Pallbearer released their debut album "Sorrow and Extinction" in February 2012 via Profound Lore Records to much critical acclaim.
The current line-up is:
Brett Campbell - vocals, guitar
Devin Holt - guitar
Joseph D. Rowland - bass
Mark Lierly - drums
03. Watcher in the Dark
Pallbearer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Corporeal vessel left behind
Into formless void
Branching web of space and time
Wandering away
Wandering deeper inside
Swirling mass-ten billion eyes
Dismal cosmic tomb
Spines licking astral mind
Wandering away
Wandering deeper inside
Endless and obscured
The watcher in the dark
In the sea of illusion
A voyage to beyond, within
The lyrics of Pallbearer's song "Watcher in the Dark" are quite metaphorical and open to interpretation. At the surface level, the song seems to be about a person who has passed away and has left their physical body behind to traverse through the unknown, formless void. The use of the phrases "torn through the veil" and "corporeal vessel left behind" suggest that the person has experienced some kind of separation from their physical form and is now lost in the unknown. The imagery of "swirling mass-ten billion eyes" and "spines licking astral mind" further emphasizes the sense of overwhelming chaos and the struggle to maintain composure in the face of the unknown.
However, the song could also be interpreted as a commentary on existentialism and the human condition. The lyrics seem to suggest that as human beings, we are constantly wandering and searching for meaning and purpose in a universe that is vast and incomprehensible. The imagery of an "endless open wound" and a "dismal cosmic tomb" could be seen as a representation of the universe as a whole, and the sense of being lost or separated from one's physical form could be a metaphor for the feeling of detachment and anxiety that often accompanies the quest for meaning.
In summary, "Watcher in the Dark" is a complex and reflective song that explores themes of death, existentialism, and the unknown. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the listener's perspective and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Torn through the veil
Ripped beyond the barrier separating this world from the next
Corporeal vessel left behind
Physical body abandoned in the mortal realm
Into formless void
Entering an undefined emptiness
Branching web of space and time
An expansive network linking all of existence
Wandering away
Drifting aimlessly
Wandering deeper inside
Delving further into the unknown
Endless open wound
Infinite gash in the fabric of reality
Swirling mass-ten billion eyes
Twisting swarm of countless observers
Dismal cosmic tomb
Gloomy resting place in the vast universe
Spines licking astral mind
Crawling tendrils over the cosmic consciousness
Endless and obscured
Limitless and hidden
The watcher in the dark
The unseen observer in the shadows
In the sea of illusion
Amidst the ocean of deception
A voyage to beyond, within
An odyssey that transcends both the external and internal worlds
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind