Peccatum was formed by singer Ihriel (Heidi Solberg Tveitan), her husband I… Read Full Bio ↴Peccatum was formed by singer Ihriel (Heidi Solberg Tveitan), her husband Ihsahn (of the well-known black metal band Emperor), and her brother Lord PZ (Source of Tide) in Norway. The group released five albums between their inception in 1998 and their split on March 4, 2006. Lost in Reverie, released in 2004 after Lord PZ's departure, demonstrated a change in a more classical, avant-garde and musically opaque direction.

Lost in Reverie and the 2005 EP The Moribund People were both produced under the label Mnemosyne Productions, owned and operated by Ihriel and Ihsahn themselves.

On March 4th, 2006 Peccatum split, leaving room for Ihriel to continue with Star of Ash and Ihsahn to work on his solo work. They still work together in their other project Hardingrock.

A Penny
Peccatum Lyrics

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One is looking away
Another has walked far astray
The flock is gasping their laugh

They seem to believe
Their petty hearts are not black holes
I see a penny's worth of heart

To bathe them in
The very same nightmare
I drown

To bleed the words
That cut like razor blades
And sing

Show me the truly strong
Who needs to mirror his strength
In the broken

The daily charade
Of portioned out compassion
Who dares to know himself in another

To tie a gallows rope
Of mockery and spite
For the dawn

To breath the air

Of night, of rain
Of solitude

Overall Meaning

The song "A Penny" by Peccatum is a deeply introspective and thought-provoking piece. At the core of the lyrics is the theme of human nature and the flaws that underpin our existence. The opening lines set the scene, with one person looking away and another having strayed from the path. The flock is laughing, oblivious to their own shortcomings. In the face of this, the singer sees only a "penny's worth of heart" - a small glimmer of humanity in a world that is often callous and cruel.

The singer then expresses the desire to "bathe them in the very same nightmare" and to "bleed the words that cut like razor blades and sing." This is an intense and powerful imagery, suggesting a willingness to fight against the injustices of the world, even if it means causing pain to others.

The song then turns to a plea for strength, with the singer asking for someone to "mirror his strength in the broken" and to "dare to know himself in another." This is a powerful call for empathy and understanding, highlighting the importance of recognizing our shared humanity.

The final lines of the song are equally powerful, with the singer expressing a desire to "tie a gallows rope of mockery and spite" for the dawn, and to "breathe the air of night, of rain, of solitude." Here, the lyrics offer a stark contrast between the darkness of humanity and the purity of nature. It is a poignant reminder of our own fallibility and the need to appreciate the simple beauty of the world around us.

Overall, "A Penny" is a powerful exploration of the human condition, touching on themes of empathy, understanding, and the struggle to find inner strength in the face of overwhelming injustice.

Line by Line Meaning

One is looking away
One person is turning a blind eye to something important

Another has walked far astray
Someone else has gone completely off course and lost their way

The flock is gasping their laugh
The group around them is laughing in disbelief despite the serious situation

They seem to believe
They look like they think

Their petty hearts are not black holes
They have small, shallow hearts, but they're not completely empty

I see a penny's worth of heart
I can see only the bare minimum of compassion in them

To bathe them in
To immerse them completely in

The very same nightmare
The exact same horror and pain

I drown
I feel like I'm sinking and being overwhelmed

To bleed the words
To let out the painful truth

That cut like razor blades
That hurt very deeply