Footsteps
Marigold Lyrics


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Onward we went with footsteps.
The avarice.
And I attentive to the shades and the weeping.
Downward the bend.
The shadows appeared to be dead.
Wonder, aware that I was living.
The people I saw beneath it.
They lift their hands and cry
And I now know why.
Towards the leaves looking for protection.
But it drives them back and from itself.
Sequestered.
I saw the tomb.
Eyes in disdain in horror.
That is the empty ghost.
Watch it wash over me.
I am the empty ghost.
Watch it watch over.
The shadows lift their heads to die.




And I know why.
Aware that I was living.

Overall Meaning

In the song Footsteps by the band Marigold, there are several poetic metaphors, which make it tricky to extract its actual meaning. The singer portrays himself walking with some people towards an unseen destination, and along the way, he witnesses a lot of grief, sorrows, and despair. The author talks about the shades and shadows, which seem to be dead, and he is aware of himself living. This line indicates that the author is conscious of the different emotions around him, and he is present in the moment. However, the people around him are not living in the moment, and they are deep into their pain and grievances.


In the next few lines, the author sees people lifting their hands and crying, and he now knows why. The reason behind their cry is not specifically mentioned, but the audience can interpret it according to their experiences. The next stanza of the song presents the imagery of leaves looking for protection, but it drives them back from itself. This line can be interpreted as people trying to find solace in things that they believe will make them happy but ending up getting the opposite.


In the final few lines of the song's chorus, the author says, “I am the empty ghost, the shadows lift their heads to die and I know why. Aware that I was living.” By saying that he is the empty ghost, the author could be describing himself as a person who is going through the motions of life but not living it fully. The phrase "shadows lift their heads to die" could be a metaphor for people trying to free themselves from their sorrow and grief. Overall, the song Footsteps by Marigold is a somber depiction of life's hardships and how people struggle to overcome them.


Line by Line Meaning

Onward we went with footsteps.
We moved forward with determination.


The avarice.
The greed.


And I attentive to the shades and the weeping.
I was alert to the darkness and sadness surrounding me.


Downward the bend.
We descended the slope.


The shadows appeared to be dead.
The darkness seemed lifeless.


Wonder, aware that I was living.
I was amazed to be alive and aware of my own existence.


The people I saw beneath it.
I saw people underneath the darkness.


They lift their hands and cry
They raised their hands and wept.


And I now know why.
And now I understand why.


Towards the leaves looking for protection.
They sought refuge among the leaves.


But it drives them back and from itself.
But the darkness pushed them away.


Sequestered.
Isolated.


I saw the tomb.
I saw the burial place.


Eyes in disdain in horror.
Eyes filled with disgust and terror.


That is the empty ghost.
That is the spirit devoid of life.


Watch it wash over me.
Watch it engulf me.


I am the empty ghost.
I am the spirit with no life.


Watch it watch over.
Watch it guard me.


The shadows lift their heads to die.
The darkness rises before fading.


And I know why.
And I understand why.


Aware that I was living.
I was conscious of being alive.




Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@randomroughneck1030

the combination of the voice, which is neither too high nor too low, and the jazzy yet funky and cheerful instruments make this song SO ADDICTING

@depaula664

IKR

@alyerickson7215

Even better live! Saw them last weekend and it was FANTASTIC

@randomroughneck1030

@@alyerickson7215 Wow, sounds fun! where did you see them at??

@hellonurd8957

Best accidental discovery ever!

@sugarcandykiddycat1986

Same. Thanks Spotify.

@soochestnut894

i can teeeeeelll its youuuu

IT IS ADDICTING

@hanitsuarezalvarado8296

Very addictive > _ <

@yimingsong7300

AGREEE YASSSSS OMFG!!!!!

@lifeasthewildotter8657

I like to imagine this is from a dog’s perspective and they know there owner just got home from work. Sitting at the door excited, tail wagging and everything. :) “i can tell it’s you by your footsteps in your shoes”

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