Half-Light
Orenda Fink Lyrics


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O, Lord of the Lost
Lead to the swamp
In half-light
Where our shadows move
Black water pools
And Spanish moss

This is when you feel us most
When the light slips away
And the old songs carry
In the wind

Bound by the great oak
Remains of home
We are the long-gone
Oh whispering ghosts
Days long ago
And silver-grey hair

This is when you feel us most
When the light slips away
And cicadas begin
To sing

You feel the eyes
The waiting eyes
Our shape takes root in half-light

You feel the eyes
The watching eyes
Blinking along the edge of darkness

This is when you feel us most
When the light slips away
And the old songs carry

This is when you feel us most
When the light slips away




And the old songs carry
In the wind

Overall Meaning

The song "Half-Light" by Orenda Fink is a haunting ballad that captures the feeling of being in a place where past and present converge, where spirits still linger and memories are preserved. The lyrics evoke an atmosphere of mystery and nostalgia, as the singer calls upon the Lord of the Lost to lead them to a swamp where shadows move and black water pools. The image of Spanish moss hanging from the trees adds to the sense of otherworldliness, as if the setting exists in a liminal space between the living and the dead.


The second verse shifts the focus to the singer and others like them, who are the remnants of a long-gone time. They are bound by the great oak, which serves as a symbol of their connection to the land and their ancestors. The reference to silver-grey hair suggests that they are elders or ancestors themselves, who have returned in spirit form to this place of memory and significance. The repeated refrain of "this is when you feel us most" underscores the idea that this is a special time and place where the spirits can be sensed and remembered.


Overall, "Half-Light" is a powerful evocation of a specific sense of place and time, one that is tied to the land and the spirits that inhabit it. Orenda Fink's haunting vocals and spare, atmospheric guitar work create a sense of timelessness that suits the subject matter perfectly.


Line by Line Meaning

O, Lord of the Lost
The singer is addressing a higher power as the Lord of the Lost


Lead to the swamp
Asking the Lord to guide them to the swamp


In half-light
Referring to the low light conditions of dusk or dawn


Where our shadows move
Describing how shadows seem to move and come to life in half-light


Black water pools
Referring to stagnant pools of water that are dark and unsettling


And Spanish moss
Describing the plant life found in the swamp


This is when you feel us most
Suggesting that in half-light, the singer and their companions are most present and easily felt


When the light slips away
Referring to the transition from day to night


And the old songs carry
Describing the haunting melodies that can be heard in the wind


Bound by the great oak
Describing a location in the swamp where there is a large oak tree that is significant to the artist


Remains of home
Referring to the remnants of a former dwelling, possibly the singer's home


We are the long-gone
Suggesting that the artist and their companions are no longer living


Oh whispering ghosts
Addressing the singer and their companions as ghosts who can still be heard in the wind


Days long ago
Referring to a time in the past that the ghosts are associated with


And silver-grey hair
Describing the appearance of the ghosts


And cicadas begin
Referring to the sound of cicadas signaling the end of daylight


To sing
Describing the sound of cicadas


You feel the eyes
Suggesting that the ghosts are watching and potentially following the listener


The waiting eyes
Describing how the ghosts are waiting patiently for someone to notice them


Our shape takes root in half-light
Suggesting that the image of the ghosts is more easily visible in half-light


The watching eyes
Referring again to the ghosts' presence and watchful nature


Blinking along the edge of darkness
Describing the way the ghosts seem to disappear and reappear along the edge of light and dark


And the old songs carry
Repetition of the haunting melodies heard in the wind, which suggests their importance to the story and the setting


In the wind
Describing the medium through which the old songs are carried




Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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