Odawas is a psychedelic/ambient rock band that formed in Bloomington, IN in… Read Full Bio ↴Odawas is a psychedelic/ambient rock band that formed in Bloomington, IN in late 2003. Their first EP, Vitamin City, was self-released in 2004. In 2005, Jagjaguwar Records released The Aether Eater, the band's first full-length. While recording a follow-up record, singer and songwriter Michael Tapscott produced a home-recorded solo record under the moniker More Animals of the Arctic. An Appendix of Whaling Terms was released in 2006 by Standard Recording Company. 2007 saw the release of Raven and the White Night on Jagjaguwar. The album found the band crafting material that blended the songwriting of Tapscott's solo work and the ambient textures developed on Odawas' Jagjaguwar debut.

Alleluia
Odawas Lyrics

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Alleluia
Cue the strings of Beethoven
Walk in the light to the wicked oscillations
And the waving of hands that binds us in the netherworld
And holds us where we stand

Alleluia
The light was bright, the whole thing's fantastic

Walk in the light into the brilliant oscillations

Into the waving hands that binds us in a netherworld
And holds us where we stand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Odawas's "Alleluia" are poetic and layered. The song has a spiritual tone and speaks of the power of light and the netherworld. The opening line, "Cue the strings of Beethoven," sets the stage for a grand and dramatic experience. The use of Beethoven's music reflects the beauty and majesty of the universe which the lyrics are trying to convey. The following line, "Walk in the light to the wicked oscillations," is an interesting contrast. Normally, light and wickedness are seen as opposites, but here they are brought together. The oscillations are possibly a reference to the ups and downs in life, and how they are intertwined with both good and evil. The next line speaks of "the waving of hands that binds us in the netherworld," giving a sense of being trapped, possibly by a higher power.

The use of the word "alleluia" is also significant, as it is a word of praise and worship. The adage "walk in the light" is often used in religious contexts as a metaphor for living a virtuous life. However, in this song, there is a sense of irony as the light and oscillations are paired with "the waving hands that bind us in a netherworld." This again reinforces the idea of being trapped and unable to escape. The final line, "And holds us where we stand," further emphasizes this theme of being stuck in a situation.

Line by Line Meaning

Alleluia
Expressing joy and praise to the divine

Cue the strings of Beethoven
Calling for the dramatic and powerful music of Beethoven

Walk in the light to the wicked oscillations
Move towards the bright and positive energy despite the disruptive and unsettling movements around

And the waving of hands that binds us in the netherworld
Referring to the manipulative forces that hold us back from progress and growth

And holds us where we stand
Having a strong hold on us and preventing us from moving forward

The light was bright, the whole thing's fantastic
The positive energy is overwhelming and the experience is amazing

Walk in the light into the brilliant oscillations
Moving forward into the brightness and euphoric energy of the surroundings

Into the waving hands that binds us in a netherworld
Facing the manipulating forces that entrap us in a world of darkness and negativity

And holds us where we stand
Being hindered from progress and growth by these controlling and restrictive forces

Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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