lyrics:
And we steal our experience from an object that suffers
But the brightest pain leaves a shadow on no one
I saw you through the window masturbating to the violence
And the blood and the bodies floated through the blue sun.
And the green earth turns to flesh in your hand
And the ether was born in the lungs of an ancient man
We hallucinated at night.
Our mind's in the light
But I can't feel the body of the image which is now penetrating my sight
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
And my body begins where your memory ends
You were melted from stone.
I was touched by your hands
I can feel it when pleasure moves up your spine
I can tell we're alive because your blood just blended with mine
And the angels of heaven never sacrificed a sensation as pure as the cut of this knife
And the wisdom contained in the telepathy of fear
Solidified our suffering into the droning sound I still hear
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
Telepathy
Swans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the brightest pain leaves a shadow on no one
I saw you through the window masturbating to the violence
And the blood and the bodies floated through the blue sun.
And the green earth turns to flesh in your hand
And the ether was born in the lungs of an ancient man
We hallucinated at night.
Our mind's in the light
My sight
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
And my body begins where your memory ends
You were melted from stone.
I was touched by your hands
I can feel it when pleasure moves up your spine
I can tell we're alive because your blood just blended with
Mine
And the angels of heaven never sacrificed a sensation as pure
As the cut of this knife
And the wisdom contained in the telepathy of fear
Solidified our suffering into the droning sound I still hear
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
The lyrics to "Telepathy" by Swans are complex and open to interpretation, but they seem to focus heavily on the idea of shared experience and the intersection of pain, pleasure, and beauty. The opening lines suggest that as humans, we derive our understanding of the world and our place in it from objects that suffer - a profound thought that suggests not only our inherent connection to the world around us but also the potential for empathy and connection. However, the next line implies that the most intense experiences leave no lasting mark on the individual, no matter how much they may suffer or enjoy them.
The rest of the song is similarly enigmatic, but seems to touch on themes of voyeurism, pleasure, and the transcendent power of shared sensation. The singer describes watching someone masturbate to violent fantasies, but finding something beautiful and real in the experience nonetheless. They talk about the merging of bodies and identities through pleasure ("your blood just blended with mine") and hint at a deeper, telepathic understanding of pain and fear that somehow solidifies their suffering together. The final refrain - "Are you beautiful? Are you real?" - carries a sense of longing and ambiguity, as if unsure whether the connection they've found is substantial or merely a fleeting moment of intensity.
In their trademark style, Swans have crafted a song that resists simple explanations and rewards close, repeated listening. It's a hymn to the power of experience and sensation, even in the face of violence and suffering, and a testament to the enduring human desire for beauty, connection, and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
And we steal our experience from an object that suffers
Our experiences are drawn from things that are in pain.
But the brightest pain leaves a shadow on no one
The most intense suffering doesn't leave a lasting mark on anyone.
I saw you through the window masturbating to the violence
I witnessed you masturbating while watching violence.
And the blood and the bodies floated through the blue sun.
The blood and bodies seemed to float in the sunlight.
And the green earth turns to flesh in your hand
The earth transforms into living flesh when touched by you.
And the ether was born in the lungs of an ancient man
The ether was first created within the lungs of an ancient individual.
We hallucinated at night.
We experienced hallucinations during the nighttime.
Our mind's in the light
Our thoughts are illuminated and exposed.
But I can't feel the body of the image which is now penetrating
I cannot physically feel the image that is now entering my mind.
My sight
My vision.
But you're beautiful.
Despite all else happening, you are beautiful.
And you're real
You are a tangible and authentic presence in my life.
Are you beautiful?
Are you truly beautiful?
Are you real?
Are you truly real?
And my body begins where your memory ends
My physical existence starts where your recollection ends.
You were melted from stone.
You were created by melting stone down.
I was touched by your hands
You physically touched me with your hands.
I can feel it when pleasure moves up your spine
I am aware of the sensation of pleasure traveling through your body.
I can tell we're alive because your blood just blended with mine
The mixing of our blood confirms that we are alive and present.
And the angels of heaven never sacrificed a sensation as pure
Even the divine beings of heaven have never had such a pure experience.
As the cut of this knife
The sensation of cutting with a sharp knife.
And the wisdom contained in the telepathy of fear
The fear-induced wisdom that comes from telepathy.
Solidified our suffering into the droning sound I still hear
Our shared suffering has taken form in a continuous droning sound that I still hear.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@skollson
And we steal our experience from an object that suffers
But the brightest pain leaves a shadow on no one
I saw you through the window masturbating to the violence
And the blood and the bodies floated through the blue sun.
And the green earth turns to flesh in your hand
And the ether was born in the lungs of an ancient man
We hallucinated at night.
Our mind's in the light
But I can't feel the body of the image which is now penetrating my sight
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
And my body begins where your memory ends
You were melted from stone.
I was touched by your hands
I can feel it when pleasure moves up your spine
I can tell we're alive because your blood just blended with mine
And the angels of heaven never sacrificed a sensation as pure as the cut of this knife
And the wisdom contained in the telepathy of fear
Solidified our suffering into the droning sound I still hear
But you're beautiful.
And you're real
Are you beautiful?
Are you real?
@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245
Listening to this walking down a hallway is like the feeling that astronauts felt walking to the Space Shuttle.
@aidenergy
Swans sure can chant a philosophical essay paper into a perfect song.
@jamesguillorytheirascibleh585
The drumming is so fucking awesome on this.
@m00nracer
Is it just me, or is SWANS the greatest music ever?
@vomeinsamenmadchensophie
It's not just you...the best eveR. ..!
@unsoulleaf
The best one
@matthewgensler2392
Not just you. Agree
@user-ch4et9gw4k
among the greatest, partly signified by this song
@J.X.Sanchez777
Them and Tool, Faith no More for me
@mikepastor.k6233
This song could fit right in their late period.