Brian Eno
MGMT Lyrics
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Soul searching
I followed the sounds to a cathedral
Imagine my surprise to find that they were produced by Brian Eno
Past the gates
Quite stark
The roses trimmed and the windows dark
I see the walls through a limestone crack
Not red not blue not yellow but black
And all the spaces left for you
If the sky was synthesized you'd probably know
He taught me many things
The wisdom of o bleak stratagems
The prophet of a sapphire soul
Presented through creative freedoms
And everything I say is true
Cuz if I was telling lies it'd probably show
I can tell that he's kind of smiling
But what does he know?
We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno
Brian Eno
When I was stuck he'd make me memorize elaborate curses
Tinctures and formulas to ditch the choir and flip the verses
My whole foundation came unglued
When I tried to humanize by ambient light
Dipping swords in metaphors yeah but what does he know?
We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno
Brian Eno!
He promised pretty worlds and all the silence
I could dream of Brian peter George St John Le
Baptiste De La Salle Eno
Well all alone by the oldest stone where the shade
Trees grow the creature by the water feature with a
Ghostly glow making sure that time's preserved
Well we reap what we sow
We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno
The song "Brian Eno" by MGMT is a tribute to the iconic musician and producer Brian Eno, who is often credited with paving the way for ambient and experimental music genres. At the beginning of the song, the singer is soul searching and following the sounds to a cathedral, only to find out that they were produced by Brian Eno. The singer describes the cathedral as quite stark with trimmed roses and dark windows. The walls are seen through a limestone crack and are not painted in red, blue, or yellow but black. The lyrics then shift to Eno's influence and teachings, describing him as a prophet with a sapphire soul, and the presenter of creative freedoms.
The singer continues to describe Eno's teachings, including the wisdom of bleak stratagems, and how he would make them memorize elaborate curses and tinctures to ditch the choir and flip the verses. The singer admits that their foundation came unglued when they tried to humanize by ambient light, dipping swords in metaphors. Despite this, the singer admires Eno and believes everything they say about him to be true.
Throughout the song, there is an underlying sense of uncertainty towards Eno's genius and whether or not it can be fully understood or replicated. The haunting chorus "We're always one step behind him, He's Brian Eno" reinforces the idea that Eno is a trailblazer who will always be one step ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
So tired
Feeling exhausted
Soul searching
Looking for answers within oneself
I followed the sounds to a cathedral
Following a path of music towards enlightenment
Imagine my surprise to find that they were produced by Brian Eno
Discovering the source of the music was Brian Eno was unexpected
Past the gates
Going beyond the entrance
Quite stark
Very plain
The roses trimmed and the windows dark
The exterior of the cathedral seemed uninviting
I see the walls through a limestone crack
Looking at the details through a tiny opening
Not red not blue not yellow but black
The colors of the walls were dark and desolate
And all the spaces left for you
Finding one's own place in the vastness of the world
If the sky was synthesized you'd probably know
Eno's music is so powerful it could even make the sky sing
He taught me many things
Eno was a source of knowledge and inspiration
The wisdom of o bleak stratagems
Teaching the harsh realities of life
The prophet of a sapphire soul
Eno had the ability to connect with one's deepest emotions
Presented through creative freedoms
Expressed through his own unique form of artistry
And everything I say is true
Speaking the truth
Cuz if I was telling lies it'd probably show
An honest person wouldn't be able to hide their lies
I can tell that he's kind of smiling
Sensing Eno's amusement
But what does he know?
Wondering why Eno seems to know everything
We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno
Feeling like Eno is always ahead of everyone else
When I was stuck he'd make me memorize elaborate curses
Eno helped through difficult times with unconventional methods
Tinctures and formulas to ditch the choir and flip the verses
Encouraging creativity by breaking traditional rules
My whole foundation came unglued
Feeling like everything was falling apart
When I tried to humanize by ambient light
Struggling with expressing emotion through music
Dipping swords in metaphors yeah but what does he know?
Questioning the effectiveness of poetic expressions
He promised pretty worlds and all the silence
Eno offered an escape from reality into a beautiful, calming world
I could dream of Brian peter George St John Le
Eno's full, elaborate name added to the mystical allure
Baptiste De La Salle Eno
The full name, including the saint Eno is named after
Well all alone by the oldest stone where the shade
Finding solace in nature and history
Trees grow the creature by the water feature with a
The creature adds to the mystical atmosphere
Ghostly glow making sure that time's preserved
The environment holds onto the past
Well we reap what we sow
Consequences result from one's actions
We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno
Eno's brilliance is always one step ahead
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNTER GOLDWASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind