Black Starling
Pure Bathing Culture Lyrics


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All the lonely sole survivors of markets of the ghosts
Obsidian only where magma is exposed
Where the world is wide
With wonders worth the roam
Wild watcher in the night
Sing until you melt the stone sing

Blue in the islands
Blue in the sky
Daddy don't cry it's just a bump in the night

Black starling white violet
Don't leave the palace silent
Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles
Let me light you like a candle
I will light you
Black starling white violet

Lonely lovers in the keyhole lonely lovers on the run
Bones in cranium shakespearean
Dedicated dedicated dedicated ones
Don't think twice what's done it's done sing

Blue in the islands
Blue in the sky
Daddy don't cry it's just a bump in the night

Black starling white violet
Don't leave the palace silent
Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles
Let me light you like a candle
I will light you
I will light you like a candle
Let me light you
Black starling white violet

Oh please daddy don't
All alone all alone all alone
Oh please daddy don't cry it's just a bump in the night

Black starling white violet
Don't leave the palace silent
Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles
Let me light you like a candle
I will light you
Black starling white violet
Don't leave the palace silent
Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles




Let me light you like a candle
I will light you

Overall Meaning

The opening lines "All the lonely sole survivors of markets of the ghosts / Obsidian only where magma is exposed" present a vivid image of desolation, indicating that the singer is addressing people who have been adversely affected by economic downturns or other societal changes, and who must now navigate a world full of danger and uncertainty. The mention of obsidian, a volcanic glass formed from lava that has rapidly cooled, highlights the idea of a world that is both beautiful and treacherous, with hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface.


The subsequent lines shift the focus to the observation of the natural world, particularly the night sky: "Where the world is wide / With wonders worth the roam / Wild watcher in the night / Sing until you melt the stone sing." The singer seems to be suggesting that even amidst hardship and suffering, there is beauty and wonder to be found in the world, particularly in the stars at night. The line "Sing until you melt the stone sing" can be interpreted as a call to action, urging the listener to use their voice to communicate their longing for connection and meaning.


The refrain, "Black starling white violet / Don't leave the palace silent / Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles / Let me light you like a candle / I will light you," seems to be addressed to someone in particular, perhaps a lover or a friend. The black starling and white violet may be symbolic of opposing forces, or a reminder that hope can be found even in the darkest of places. The plea "Don't leave the palace silent" suggests a fear of abandonment, and the line "Let me light you like a candle / I will light you" conveys a desire to help and support the person being addressed.


Overall, "Black Starling" appears to be a song that speaks to the human experience of facing adversity, and finding connection and beauty amidst the darkness.


Line by Line Meaning

All the lonely sole survivors of markets of the ghosts
Referring to those who have been left behind after the loss of something, possibly a financial or business venture, and in a place where living and non-living structures from the past still remain


Obsidian only where magma is exposed
A specific type of volcanic glass that can only be found in areas where the heat from the magma beneath the surface of the earth can cause it to form


Where the world is wide
A place where the environment is open and expansive


With wonders worth the roam
A location that is worth exploring due to the beauty and amazing things to be discovered there


Wild watcher in the night
The experience of observing something in the darkness that is free and untamed


Sing until you melt the stone sing
A command to keep singing until even the most stubborn and unyielding things give way to the power of the song


Blue in the islands
Referring to the color blue as seen in the waters that surround islands


Blue in the sky
Referring to the color blue as seen in a clear sky


Daddy don't cry it's just a bump in the night
An attempt to console a father who is upset by something that is in fact an insignificant occurrence


Black starling white violet
A reference to two distinct yet equally beautiful and striking things coming together


Don't leave the palace silent
A plea to not allow an important place, possibly representing a relationship or a dream, to fade away without any significance


Stream in stars and tears wands and pentacles
A request to fill a place with both positive and negative emotions, represented respectively by stars and tears, as well as mystical and magical elements, represented by wands and pentacles


Let me light you like a candle
An offer to provide support and guidance to someone who is struggling or in need of help


I will light you
A reaffirmation of the promise to be there for someone and support them through their struggles


Lonely lovers in the keyhole lonely lovers on the run
A reference to two couples who are in hiding or on the run, possibly due to societal or personal reasons


Bones in cranium shakespearean
An association with the famous playwright and his celebrated works, possibly referring to the romantic and tragic elements present in his plays


Dedicated dedicated dedicated ones
A repetition of the word dedicated to emphasize the strong commitment and loyalty of a group of people


Don't think twice what's done it's done sing
An instruction to not dwell on the past and instead move forward, set to a musical backdrop


Oh please daddy don't
An expression of distress at the thought of causing a loved one pain


All alone all alone all alone
Repetition of a phrase to emphasize the feeling of loneliness and isolation




Writer(s): Sarah Versprille, Daniel Hindman

Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@benkelly9362

Can NOT get enough of this song! amazing sound, you guys are awesome. the guitar reminds me of Fleetwood Mac's Tango in the Night album and It's just so sexy. Thank you!

@johnstinchcomb8156

I really love this band. I worry tho that in the age of streaming & youtube when so many expect music to be free that bands like PBC will find it increasingly difficult to make a living making music regardless of how good it might be. Gotta support the music you love. Go to shows. Buy CDs, vinyl & merch. Do Patreon. However. Youtube & Spotify don't pay the bills. They are little more than thieves pocketing money on the backs of artists for promotional considerations.

@CodyChromeBand

Phenomenal riff

@dudleybarker2273

that dress, love - if you're seeing this, please don't even take fashion advice from a russian potato farmer again, okay

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