Only Shallow
My Bloody Valentine Lyrics

Only Shallow by My Bloody Valentine is a dreamy and atmospheric song that blends ethereal vocals with a haze of distorted guitars and shoegaze soundscapes. The song's lyrics are enigmatic and impressionistic, hinting at elusive emotions and experiences without spelling them out directly. The opening lines of the song, "Sleep like a pillow / Down(ward) and (where) she won't care / Anyway (where)," convey a sense of surrender and detachment, as if the singer is letting go of their worries and fears and drifting into a state of oblivion. The use of parentheses and minimalistic language adds to the ambiguity and open-endedness of the verse.

The second verse builds on the theme of sensuality and vulnerability, as the singer addresses an unnamed female figure: "Soft as a pillow / Touch her there where she won't dare / Somewhere." The use of the word "soft" echoes the dreamy texture of the instrumental backing, while the phrase "where she won't dare" suggests that the woman is hesitant or reluctant to let the singer touch her in certain places or ways. The chorus of the song repeats the word "sleep" and adds a sense of invitation or temptation to it, as if the singer is beckoning the woman to join them in a state of blissful oblivion.

Overall, Only Shallow is a prime example of the shoegaze genre's ability to create immersive and otherworldly soundscapes that evoke a range of emotions and moods without relying on explicit narratives or messages.