Chalice
Rose Polenzani Lyrics
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my worship is a secret.
Loose the chalice for me,
from the tangles of your long brown hair,
let it out.
Hand me the cruet.
It's this moment that I speak of.
in the rancor of your mhyrr-stained arms.
Let me in!
Maybe I could have shown you
how my mouth is like a baby's.
Were you ever too told
to make holy of an infant's tongue?
Let it go,
Let it go,
Let it go,
Let it go.
The song "Chalice" by Rose Polenzani features enigmatic and cryptic lyrics that are open to interpretation. The singer addresses someone named Elizabeth, saying that their worship is a secret. The lyrics suggest a certain level of vulnerability and intimacy that the singer feels with Elizabeth as they ask her to "loose the chalice" from her hair and hand them the cruet. The use of the word "rancor" in the line "in the rancor of your myrrh-stained arms" implies that perhaps there is some sort of tumultuous or complicated relationship between the two people.
The song then takes a surreal turn as the singer speaks of their mouth being like a baby's and wanting to make holy of an infant's tongue. This could be interpreted in several ways - it may suggest a desire to regain innocence or purity, or to start anew. The repetition of "let it go" at the end could also point to this desire to release old patterns or ways of being in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Elizabeth,
Addressing someone, possibly a trusted confidante named Elizabeth.
my worship is a secret.
The singer has a private spiritual practice that they do not share with others.
Loose the chalice for me,
Requesting that someone remove a ceremonial cup from their hair or untangled possessions.
from the tangles of your long brown hair,
The cup is physically stuck or difficult to reach due to the tangled hair of the person holding it.
let it out.
The artist wants access to the cup for their own ritual purposes.
Hand me the cruet.
The singer requests a small container commonly used during religious rituals.
It's this moment that I speak of.
The singer is focused on the current situation and the importance of this particular chosen moment.
Oh, to bless my please
The artist is seeking a blessing for their personal desires or needs.
in the rancor of your mhyrr-stained arms.
The artist seeks this blessing while physically in the arms of another person or within an environment of spiritual substance.
Let me in!
The artist wants to be physically embraced or enveloped by the other person or spiritual space.
Maybe I could have shown you
The singer reflects upon a missed opportunity to share something important.
how my mouth is like a baby's.
The artist has a childlike vulnerability or innocence to their manner of speech.
Were you ever too told
The singer asks if the other person has ever experienced the same vulnerability in their own life.
to make holy of an infant's tongue?
The singer suggests that the ability to use language for spiritual or religious purposes is innate, even present in innocent or inexperienced individuals.
Let it go,
The singer is repeating this phrase as a mantra, possibly to meditation or bolster their own courage.
Let it go,
This repetition continues, emphasizing the importance of releasing attachments or spiritual burdens.
Let it go,
Continued repetition reinforces the importance of letting go, perhaps as a means of finding peace or transcendence.
Let it go.
Final repetition brings closure to the song, and a final emphasis on the theme of letting go.
Contributed by Carter A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.