Argos
Oliver Oat Lyrics
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the tales are true
but you
you are much luckier than me
I put your wounded eye on a triangle, softly
would you like to trade
I have kaleidoscopes she gave me
she spoke to me in many ways
but all the things she said were like a thunderstorm
and then our child was born
and I sailed away
I'd tell you all I could
I'd tell you of the good (all the good about her)
I'd tell you all, I would
I should, but then I'd get emotional
you know that I can't cry
I could try
but the flood might sink the island
and your father would be glad and mad at once
I'd give you one of mine
I'd take some wine
and with a spoon you'd pop them out with ease
but please, they'd only burst
because they're cursed
because they're mine
just let me listen to this song and doze away
The lyrics to Oliver Oat's song "Argos" are filled with abstract imagery and metaphors, making it difficult to pin down a concrete meaning. However, there are a few key themes that seem to recur throughout the song. The opening lines, "I am the guardian, the tales are true, but you, you are much luckier than me," suggest a sense of duty and responsibility on the part of the singer, but also a sense of envy towards the person they are addressing. The following line, "I put your wounded eye on a triangle, softly," is equally enigmatic, but could perhaps be interpreted as a metaphor for the act of seeing something from a new and unique perspective.
The second verse continues to explore the singer's relationship with someone they care about deeply. They describe receiving kaleidoscopes that were made for them by this person, and speak of her in almost reverential terms: "she spoke to me in many ways, but all the things she said were like a thunderstorm." However, there is also a sense of sadness and loss in the lyrics, particularly in the lines "and then our child was born, and I sailed away." The singer seems to be torn between the love they feel for this person and their sense of duty to some higher purpose.
The final verse hints at some kind of emotional turmoil or trauma that the singer is struggling with. They say that they could try to cry, but are afraid that it would cause too much emotional upheaval. However, they also express a desire to share their feelings and tell the person they are speaking to "all the good" they could about the woman they love. Ultimately, though, they seem to choose the solace of music over attempting to communicate their emotions directly.
Overall, "Argos" is a complex and poetic exploration of love, duty, and the human capacity for feeling. The use of abstract imagery and metaphor makes it difficult to pin down a concrete meaning, but also lends the song a dreamlike quality that is both haunting and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the guardian
I am responsible for protecting and guarding something or someone.
the tales are true
What you have heard or read about me is correct.
but you
However, in comparison to me, you are different and unique.
you are much luckier than me
You have better fortune or fate than I do.
I put your wounded eye on a triangle, softly
I carefully and tenderly placed your injured eye onto a triangular object.
would you like to trade
Are you interested in exchanging something with me?
I have kaleidoscopes she gave me
I possess instruments that portray beautiful, ever-changing patterns that were gifted to me by someone.
kaleidoscopes she made for me
Those kaleidoscopes were made specifically for me by that person.
she spoke to me in many ways
That person communicated with me in various manners.
but all the things she said were like a thunderstorm
However, everything that person said was loud and chaotic, like a storm.
and then our child was born
And as a result of our relationship, we had a child.
and I sailed away
After the child was born, I left on a journey by boat.
I'd tell you all I could
I would share everything I know about something or someone to you.
I'd tell you of the good
I would narrate about all the positive features or characteristics of that something or someone.
I'd tell you all, I would
I would reveal every bit of information that I possess.
I should, but then I'd get emotional
I ought to, but if I do, I become overwhelmed with emotions.
you know that I can't cry
You are aware that I'm incapable of shedding tears.
I could try
Even though I'm unable to cry, I could attempt to.
but the flood might sink the island
But if I do cry, it may result in a torrential flood that could engulf the island.
and your father would be glad and mad at once
Your father would experience happiness at one point, and be furious at another.
I'd give you one of mine
I would offer one of my possessions to you.
I'd take some wine
I would take some wine, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits.
and with a spoon you'd pop them out with ease
Using a spoon, you could quickly and effortlessly remove something from its container.
but please, they'd only burst
However, please note that they will eventually explode or break.
because they're cursed
It is because they are under a spell or a supernatural condition that makes them inevitable to fail.
because they're mine
Because they belong to me.
just let me listen to this song and doze away
Just allow me to enjoy this melody and drift into a peaceful slumber.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.