Prophets in the Sky
The Cat Empire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Verse)
You saw the carnival in Rio,
You saw them dancing in the sun,
But listen to your cold eyes move,
Can you believe you’re always on your own?

You’re like a song without a singer,
You’re like a bird without a song,
You’re all alone, all alone,
And you’re walking down alone against the road.

(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?
A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…

(Verse)
This love is older than your father,
This love is younger than your son.
You feel it in your cold eyes move
And it will be here when everything is gone.

And as the night turns into morning
When the fire burns to cold
She whispers in your cold eyes move
Now you know, now you know, now you know.

(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?
A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…

(Bridge)
Oh, you’re lost in the crowd,
But I know that I’ll find you, a song doesn’t lie.
Hundreds of yards of some ancient street
Between the sad in the night.
I know that heaven

(Verse)
And with the summer comes the madness
Hold your faces in the night
We light our fires all alone
And build a temple to save us from the dawn.

You can’t have everybody love you,
You can’t have sunshine every day,
You see a dancer there alone
Then you know, then you know, then you know.

(Chorus)
Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Can you imagine a love like that?




A love like that, a love like that
A love like that, a love like…

Overall Meaning

The Cat Empire’s “Prophets in the Sky” speaks about the loneliness and isolation that come with being human. The song begins by addressing an individual who has seen the carnival in Rio, where people dance happily in the sun. However, despite this beautiful sight, the person is still alone and walking down the road by themselves. The lyrics then compare this person to a song without a singer and a bird without a song, emphasizing the loneliness they’re feeling.


The chorus calls out to the “tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,” seemingly as a way of asking if they can imagine a love like that which is being described. The love referred to here is not romantic love, but rather a love that is older than one’s father and younger than one’s son. This is a love that can be felt even in one’s “cold eyes move,” and it will remain even after everything else is gone.


The song ends with a description of the madness that comes with summer and the fires that people light alone to save themselves from the dawn. The lyrics make it clear that not everyone can have sunshine every day or have everyone love them. However, regardless of this, people can still connect with one another in moments like seeing a lone dancer, where they realize that they’re not truly alone.


Line by Line Meaning

You saw the carnival in Rio,
You experienced the lively and colorful festival of Rio de Janeiro,


You saw them dancing in the sun,
You witnessed the people dancing joyfully under the sun,


But listen to your cold eyes move,
Despite all these sensations, your inner self remains unresponsive and indifferent,


Can you believe you’re always on your own?
Do you realize that you are always alone, despite being surrounded by others?


You’re like a song without a singer,
You lack purpose or direction, like a melody without vocals,


You’re like a bird without a song,
You feel empty and meaningless, like a bird without a melody to chirp,


You’re all alone, all alone,
You feel isolated and disconnected from others,


And you’re walking down alone against the road.
You are journeying through life, alone and unsupported,


This love is older than your father,
The concept of love surpasses the age of your parent,


This love is younger than your son.
Yet, it is timeless and ever-renewing, just as a newborn baby symbolizes a fresh start,


You feel it in your cold eyes move
You sense the presence of this love even within your numbness and lack of emotion,


And it will be here when everything is gone.
This love will outlast everything and remain constant when all else vanishes,


And as the night turns into morning
During the transition from darkness to light,


When the fire burns to cold
When everything loses its warmth and passion,


She whispers in your cold eyes move
Love speaks to you through your innermost being, even when you are aloof and detached,


Now you know, now you know, now you know.
Finally, you comprehend and recognize the power and beauty of love,


Oh, you’re lost in the crowd,
You feel insignificant and invisible among countless others,


But I know that I’ll find you, a song doesn’t lie.
Yet, someone can still perceive the unique melody hidden within you and appreciate it,


Hundreds of yards of some ancient street
In the midst of a historical and unchanging place,


Between the sad in the night.
Among the melancholy and sorrow of the night,


I know that heaven
There is a glimpse of heaven,


And with the summer comes the madness
During the vibrant and intense season of summer,


Hold your faces in the night
Amidst the darkness and shadows, hold onto your identity and true self,


We light our fires all alone
We must ignite our inner passion and inspiration ourselves,


And build a temple to save us from the dawn.
Create a sanctuary or community to shelter and support us from the inevitable challenges and hardships of a new day,


You can’t have everybody love you,
It is impossible for everyone to accept or adore you,


You can’t have sunshine every day,
Similarly, it is unrealistic to expect constant happiness and positivity in life,


You see a dancer there alone
When you notice someone else who seems isolated and detached,


Then you know, then you know, then you know.
You realize that others also experience solitude and that it is not uncommon,


Oh, you tricksters and hipsters and prophets in the sky,
Addressing those who claim to have answers or wisdom beyond the mundane world,


Can you imagine a love like that?
Can you fathom a love that transcends all boundaries and endures forever?


A love like that, a love like that
A love that surpasses ordinary human connection,


A love like that, a love like…
A love that is indescribable and incomprehensible.




Contributed by Julia D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Alice Julia Lambin Coila

I love it

Dr. S. Choudhury

Not a single dislike! Another proof about how awesome ur music is! ❤

The Overcomer

How can I have missed a whole album? Oh yes I've heard it...

light hog

Soooo good

Felix Dean

By far my fave for a yell when home alone😂

Totox

Dont remember when I did suscribe to your channel, but the music sure is supercooooool XD

Walker Pearcey

Underrated

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