Biography by Heather Phares
Ophelia
Minks Lyrics
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The darkness always follows
There is no way to lead a quiet life
When the pieces I forget
are the pieces that you swallow
Memories are all we have
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
And the strangers that we meet
are the faces in the darkness
I always had you by my side
And I'll try my best to smile
The emptiness inside
Is my smile hollow?
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
Wherever you will roam
The darkness always follows
There is no way to lead a quiet life
When the pieces I forget
are the pieces that you swallow
The memories are all we have
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
They wanted Ophelia
The lyrics to Minks’s “Ophelia” speak to the idea of darkness following, and the challenges that come with leading a “quiet life.” The repetition of the phrase “They wanted Ophelia” throughout the song adds to the hauntingly mysterious tone, leaving the listener to wonder who or what is after Ophelia - is it a person, an idea, or something else entirely? Ophelia could be used as a metaphor for the character in Shakespeare’s "Hamlet," representing the loss of innocence and the destructive nature of madness.
The line “The pieces I forget are the pieces that you swallow” suggests that there are parts of ourselves that we suppress or forget in order to conform to societal norms or expectations. These unacknowledged parts of ourselves can be harmful if repressed for too long. The idea that “memories are all we have” speaks to the importance of cherishing our experiences and the people we encounter in life, as they shape who we are and how we see the world.
Overall, the lyrics to “Ophelia” leave the listener with the sense that there is a constant threat lurking in the darkness, a force that is after Ophelia and is difficult to avoid. The repetition of the phrase “They wanted Ophelia” suggests that this force is persistent and unrelenting, leaving the listener to question what the true meaning behind the mysterious words might be.
Line by Line Meaning
Wherever you will roam
No matter where you go, darkness and difficulty will always follow you.
The darkness always follows
The negative aspects of life are persistent and difficult to avoid.
There is no way to lead a quiet life
It is impossible to live a completely peaceful and problem-free life.
When the pieces I forget
When I forget important aspects of myself or my life.
Are the pieces that you swallow
The things I forget are the things that are important to you.
Memories are all we have
The only things that truly endure are our memories.
They wanted Ophelia
There were others who desired the singer's love and attention, just as others wanted Ophelia.
And the strangers that we meet
The people we encounter in life, especially those we don't know, can be intimidating and even frightening.
Are the faces in the darkness
These unknown people can seem like shadowy, ominous figures when we don't know their intentions.
I always had you by my side
The artist had the support and love of the person they are addressing for a long time.
And I'll try my best to smile
Despite the pain and struggle the singer is experiencing, they will make an effort to be happy and positive.
The emptiness inside
The artist feels a deep sense of loneliness and loss inside themselves.
Is my smile hollow?
The singer questions whether their happiness is genuine or if they are simply pretending to be okay.
Contributed by James W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.