Vertigo
Opeth/Moonlapse Lyrics
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Lost sight of everything tonight
My presence blackens their pattern
A pock in the healthy and calm
Their scorn behind your back
My promise would put them down
No trace of reverence left
I would perish at the given signal
At the slightest touch from my soul
Tainted prophet in flesh
For all the plagued and lost
Dripping sin
Decision in stalemate
Dare to feel death at hand
Surprised me with its voice
Through the forest came the morn
Across the leafy pathway
Their deeds smeared in blood
For all to behold
The council of the cross
Must have sensed my coming
The pest through the air
With despise for squalor
Lashing out at the poor
I turned away my eyes
In pallor escape from the end
Fading time to leave from here
And less to fulfill my task
She would be safe and firm
Nothing of this is in vain
Taken away from stifling grace
And saved from the past
The lyrics of Opeth/Moonlapse's song Vertigo are intriguing, as they describe a person who has been lost and stumbled upon a council of people who seem to have a disdain for the poor, and whose "immemorial fire" appears to be waning when they sense the singer's arrival. There is a sense of danger and urgency, as the main character evaluates the situation and contemplates how to proceed. The promises that the character makes to those who scorn him could lead to their undoing, and he has the power to bring down those who hold contempt for others.
The character's thoughts and feelings are described as he sees everything around him and contemplates his options. He feels tainted and burdened by his own faults, yet wishes to save someone (perhaps a loved one) from the dangers that seem to envelop him. The imagery of the forest and the morn suggest that this is a time of change, and perhaps renewal. The character's escape from this situation is sorrowful, and we are left with the feeling that the singer is leaving something behind that he dearly wished he could stay for but is unable to.
Line by Line Meaning
Kept warm by the light of the lantern
The light from the lantern is comforting in the dark
Lost sight of everything tonight
Feeling lost and disconnected from reality
My presence blackens their pattern
They don't want me around, I bring negativity
A pock in the healthy and calm
A disturbance to their peace and tranquility
Their scorn behind your back
They talk negatively about you behind your back
My promise would put them down
I would make them regret their negative talk if I confronted them
No trace of reverence left
They have lost respect for me
Immemorial fire in their eyes
They are angry and resentful towards me
I would perish at the given signal
I am willing to die for a cause I believe in
At the slightest touch from my soul
My emotions are strong and easily triggered
Tainted prophet in flesh
I am perceived as a flawed messenger with a message
For all the plagued and lost
My message is for those who are suffering and struggling
Dripping sin
I am plagued with guilt and shame
Decision in stalemate
Unable to make a decision, feeling stuck
Dare to feel death at hand
Facing mortality and fear
Surprised me with its voice
Death speaks in unexpected ways
Through the forest came the morn
After the darkness, hope emerges
Across the leafy pathway
Journeying through nature towards a destination
Their deeds smeared in blood
Their actions have caused harm and destruction
For all to behold
Not hiding their wrongdoing, but displaying it openly
The council of the cross
Religious leaders and authority figures
Must have sensed my coming
They are aware of my presence and intentions
The pest through the air
My message is spreading like a plague
With despise for squalor
Disgusted by the poverty and suffering around them
Lashing out at the poor
Blaming and punishing those who are struggling
I turned away my eyes
Looking away from the darkness and negativity
In pallor escape from the end
Trying to escape from the fear of death and mortality
Fading time to leave from here
Time is running out, leaving this place behind
And less to fulfill my task
Not much time left to accomplish my mission
She would be safe and firm
Trying to protect someone and keep them secure
Nothing of this is in vain
Believing that everything happens for a reason
Taken away from stifling grace
Freed from oppressive and restrictive conditions
And saved from the past
Rescued from painful memories and experiences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKAEL LARS AKERFELDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Hammer
The riff starting at 0:46 is one of the greatest guitar riffs of progressive music
Yinzer Steel
Absolutely! I get chills from that riff. The outro, too.
Fansee 13
It made me shed a tear, moments like these are why I listen to music
Bassam H
Its great but its not a progressive riff buddy!
Peter Hammer
@Bassam H well it surely is!! Prog riffs can be melodic ones, too.
Lexington Deville84
Most underrated Opeth track IMHO. Still manages to sound heavy while retaining its melodic and progressive background.
colin derue
Opeth are masters of this.
Abscessedcadaver
Karma or The Amen Corner are way more underrated than this song.
Orion
not only in your honest opinion, but i think it's a fact
Lexington Deville84
Mdrummer24 Karma is another underrated gem.