts are flooding through the square.
The vines, they wind up placards and cocoon baroque hotels
dont be scared
the mynah birds they nest themselves in TV aerials
as creepers creep across Phnom Penh.
Oh my friends
I do believe its bigger than us both
And so to open up the door and let it go
I fell into your eyes of blue
When all the rust had come
the empty city
The song "Archaeologists" by Lotus Child is a haunting commentary on the state of society in the present and the potential destruction that awaits in the future. The lyrics are a conversation between two people, one who holds power and control through their scepter, and the other who is a sick sycophant, someone who is subservient and eager to please. This power struggle is set against a backdrop of a society that is falling apart - the city is deserted, the suburbs are being reclaimed by nature, and bodies litter the sea. The only hope seems to be the archaeologists who are sifting through the darkest century, trying to find some meaning in the chaos.
The lyrics are filled with strong imagery that speaks to the decay and destruction of society. The root pushing up the sidewalks in suburban neighborhoods is a metaphor for how nature overtakes everything in the end. The blight parasite in the countryside and the banishment of poets speak to the dangers of totalitarianism and censorship. The delivery of bodies in frozen trains to the butcher man who asks no questions is a chilling reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. And yet, amidst all this destruction, there are signs of hope - songs are budding and hearts are flooding through the square, and even the mynah birds are finding a place to nest in the midst of the creepers creeping across Phnom Penh.
In the final verse, the singer finds some solace in the blue eyes of the person they are talking to, and there is a sense that despite everything, there is still beauty and connection to be found in the world. However, the empty city that is the refrain throughout the song reminds us that in the end, we are all alone and left to face the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you, whatd you say with your sceptre in hand?
Addressing someone in power who wields a sceptre, what message are you conveying to your people?
Dont lie, what am I but a sick sycophant?
I cannot deny that I am a flatterer trying to gain something from you, but what can I do to change that?
Oh you pretty men with your pretty demands
You attract attention with your attractive demands, but how can I fulfill them honestly?
Is there an honest way that I can knock em dead?
I want to impress them, but is there a genuine way to do it without resorting to lies or flattery?
The capitals deserted, its returning to the woods
The city is abandoned, and nature is reclaiming it as its own.
Patience, patience.
We have to wait and observe the changes happening around us.
The roots push up the sidewalks in suburban neighbourhoods
The growth of nature is uprooting the man-made structures of suburban areas.
Oh dont be scared now, dont be scared.
Do not fear the changes occurring, they are natural and necessary.
There are bodies everywhere
The aftermath of a great disaster has left many dead.
The silent decks of arks litter the sea.
The remnants of destroyed ships can be seen scattered across the ocean.
The archaeologists they start to sift the darkest century.
Experts are discovering and analyzing the remnants of a particularly bleak period in history.
And now theres not enough. Theres nothing here for me
Despite searching for meaning or fulfillment, I find that there is nothing left for me here.
Though your eyes are bright I cant tonight.
Even though there is potential for happiness or love, I am not able to accept it.
Theres a blight parasite in the countryside so the camps are shipping
A destructive parasite is spreading in rural areas, and people are being moved to camps for safety.
Lean, sweet, cuts of meat off the bodies of banished poets.
Those who speak out against the powers that be are being punished and even killed.
They arrive, boxed up, in frozen trains and delivered in the night to the butcher man who asks no questions.
The bodies of those who have been mistreated or tortured are being disposed of without regard for their lives.
And all asudden, songs are budding, hearts are flooding through the square.
Despite the oppression and fear, people are rising up and expressing their true desires and passions.
The vines, they wind up placards and cocoon baroque hotels
The growth of nature is taking over and encompassing even the most extravagant man-made structures.
the mynah birds they nest themselves in TV aerials as creepers creep across Phnom Penh.
Even the birds and vines are finding new homes in the rapidly changing urban landscape.
Oh my friends I do believe its bigger than us both
This movement or change is more significant than any one individual or group.
And so to open up the door and let it go
We must embrace this change and let go of our past ways.
I fell into your eyes of blue When all the rust had come
After experiencing hardship or decay, I found a glimmer of hope or beauty in someone else.
the empty city
The city is now deserted and abandoned.
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Valencys
Thank you for the upload! Seriously, thank you SO MUCH! I fell in love with this song years ago but could never find it! I love you
Valencys
@***** Did you see the music video for it? It was not official, done by a student but it was pretty good, although it did not last the whole song. That's how I found out about it.
Cody Tuggle
Omg I was literally just thinking that. Once I looked all over and couldn't find it, and just on a whim I looked again it was here. I wanted to listen to it so badly!
kngofhearts71
I found this song on MySpace years ago and still blast it