In 1984, Fell From the Sun EP was released and then followed in '85 by another EP, Northern Line. In 1987, the band released their first and last full-length album, Happy Nightmare Baby, on SST. Smith left the group on the Happy Nightmare tour and effectively put an end to the band. David Roback continued with vocalist Hope Sandoval, and in 1989 this band became Mazzy Star. A singles and rarities anthology, Early Recordings, was released that year on Rough Trade.
All Souls
Opal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whispering of quieter days
Not today
We are
Thinking of hours we’ve lost
Or mislaid
But I have you
When I
Think of the strangers that play
In my mind
People
I never met or have left
Far behind
Long for the moon
But I have you
The lyrics of Opal's "All Souls" are shrouded in a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The first verse speaks of trees whispering of quieter days, which can be interpreted as being symbolic of the passage of time and change. The second line, "Not today", almost seems like a rebuttal to the first, which implies that the present day is not a quieter one at all. The next verse continues this theme with the lyrics, "Thinking of hours we’ve lost Or mislaid", which speaks of the regret people have for not being able to hold onto or appreciate certain moments in their lives.
The chorus of the song is where the mood shifts somewhat, with the introduction of the moon and the focus on the singer's companion. The lyrics, "Night has the moon But I have you" are a celebration of the power of love and companionship to provide comfort and solace even in the darkest of nights. The next verse begins with the singer thinking of the strangers that play in her mind, which can refer to the memories of people she may have encountered in the past who have left a lasting impression on her. The closing line, "Long for the moon But I have you", echoes the sentiments of the chorus and reinforces the idea that love is a powerful force that can provide stability and comfort in uncertain times.
Line by Line Meaning
Trees are
The trees are making audible sounds
Whispering of quieter days
The trees are communicating about peaceful and less tumultuous times
Not today
But this is not the present situation
We are
We as individuals
Thinking of hours we’ve lost
Reflecting on the time that has passed that we have not used effectively
Or mislaid
Or the time that we have misplaced or used unwisely
Night has the moon
The moon is visible at night
But I have you
But I have you, which brings me light and joy regardless of what is visible to me
When I
During moments when I
Think of the strangers that play
Contemplate the unknown individuals that are occupying my thoughts
In my mind
Present in my thoughts and imagination
People
Individuals
I never met or have left
Whom I have not encountered or who have left my life
Far behind
In the distant past
Long for the moon
Yearn to have what I do not possess
But I have you
But I have you to cherish and appreciate
Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gogiggs6416
Back when such things mattered, this was the final song on every mixtape I made.
Just gorgeous.
@sabatasmith
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
@dandelioninspace
Kendra wrote this right after her first composition Fell From The Sun. Was still transitioning from bass to guitar and intuiting chords she didn't even know. Seriously.... genius.
@strawb13
Thank you for posting this. Thanks David Roback for the music.
@heliannthus
Beautiful lullaby, before disappearing
@stevelas9812
Haunting. Sounds a little like a female Syd Barrett.
@hjm1
urge overkill
@SmokeCloudKings
viewer #5,000 & counting