Prologue
Opeth Lyrics


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A morning in magenta, the petals fed from the dew. She held her breath for a moment, to pause off the stream. Still clinging to vast, old memories. And I would marvel at her beauty, playing through the rain. The coffin is beautifully engraved. Stained by soil, symbols of death. All of which are stared upon, with porcelain eyes it seems. Some spoke, and it was my turn to go. In death entwined, I could not believe. But it hangs around my neck. A soft breeze passed me by, somewhat warmer for a second. I knew it was the coming of spring, thus our >April Etheral<




Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Prologue by Opeth depict a scene where a person, most likely the singer, is looking at a woman, who seems to be staring at a coffin. The woman takes a pause to catch her breath, and the singer admires her beauty, even as she stands in the rain. The coffin is elaborately decorated and bears symbols of death. The eyes of the people around it seem lifeless, perhaps like they are made of porcelain. The singer then describes how some people spoke, and then it was his turn to leave, perhaps implying that he is attending a funeral. The singer is left surprised and in disbelief as he realizes that he is now entwined with death. However, amidst the solemnity, the singer notes a soft breeze passes him, and the coming of spring is heralded, indicating some hope amidst sorrow.


Overall, the song Prologue is a powerful and poignant portrayal of the themes of beauty, death and hope. The lyrics are beautifully crafted and evoke strong emotions in the listener, as they grapple with the pain of loss, but also the paradoxical beauty that death sometimes brings.


Line by Line Meaning

A morning in magenta, the petals fed from the dew.
The singer describes a beautifully colored morning with dew on the petals of the flowers.


She held her breath for a moment, to pause off the stream.
The woman takes a brief moment to stop and appreciate the peacefulness around her.


Still clinging to vast, old memories.
The woman is still attached to her memories from the past.


And I would marvel at her beauty, playing through the rain.
The artist admires the woman's beauty even in the midst of rain and bad weather.


The coffin is beautifully engraved. Stained by soil, symbols of death.
The coffin is ornately designed but has been affected by burial and represents death.


All of which are stared upon, with porcelain eyes it seems.
The onlookers gaze at the coffin and its designs with a cold, lifeless expression.


Some spoke, and it was my turn to go.
After others have spoken, it is now the singer's turn to speak or act.


In death entwined, I could not believe. But it hangs around my neck.
The artist feels both intimately connected to death and disbelieving of its finality, represented by wearing a symbol of death around their neck.


A soft breeze passed me by, somewhat warmer for a second.
The wind brings a brief moment of warmth and comfort to the artist.


I knew it was the coming of spring, thus our >April Etheral<
The arrival of spring, with its beauty and new growth, is representative of an otherworldly, mystical experience.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ, ROBERT J LOPEZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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