rift
Phish (W/ Carlos Santana**) Lyrics
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And coasting a terrace, approaching a rift
Through which I could spy several glimpses beneath
Of the darkness the light from above could not reach
I spied wings of reason, herself taking flight
And upon yonder precipice saw her alight
And glared back at me one last look of dismay
As if she were the last one she thought I'd betray
So much better I said to myself
And drawing quite close to the top of the shelf
I struggled with destiny upon the ledge
And gasped when defeated he slipped off the edge
And silence contagious in moments like these
Consumed me and strengthened my will to appease
The passion that sparked me one terrible night
And shocked and persuaded my soul to ignite
So much better I said to myself
And drawing quite close to the top of the shelf
I struggled with destiny upon the ledge
And gasped when defeated he slipped off the edge
And silence contagious in moments like these
Consume me and strengthen my will to appease
The passion that sparked me one terrible night
(And shocked and persuaded my soul to ignite) x5
The lyrics of "Rift" by Phish featuring Carlos Santana are very metaphorical and abstract, and they describe a moment of existential crisis where the singer is standing on a ledge overlooking a rift. As he takes in the darkness beneath, he sees "wings of reason" taking flight and feels a sense of failure as if he has betrayed her. The passage describes a struggle with destiny on the ledge, and the singer's gasp as he sees destiny defeated and slipping off the edge. The silent moment that follows is contagious, and it strengthens the singer's will to appease the passion that sparked him on one terrible night and persuaded his soul to ignite.
There are several ways to interpret the imagery in the lyrics. It could be a metaphor for a mental or emotional breakdown, where the rift represents a split between the singer's rational self and his more impulsive or passionate side. The wings of reason could represent the part of him that tries to maintain control, while the struggle with destiny could represent the other part of him that is drawn to risk and adventure. The passage could also be interpreted as a religious or spiritual experience, where the singer is wrestling with doubt or temptation before ultimately finding strength in his faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night, in the moments my thoughts were adrift
The singer was lost in thought, disconnected from reality, and not focused on anything in particular.
And coasting a terrace, approaching a rift
The singer was walking along a terrace, nearing a break or separation between two areas.
Through which I could spy several glimpses beneath
From the rift, the singer was able to see glimpses of what lay beneath.
Of the darkness the light from above could not reach
The darkness below was so deep that even the light from above could not penetrate it.
I spied wings of reason, herself taking flight
The artist saw reason, personified as having wings, leaving and giving up on him/her.
And upon yonder precipice saw her alight
The singer saw reason land on a distant edge, unreachable.
And glared back at me one last look of dismay
Reason looked back at the singer with disappointment and disapproval as if the singer was the last person he/she expected to betray.
As if she were the last one she thought I'd betray
Reason seemed to be the last part of the artist that the artist thought he/she would betray.
So much better I said to myself
The artist began to feel more positive and optimistic.
And drawing quite close to the top of the shelf
The artist was approaching the top of a structure or situation.
I struggled with destiny upon the ledge
The singer was having a difficult time dealing with his/her fate or future, which seemed to be precarious.
And gasped when defeated he slipped off the edge
The artist was shocked and startled when it seemed like his/her destiny or fate had fallen apart.
And silence contagious in moments like these
The silence that followed such a moment was intense and overwhelming.
Consumed me and strengthened my will to appease
The silence took over the singer and made him/her more determined to find peace or satisfaction in his/her life.
The passion that sparked me one terrible night
The emotion that drove the singer to an extreme or bad situation.
(And shocked and persuaded my soul to ignite) x5
The passion that the artist felt was intense and motivating; it shocked and inspired him/her to act on his/her desires.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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