ANCIENT
Operators Lyrics


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Unstuck in time, swim through the treetops
Waiting for dawn to melt through the morning ice
Beating of blood change in the weather
Back to the house and listen to quiet life
Under the dome you wear piece of paper
Traveling long under a distant sun
When will you come back from the city?
Cause when you're gone, this heart is a wild thing
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
I was tuning my head, tracing the station
Following lions back to my father's house
But there's no trying to sleep under this radiation
I open my mouth spilling out violent life
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
And when she's gone, who will inspire?
And when she's gone, who will you love?
Who could you love?
Who could you love?
Who could you love?
Who could you love?
Who put the ancient cold in their bones?
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
Unstuck in time, vibrating tourists
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
Never enough, glowing in the wild light
Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
Dreaming my life across the wild
Everyone asked, "Who you gonna love when you make it home?"
Who you gonna love when you make it home?
Who you gonna love when you make it home?
Who you gonna love when you make it home?
Who will you love?




Who could you love?
Who could you love?

Overall Meaning

The song "Ancient" by Operators is a melancholic and introspective piece that touches on themes of nostalgia, loneliness, and the passing of time. The opening lyrics suggest a dream-like state where the singer is disconnected from time and space, "Unstuck in time, swim through the treetops". The imagery creates a sensory and immersive experience for the listener which is reinforced by the evocative language, "Waiting for dawn to melt through the morning ice".


The chorus repeats the haunting question "Who put the ancient cold in your bones?" which seems to be a metaphor for the sorrow and weight of past experiences that still linger in the present. The vulnerability and longing of the singer are revealed in lines like "And when she's gone, who will inspire? And when she's gone, who will you love?".


The latter part of the song has a sense of urgency and confusion, as the singer tries to find their way back home but is plagued by doubts and fears. The final chorus, which repeats the question "Who you gonna love when you make it home?", is an emotional climax that highlights the theme of love and the search for connection.


Overall, "Ancient" is a powerful and introspective song that invites the listener to reflect on their own experiences of loss, nostalgia, and love.


Line by Line Meaning

Unstuck in time, swim through the treetops
I feel like I'm outside of time, with the freedom to swim through the tops of trees.


Waiting for dawn to melt through the morning ice
I'm waiting patiently for the sun to come up and melt the frost, bringing warmth and light to the world.


Beating of blood change in the weather
My body reacts to changes in the weather, with my blood beating faster or slower depending on the conditions around me.


Back to the house and listen to quiet life
Returning home, I appreciate the beauty and simplicity of a peaceful, quiet life.


Under the dome you wear piece of paper
Living under a dome, you're shielded from the outside world, but at the same time, constrained by the limits of what you can do within that space.


Traveling long under a distant sun
Journeying for a long time, under the blazing heat of a far-off sun, can be a lonely and grueling experience.


When will you come back from the city?
I'm wondering when you'll return from your trip to the city, longing for your presence and the comfort it brings.


Cause when you're gone, this heart is a wild thing
Without you here to ground me, my heart is untamed and unpredictable, prone to reckless behavior and bursts of intense emotion.


Who put the ancient cold in your bones?
I'm curious about what caused you to be so cold and unfeeling, seemingly distant and disconnected from those around you.


I was tuning my head, tracing the station
I was lost in my thoughts, tuning out the world and focusing intently on the thoughts and ideas racing through my mind.


Following lions back to my father's house
In my dreams, I'm following powerful, majestic lions back to the place where I grew up, seeking guidance and comfort from my father.


But there's no trying to sleep under this radiation
The heat and energy emanating from my dreams and my inner thoughts makes it impossible to rest or find peace.


I open my mouth spilling out violent life
In moments of intense emotion, I feel like I'm spilling out a raw, violent energy that's difficult to contain or control.


And when she's gone, who will inspire?
Without her presence in my life, who will motivate me and spark my creativity?


And when she's gone, who will you love?
In her absence, who will I turn to for affection and companionship?


Who could you love?
I'm unsure if there's anyone else out there who could capture my heart and inspire deep feelings of love and connection in me.


Unstuck in time, vibrating tourists
We're all caught up in the flow of time, each of us vibrating with our own unique energy and perspective as we journey through life.


Never enough, glowing in the wild light
Despite our best efforts, it always feels like there's never enough time or energy, with each of us glowing brightly but unpredictably in the chaos of the world around us.


Dreaming my life across the wild
I'm constantly dreaming and imagining new possibilities for my life, with my mind wandering across vast expanses of uncharted territory.


Everyone asked, "Who you gonna love when you make it home?"
People are always asking who I'll return to and who I'll love when I finally achieve my goals or come back from a long journey.


Who you gonna love when you make it home?
I'm wondering myself who I'll be able to love and connect with when I finally reach my destination and settle down once more.


Who will you love?
Ultimately, I'm left with the question of who I will love and how I will navigate the twists and turns of life's journey.


Who could you love?
In a world full of uncertainty and unpredictability, I'm not sure who I'll be lucky enough to find and fall in love with.




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