Dead Ocean
The Agonist Lyrics
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Feathers decorate the air
And sleeping giants approach
An absolute nightmare – not having footing to flee
Suspended animation, face to face with the majesty
Grotesque interest drew you near
But sorrow and awe keep you here
Here come the leeches gathering around their host
Hard to believe it, arterial seacost
King of carcass, I'll drown in is death
Grotesque interest drew you near the towering monument
Sorrow and awe keep you here while the Ocean breaks
Flesh weighs more than atmosphere – what's keeping them afloat?
Still you stare, waiting for the shipwrecks and ghosts
The moon mocks you with a knowing grin
Or, is that the lure of a distant angler fish?
Was your role fulfilled? Was that it?
Are you face up or face down?
Cardinal points are semantics
Geometry is religion for mathematics
The womb that birthed us keep us close
Rebellious organs give up early, abandoning ship
The air feels hydrogen-heavy
Your elements are individualizing
Red algae pours across the panorama
Colored film fills your eyes, matching the bed expanding beneath you
With every once you lose
You forget you ever feared you're physically free
One who survives mass suicide gather the masses to blindly follow
Intonations camouflage obvious idiocy
Approachable outside to welcome them in
Black holes set in spin
A resource more valuable than we expect,
Wrangled together to redirect
I've been around this place before
I recognize the heavy doors opening on the entrance way
Molding a populace out of clay
Stuck in the earth, we'll stay.
The first verse of The Agonist's "Dead Ocean" sets the scene by using imagery of an ocean and sleeping giants that are drawing nearer. There is a sense of unease and danger in the lyrics, with the singer feeling both drawn to and repulsed by the grotesque majesty of the approaching creatures. The second verse describes the suicide of the ocean and the gathering of leeches around the carcass. The imagery is vivid and gruesome, with the ocean becoming a symbol for death and decay. The chorus repeats the idea of being drawn in by grotesque fascination, but also feeling sorrow and awe at the same time.
The third verse takes a more philosophical turn, with the singer wondering about the nature of existence and their own mortality. The moon is personified as mocking the listener, while the mention of an angler fish suggests the idea of being lured into danger. The final verse brings the song full circle, returning to the ocean and its importance as the source of life on earth. The idea of being stuck in the earth suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance of the human condition, with all its beauty and horror.
Line by Line Meaning
An Ocean waves hello
The ocean seems welcoming and friendly
Feathers decorate the air
The air is filled with light and graceful objects
And sleeping giants approach
There are large, powerful entities coming
An absolute nightmare - not having footing to flee
Being stuck and unable to escape is a terrifying prospect
Suspended animation, face to face with the majesty
The awe-inspiring power of the situation is overwhelming
Grotesque interest drew you near
Morbid fascination caused you to approach
But sorrow and awe keep you here
Despite the horror of the situation, you are unable to look away
The Ocean suicides
The ocean seems to be killing itself
Here come the leeches gathering around their host
Other creatures are taking advantage of the ocean's state
Hard to believe it, arterial seacost
The situation seems unbelievable
King of carcass, I'll drown in its death
The singer feels overwhelmed and like they are being pulled down with the dying ocean
Grotesque interest drew you near the towering monument
Despite the horror of it all, you are still drawn to the majesty of the ocean
Sorrow and awe keep you here while the Ocean breaks
The intense emotions you feel keep you rooted in place
Flesh weighs more than atmosphere - what's keeping them afloat?
The singer is questioning how the creatures in the water are able to stay buoyant
Still you stare, waiting for the shipwrecks and ghosts
Despite the danger, you are waiting for more to happen
The moon mocks you with a knowing grin
The artist feels like the moon is maliciously enjoying their suffering
Or, is that the lure of a distant angler fish?
The artist is questioning if they are being drawn in by an even more dangerous predator
Was your role fulfilled? Was that it?
The singer is questioning if this is what they were meant to do or if there is more for them
Are you face up or face down?
The singer is questioning if they will survive this or not
Cardinal points are semantics
The artist is suggesting that directions are meaningless in this situation
Geometry is religion for mathematics
The artist is suggesting that even the rules of math no longer apply
The womb that birthed us keep us close
Our planet is the only one able to sustain life as we know it
Rebellious organs give up early, abandoning ship
Even our own bodies can turn against us and give up in extreme conditions
The air feels hydrogen-heavy
There is a sense of heaviness and danger in the air
Your elements are individualizing
The singer is suggesting that everything is breaking down and separating
Red algae pours across the panorama
A red tide is taking over the ocean
Colored film fills your eyes, matching the bed expanding beneath you
The singer is witnessing their own demise as their vision is clouded and they sink
With every once you lose
With each breath, you lose more of what makes you alive
You forget you ever feared you're physically free
As you succumb to the forces of the ocean, your past fears and worries become meaningless
One who survives mass suicide gather the masses to blindly follow
The singer is suggesting that someone who has experienced horrors can become a leader to those who have not
Intonations camouflage obvious idiocy
People can be fooled by tone and inflection rather than true intelligence
Approachable outside to welcome them in
Even those who seem friendly can be hiding ulterior motives
Black holes set in spin
The artist is suggesting that something much more ominous is at play
A resource more valuable than we expect,
The artist is suggesting that there is something in the ocean that we have underestimated
Wrangled together to redirect
Whatever this resource is, it is being manipulated and controlled
I've been around this place before
The artist is suggesting that they have experienced similar horrors before
I recognize the heavy doors opening on the entrance way
The singer is recognizing that they are on the brink of another catastrophe
Molding a populace out of clay
The singer is recognizing that entire societies can be shaped and created
Stuck in the earth, we'll stay.
The singer is suggesting that humanity is trapped on this one planet and must deal with its consequences
Contributed by Declan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.