Dust It Off
The Dø Lyrics

The opening lines of "Dust It Off" by The Dø immediately sets an ominous tone as we hear the sound of burning papers turning into ashes. The lyrics evoke a feeling of something ending and being left behind. The next line, "what a season, how they fly high from the ground up," seems to be a metaphor for the passage of time and how quickly things can change. The use of the word "season" implies a cyclical nature of events and that this too shall pass. The mention of a fountain flowing over as night falls could be seen as a symbol of hope and renewal after the end of something.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of moving on from the past and not getting stuck in it. "If you hold on to that past, don't you lock yourself inside" is a warning that dwelling on past mistakes can prevent growth and progress. The idea that "nothing has been done before" speaks to the uniqueness of every individual's experience and that we should not compare ourselves to others or feel limited by what came before us. The line "it's the most virgin dress you could possibly wear, mess it up, time is up" is a call to action to take risks and live life fully, even if it means making mistakes along the way.

The remaining verses of the song continue to explore the themes of memory, forgetting, and ultimately forgiving oneself. The stanza "hold your memory for a moment with a blind hand, write some stories for tomorrow, from the bottle of amnesia" seems to suggest that we should not let our memories define us, but rather use them as inspiration for creating a better future. The song ends with a message of forgiveness, both for oneself and for others, as we hear the repeated refrain "dust it off."