Panoptica is a moniker used by Roberto A. Mendoza from Tijuana, Mexico.
… Read Full Bio ↴Panoptica is a moniker used by Roberto A. Mendoza from Tijuana, Mexico.

Roberto Mendoza has been one of the main figures in the Mexican electronic scene since the late 80s, founding bands like electro post-industrial outfit Artefakto and in the late 90s the Tijuana based norteña-meets-techno Nortec Collective. He has also been releasing tracks as Panóptica and it was under this name that English DJ John Peel took notice, inviting him to do one of his Peel sessions for the BBC in 2001. In 2005 Roberto had embark on finishing 2 projects one called "Desierto" and the other R. Mendoza where friends like David J. (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) lend a hand on bass and guitars.

Lydia
Panoptica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm losing my mind in a record amount of time
Is it all in my head?
These ghosts in the hall ways, and mirrors, and under my bed

In each town I find there's always a graveyard near by
I'm taking here home
That girl from Glasgow whose father just left her alone

And I was moved inside that crooked room
I reached out my hand and shyly asked her to dance
She cried as we swayed and in my head that song continues to play
The saddest melody that just won't go away

And in my mind she's fully real
A little voice that helps me feel

And if they thought I was crazy then
Wait until they meet my friend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Panoptica’s song Lydia speak of the singer’s inner turmoil as they navigate through strange experiences and unsettling feelings. The song starts with the line “I’m losing my mind in a record amount of time” which conveys the urgency and inevitability of their mental breakdown. The singer questions the reality of their situation and wonders if they are simply imagining the “ghosts in the hallways, and mirrors, and under my bed”. The second stanza speaks of the singer’s habit of seeking out graveyards wherever they go and taking home a girl from Glasgow who is abandoned by her father.

The chorus of the song speaks of a pivotal moment where the singer connects with Lydia, the girl from Glasgow, who appears as a “fully real” entity in their mind. They dance to a “saddest melody that just won’t go away” and Lydia becomes a “little voice that helps me feel”. The song ends with an ominous note as the singer declares that if people thought they were crazy then, they haven’t met Lydia yet.

Lydia is a haunting song that speaks to mental distress and the power of imagination. The theme of being haunted by ghosts and seeking solace in cemeteries runs throughout the song and adds a layer of eeriness to it. The connection between the singer and Lydia is ambiguous, and the lyric “Wait until they meet my friend” could suggest that Lydia is a figment of the singer’s imagination or something more sinister.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm losing my mind in a record amount of time
I feel like my mind is deteriorating at an incredibly fast rate

Is it all in my head?
I'm questioning whether or not what I'm experiencing is actually happening or if it's just in my imagination

These ghosts in the hall ways, and mirrors, and under my bed
I feel like there are ghosts or other supernatural entities lurking in every corner of my life

In each town I find there's always a graveyard near by
Every place I go seems to have a nearby cemetery, reminding me of death constantly

I'm taking here home
I'm bringing home a girl from Glasgow who is in need of help and support

That girl from Glasgow whose father just left her alone
The girl I'm bringing home has recently been abandoned by her father and is in a vulnerable state

And I was moved inside that crooked room
I was emotionally affected by being in a strange and unsettling room

I reached out my hand and shyly asked her to dance
I made an effort to connect with the girl I brought home by asking her to dance with me

She cried as we swayed and in my head that song continues to play
The girl cried as we danced and a certain song has become stuck in my head as a result of the emotional moment

The saddest melody that just won't go away
The song in my head is incredibly sad and won't leave me alone

And in my mind she's fully real
I fully believe that this girl is a real person, despite any doubts from others

A little voice that helps me feel
The girl's presence and character gives me comfort and helps me to feel something positive

And if they thought I was crazy then
I'm aware that others may judge me and think I am crazy

Wait until they meet my friend
But they will truly question my sanity when they realize my friend is someone they cannot see or comprehend

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARC BIANCHI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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