The Riddle
Prezioso / Marvin Lyrics

Near a tree by a river
This song starts with a description of a specific location, where a tree grows beside a river.

There's a hole in the ground
The location has an opening in the earth, likely a pit or well.

Where an old man of Aran
An elderly man from the Aran Islands resides there.

Goes around and around
The old man is constantly moving in circles, likely walking or spinning around the hole.

And his mind is a beacon
The old man's mind is a strong signal, radiating out into the darkness of night.

In the veil of the night
This location is shrouded in darkness, the kind that feels like a veil or a curtain.

For a strange kind of fashion
The old man's behavior is unusual, possibly fitting in with some trend or style.

There's a wrong and a right
There are two distinct paths for this behavior, one good and one bad.

And he'll never fight over you
The old man from Aran will not compete for someone's affection or attention.

I got plans for us nights in the scullery
The artist has ideas for spending evenings together in the kitchen.

And days instead of me
The singer desires time spent during the day with the listener, rather than being apart.

I only know what to discuss
The artist has limited topics they feel comfortable talking about in conversation.

Of for anything but light
These topics are not heavy or serious, but rather casual and easygoing.

Wise men fighting over you
It seems as though intelligent or knowledgeable men are competing for the listener's attention.

It's not me you see pieces of valentine
Valentine's Day imagery is present, but the singer does not represent it.

With just a song of mine
The artist has only their music to offer.

To keep from burning history
The artist's song will preserve something important, preventing history from being lost or destroyed.

Seasons of gasoline and gold
This phrase suggests that there are cycles of abundance and danger, perhaps related to wealth or status.

Wise men fold
Even the intelligent can yield or give up in certain circumstances.

A blackbird sings on bluebird hill
The artist observes a blackbird singing from a hill where bluebirds can be found as well.

Thanks to the calling of the wild
The song of the blackbird comes as a result of the natural world's influence or instinct.

Wise mens child
This phrase may indicate either the offspring of the wise men mentioned earlier, or the idea that even the most intelligent can be childish or naive in some ways.