Count Grassi's Passage Over Piedmont
The Divine Comedy Lyrics


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Below the Po rolls slow from Alps to Adriatic Sea
Blow old bellows, blow
Take us where you will
Padua, Genoa, Corsica, Catalonia, O Segovia
O unfathomable firmament.

That we should set a course between the two
Clinging only to our orb of blue and red
Like Romanovs to a Faberge egg
Push Sisyphus, push
Heave our sphere into the heavens.

If I'm to die then let it be in summertime
In a manner of my own choosing
To fall from a great height
On a warm July afternoon
Liverwurst, Battenburg, Emmenthall, Syllabub, Muscadet
Throw it all away
We need more height
Toss is all to the side
O Newton, release this apple from its earthly shackles
And live to fight another day.

Go back from whence you came the swallows cry
You've corrupted and befouled the ground you walk upon




And now you come to poison the skies
Please friends, forgive this brief intrusion.

Overall Meaning

The song "Count Grassi's Passage Over Piedmont" by The Divine Comedy is a reflection on life and mortality, as well as a celebration of the beauty of the world. The opening lines describe the Po river, which runs from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, creating a sense of movement and continuity. The line "Blow old bellows, blow / Take us where you will" suggests a willingness to go with the flow of life and accept whatever comes.


The next lines, "Padua, Genoa, Corsica, Catalonia, O Segovia / O unfathomable firmament," list a series of places, creating a sense of wanderlust and a desire to explore the world. The phrase "unfathomable firmament" suggests the vastness and mystery of the universe. The following lines describe the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of adversity, using the metaphor of the Romanovs and their Faberge eggs.


The second verse begins with a reflection on mortality. The lines "If I'm to die then let it be in summertime / In a manner of my own choosing / To fall from a great height / On a warm July afternoon" suggest a desire for a beautiful and dramatic death. The list of foods that follows, "Liverwurst, Battenburg, Emmenthall, Syllabub, Muscadet," seems almost nonsensical, creating a sense of lightheartedness and playfulness.


The final lines of the song are a warning about the dangers of pollution and a plea for forgiveness. The image of the swallows crying out to go back from whence we came creates a sense of nostalgia and a desire to return to a simpler time.


Overall, "Count Grassi's Passage Over Piedmont" is a complex and layered song that explores themes of mortality, nature, and the importance of staying true to oneself.


Line by Line Meaning

Below the Po rolls slow from Alps to Adriatic Sea
The Po river flows sluggishly from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea.


Blow old bellows, blow
Blow the bellows, as we need fire to forge ahead.


Take us where you will
Take us wherever you desire, we are willing to go.


Padua, Genoa, Corsica, Catalonia, O Segovia
Listing off some places we could go.


O unfathomable firmament.
Oh, incomprehensible expanse of the heavens.


That we should set a course between the two
We need to navigate between the sky and the earth.


Clinging only to our orb of blue and red
We should hold tightly to our world of blue and red.


Like Romanovs to a Faberge egg
We should guard it with the same fervor as the Romanovs guarded their Faberge eggs.


Push Sisyphus, push
Push, even though it might feel futile and hopeless like Sisyphus rolling his boulder.


Heave our sphere into the heavens.
We should lift our sphere towards the sky.


If I'm to die then let it be in summertime
If I have to die, let it be during summer.


In a manner of my own choosing
I want to die on my terms.


To fall from a great height
To die by falling from a significant height.


On a warm July afternoon
It should be a warm day in July.


Liverwurst, Battenburg, Emmenthall, Syllabub, Muscadet
These are irrelevant items, throw them all away.


Throw it all away
Get rid of everything that is unnecessary.


We need more height
We need to be higher to achieve our goal.


Toss is all to the side
Throw it all away to make room.


O Newton, release this apple from its earthly shackles
Newton, free the apple from the confines of the earth's gravity.


And live to fight another day.
And survive to have another chance at success.


Go back from whence you came the swallows cry
The swallows tell you to go back where you began.


You've corrupted and befouled the ground you walk upon
You have ruined the ground you stand on.


And now you come to poison the skies
And now you want to pollute the sky as well.


Please friends, forgive this brief intrusion.
I am sorry for interrupting, please forgive me.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NEIL HANNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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