Vox
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics


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In the desert of my dreams I saw you there
And I'm walking towards the water, steaming, body cold and bare
But your words cut loose the fire and you left my soul to bleed
And he pain that's in your truth deceiving me has got me scared

Oh, why? (oh, why?)
Oh, why? (oh, why?)
Oh

Through your eyes, the strains of battle like a brooding storm
You're up and down these pristine velvet walls like focus never forms
My walls are getting wider and my eyes are drawn astray
I see you now a vague deception of a dying day

Oh, why?
Oh, why? Ooh, ooh, ah, ah, ah

I fall into the water and once more I turn to you
And the crowds were standing, staring faceless cutting off my view to you
They start to limply flail their bodies in a twisted mime
And I'm lost inside this tangled web on which I'm lain entwined
You're gone and I'm lost inside this tangled web on which I'm lain entwined

Oh, why?
Oh, why?

Ooh, ooh
Ah, ah, ah, ah




Ooh, ooh
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Overall Meaning

The song Vox by Sarah McLachlan is filled with haunting, dreamy, and ambiguous lyrics that lend themselves to a wide range of interpretations. At its core, it seems to be about a person who feels lost and vulnerable, struggling to make sense of their emotions and experiences. In the first verse, we find the singer wandering in a desert of dreams, confronted by an unnamed person who seems to have inflicted great pain on her, leaving her bleeding and scared. The second verse introduces some new imagery, as the singer describes the other person's eyes as a stormy battlefield, while her own walls are getting wider and her vision more distorted. The final verse brings us back to the water, where the singer falls once again and loses sight of the other person among the faceless crowds, yet still feels trapped in their tangled web.


One possible interpretation of this song is that it deals with the aftermath of a toxic or abusive relationship. The desert of dreams could represent the confusion and disorientation that one feels when experiencing emotional trauma, while the water could represent a symbol of purification or renewal. The singer's desire to turn to the other person despite their pain could be seen as a form of Stockholm syndrome or emotional dependency, while the crowds could represent the pressure of society to conform or fit in. Ultimately, the song leaves a lot of room for interpretation, inviting listeners to delve into the lyrics and find their own meaning.


Line by Line Meaning

In the desert of my dreams I saw you there
I saw you in a barren and empty place that exists only in my imagination


And I'm walking towards the water, steaming, body cold and bare
I am walking towards a place of healing while feeling both physically and emotionally exposed


But your words cut loose the fire and you left my soul to bleed
Your words stirred up strong emotions in me and left me feeling raw and vulnerable


And he pain that's in your truth deceiving me has got me scared
I am scared of the pain that comes from the truth you are telling me, which I am unsure if I can trust


Through your eyes, the strains of battle like a brooding storm
I see the struggle and conflict within you through your eyes, which overwhelms me like a looming storm


You're up and down these pristine velvet walls like focus never forms
Your behavior is unpredictable and erratic, like you cannot focus or make up your mind


My walls are getting wider and my eyes are drawn astray
I am becoming more guarded and distant, losing sight of what is important


I see you now a vague deception of a dying day
I see you now as a fading and deceptive version of yourself, reminding me of the fleeting nature of life


I fall into the water and once more I turn to you
I immerse myself in the healing water again and look to you for comfort


And the crowds were standing, staring faceless cutting off my view to you
The noise and chaos of the world is blocking my ability to connect with you


They start to limply flail their bodies in a twisted mime
The people around me are behaving in a meaningless and absurd manner


And I'm lost inside this tangled web on which I'm lain entwined
I am lost and trapped in a confusing and complicated situation




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sarah Mclachlan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@juancamacho5746

In the desert of my dreams I saw you there
And I'm walking towards the water, steaming, body cold and bare
But your words cut loose the fire and you left my soul to bleed
And he pain that's in your truth deceiving me has got me scared
Oh, why? (oh, why?)
Oh, why? (oh, why?)
Oh

Through your eyes, the strains of battle like a brooding storm
You're up and down these pristine velvet walls like focus never forms
My walls are getting wider and my eyes are drawn astray
I see you now a vague deception of a dying day
Oh, why?
Oh, why? Ooh, ooh, ah, ah, ah

I fall into the water and once more I turn to you
And the crowds were standing, staring faceless cutting off my view to you
They start to limply flail their bodies in a twisted mime
And I'm lost inside this tangled web on which I'm lain entwined
You're gone and I'm lost inside this tangled web on which I'm lain entwined
Oh, why?
Oh, why?



All comments from YouTube:

@twinma0454

Was obsessed with this whole album in 10th grade. Still love it.

@missyglittervlogs3543

I still have the tape of the album!

@jumpfart666

As a heavy metal dude this woman stole my fucking heart

@Fantom6400

jumpfart666

Exactly! - I was living in LA back when the heavy metal crowds were big (Judas Priest, Megadeth, Metallica, Testament etc etc.). After a good metal show we’d then go to the 'goth'/dark-wave clubs, get boozed up and relax. Then one night this song came up and I later I became hooked. She had this wonderful, magical voice that kept haunting me in an obsessive way. I moved to Houston around 1990 and the clubs there were banging this every Saturday, it was also played one particular night in early 1991 in which a club was going out of business. Houston’s nightlife scene had an identity of its own like no other.

@InertiaCreeps

I shall forever dream of a re-master of this song. It’s production is so small and cramped. I will forever yearn for the day that somebody cuts this into 5.1 dynamic surround. Her voice deserves nothing less.

@sarahsmthrox

Has this been done yet? 😏

@InertiaCreeps

@@sarahsmthrox Just checked. NOPE. Still not even a 720p version that I could find.

@sarahsmthrox

@@InertiaCreeps imma go ahead and give it another listen. 🙂

@dag681

There were a bunch of people cutting their teeth on this album, trying to get gigs or start their own brands. Will never forget being invited to her trial in Vancouver by Darryl Nuedorf, the drummer. We spoke a lot about this. Sarah actually had all these dreams she wrote about as a catharsis. It is very difficult to go back and redo numinous influences, mostly because the head space has completely changed.

@scottmahaffy

yet it is the foundation of her future over produced songs, this is one that was so pure and powerful

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