Derelict Herds
Opeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While I was asleep in my house
A child was killed, I heard it from a friend
A war raged in a distant land
Cost me to linger on a piece of text
Someone died
Not here, never here
There was a fever
There is a failure
Are you a believer?
That someone lied to you
You hold it closer to your chest
There was a meaning for this test
But you forgot and it's gone now
You were controlled somehow
There was a mean time
An invitation of sorts
I remember life
I, I was sick with sorrow
I'd fallen asleep
And dreamt of my sins here
It was your turn
Adamant smile and said, "Thank you?
There was a sickness right in the family
While I shuddered in the cold
Woman hanged for her sins while I craved mine
An old man drowned in this life herd
As I made amends with my fathers
Someone died
Not here, never here
In "Derelict Herds," Opeth presents a poignant commentary on the nature of human suffering and the interconnectedness of life. The lyrics open with a bleak observation that someone died for looking too far while the singer was asleep in the comfort of their own home. This serves as a stark reminder that tragedy can strike at any time, whether we are ready for it or not. The singer then hears about a child's death and a distant war, emphasizing how suffering exists at both personal and global levels.
The lyrics also explore feelings of disillusionment and betrayal in the second half of the song. The line "there was a meaning for this test, but you forgot and it's gone now" suggests that we may sometimes struggle to understand the reasons for our suffering, and that the lessons we were meant to learn may slip away from us. This is compounded by the idea that the singer was "controlled somehow," hinting at a deeper sense of powerlessness in the face of fate.
The final stanza brings together several different storylines, including the singer's dream of their own sins and their attempt to make amends with their fathers. The lyrics culminate in the repeated refrain of "someone died, not here, never here," which underscores the idea that tragedy can occur at any time, to anyone, regardless of their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone died for looking too far
Someone met an unfortunate end while pursuing their curiosity and ambition
While I was asleep in my house
While the world suffers and changes around me, I remain ignorant and complacent in my own sheltered existence
A child was killed, I heard it from a friend
I am shielded from the harsh realities of the world, but still hear about the senseless violence and tragedy that occurs
A war raged in a distant land
Conflict and death occur far away from my comfortable bubble of existence, but still impact the world and those directly affected
Cost me to linger on a piece of text
The weight of the world's problems and atrocities can be overwhelming, causing me to become fixated on a particular issue or idea
There was a fever
There was a time of intense emotion and passion
There is a failure
Despite the effort and drive to make progress, sometimes things still fall short or go wrong
Are you a believer?
Do you have faith in something greater than yourself or the situation at hand?
That someone lied to you
Despite trusting and believing in someone, they deceived and betrayed me
You hold it closer to your chest
You hold onto your beliefs or secrets tightly, not wanting to expose them to the world
There was a meaning for this test
There was a reason and purpose behind the challenges or hardships faced in life
But you forgot and it's gone now
Despite there being a lesson to be learned, the experience has been forgotten or lost with time
You were controlled somehow
The circumstances or outside forces influenced and dictated the outcome of a situation
There was a mean time
There was a period of difficulty or tension
An invitation of sorts
An opportunity presented itself in a subtle or indirect way
I remember life
I recall the joys and experiences of living, despite the struggles and pain
I, I was sick with sorrow
I was overwhelmed with grief and sadness
I'd fallen asleep
I became apathetic or resigned to the world around me
And dreamt of my sins here
I faced the guilt and shame of my past mistakes and shortcomings
It was your turn
The focus shifted from me to someone else, their actions and consequences
Adamant smile and said, "Thank you?"
Despite the negative outcome or punishment, there is still appreciation or acceptance
There was a sickness right in the family
Dysfunction and illness existed within the closest unit of support and love
While I shuddered in the cold
Despite being physically warm and comfortable, the emotional turmoil and pain caused me to shiver and suffer
Woman hanged for her sins while I craved mine
Witnessing someone else face the fatal consequences of their actions made me wish for my own punishment or catharsis
An old man drowned in this life herd
An elderly person passed away while still struggling to survive in the herd or community of life
As I made amends with my fathers
I sought forgiveness and reconciliation with those who came before me, whether family or ancestors
Someone died
Death is an inevitable and pervasive part of life
Not here, never here
Despite being a universal and shared experience, death feels personal and removed from oneself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind