Name Taken
Massive Attack Lyrics
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Always icy
Open rooms
Contra zoom
Pictures may
Faces may
Fade away
Fade away
Brothers then
Get close to them
Step outside
Gunmetal sky
Peel away
Children play
Fade away
Fade away
Fade away
The lyrics of Massive Attack's song "Name Taken" are open to interpretation, but there is a general sense of melancholy and nostalgia present. The mention of "Hallways I see, always icy" can be interpreted as a reference to a lonely and cold environment that the singer may be stuck in. "Open rooms, contra zoom" could be describing the feeling of being lost or overwhelmed in large and open spaces. The mention of fading pictures and faces could be a representation of memory loss or a fading of past experiences. The line "Brothers then get close to them, step outside gunmetal sky" may be a reflection of the need for human connection and a reminder to appreciate our relationships before it's too late.
The line "Peel away, children play, fade away, fade away" could be interpreted as a reference to the fleeting nature of childhood and the memories that come with it. The repetition of the line "fade away" throughout the song emphasizes the transitory and ephemeral nature of life, and how nothing is permanent. Essentially, the lyrics may be exploring the existential themes of isolation, loss, and mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Hallways I see
I observe the narrow corridors
Always icy
They are perpetually cold
Open rooms
Unoccupied spaces
Contra zoom
A camera technique that zooms out while moving in
Pictures may
Images sometimes
Faces may
Features sometimes
Fade away
Gradually disappear
Brothers then
Comrades next
Get close to them
Form close bonds with them
Step outside
Move beyond the interior
Gunmetal sky
A dusky, ominous sky
Peel away
Strip off
Children play
Kids frolic
Fade away
Gradually vanish
Fade away
Succumb to oblivion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Grantley Evan Marshall, Neil Davidge, Robert Del Naja
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind