The Castle
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
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Her smile was a rainbow
Her hair was sunbeam waves
Shining 'round like a halo
Her face was a fairy tale
That has a poison apple
Her skull was a mighty moat
Her brain was the castle
And the castle gets mistaken for a ship that's floating in the clouds
And the castle is brighter than a thousand Christmas trees
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
One day a strange storm rolled in
While she was riding on her dragon
The mushrooms and the bumblebees
Told the flowers how it happened
She was lost in the invisible war
Fighting in the battle
Her love is still buried there
In the ruins of the castle
And the castle oscillates to the beating heart of her mind
And the castle is taller than the Northern Lights
And the castle can never rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never rebuilt again
No way, no way
No way, no way (No way)
No way, no way, no way
The lyrics to "The Castle" by The Flaming Lips paint a vivid picture of a complex and mystical character, described through enchanting imagery and metaphors. The singer is depicted as a beautiful and magical being, with eyes likened to butterflies, a smile compared to a rainbow, and hair that flows like sunbeams. These descriptions evoke a sense of otherworldly beauty and ethereal charm, portraying the character as almost mythical in her allure. However, there are hints of darkness and tragedy woven into the portrayal, with references to a poison apple and a skull as a mighty moat, suggesting a depth of complexity and a darker undercurrent to her persona.
The lyrics further delve into the symbolism of the castle as a representation of the singer's inner world and psyche. The castle is described as being mistaken for a ship floating in the clouds, brighter than a thousand Christmas trees, and ultimately irreparable, highlighting its significance as a stronghold of the singer's innermost thoughts and emotions. The juxtaposition of majestic imagery with the theme of irreparable damage creates a sense of loss and tragedy, hinting at a past event or trauma that has left a lasting impact on the singer's internal landscape.
The narrative takes a surreal turn as the lyrics describe a strange storm rolling in while the singer is riding on her dragon, introducing elements of fantasy and whimsy into the story. The mention of mushrooms, bumblebees, and flowers adds to the dreamlike quality of the scene, creating a world where the fantastical and the mundane coexist in a unique harmony. The invisible war and the ruins of the castle allude to a past conflict or struggle that the singer has faced, leaving traces of love and loss amidst the wreckage of her inner sanctum.
In the final verses, the lyrics emphasize the permanence of the castle's destruction, stating that it can never be rebuilt again. This finality serves as a poignant conclusion to the narrative, suggesting that some wounds run too deep to be healed and some losses are irrevocable. The repetition of "No way" underscores this sense of finality and closure, highlighting the inevitability of certain endings and the enduring impact of past traumas on the singer's psyche. Overall, "The Castle" is a poignant and evocative exploration of inner turmoil, love, and loss, wrapped in a tapestry of enchanting imagery and haunting lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Her eyes were butterflies
Her eyes were delicate and fleeting, like butterflies, representing beauty and freedom
Her smile was a rainbow
Her smile was colorful and bright, bringing joy and positivity
Her hair was sunbeam waves
Her hair was radiant and flowing, resembling rays of sunlight
Shining 'round like a halo
Her presence was ethereal and divine, surrounded by a glowing aura
Her face was a fairy tale
Her face held the enchantment and mystery of a captivating story
That has a poison apple
But hidden beneath the enchantment was danger, like a poisonous apple in a fairy tale
Her skull was a mighty moat
Her mind was guarded by strong defenses, like a protective moat around a castle
Her brain was the castle
Her thoughts and emotions were the stronghold of her being, like the central fortress of a castle
And the castle gets mistaken for a ship that's floating in the clouds
Her inner strength and resilience are sometimes overlooked, seen instead as something fantastical and unreal
And the castle is brighter than a thousand Christmas trees
Her inner light and spirit shine brighter than any festive celebration
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
Once broken, her inner sanctuary cannot be fully restored
One day a strange storm rolled in
Unexpected challenges and turmoil disrupted her life
While she was riding on her dragon
While she faced these challenges with courage and strength
The mushrooms and the bumblebees
The natural world around her witnessed and shared in her struggles
Told the flowers how it happened
The beauty and growth around her learned from her experiences and trials
She was lost in the invisible war
Her battles were not always visible to others, but were no less real and difficult
Fighting in the battle
Engaged in the struggle to overcome and persevere
Her love is still buried there
The essence of her being, her love and compassion, remains within the ruins of her inner self
In the ruins of the castle
Amidst the destruction and hardship, her core and true self endure
And the castle oscillates to the beating heart of her mind
Her inner world is constantly in motion, aligned with the rhythm of her thoughts and emotions
And the castle is taller than the Northern Lights
Her inner fortress stands majestic and powerful, reaching heights beyond imagination
And the castle can never rebuilt again
The inner sanctuary, once damaged, cannot be fully restored or recreated
No way
There is no possibility of rebuilding what has been lost and broken
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Wayne Coyne, Steve Drozd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MCB TEX
Her eyes were butterflies
Her smile was a rainbow
Her hair was sunbeam waves
Shining round like a halo
Her face was a fairy tale
It has a poison apple
Her skull was a mighty moat
Her brain was the castle
And the castle gets mistaken for a ship
That's frozen in the clouds
And the castle is brighter than a thousand Christmas trees
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
One day a strange storm rolled in
While she was riding on her dragon
The mushrooms and bumblebees
Told the flowers how it happened
She was lost in the invisible war
Fighting in the battle
Her love is still buried there
In the ruins of the castle
And the castle oscillates to the beating heart of her mind
And the castle is taller than the Northern Lights
And the castle can never rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
Noooo way
No way
No way, No way
No way
Xavier Ocelotentlapalli
"El castillo"
Sus ojos eran mariposas.
Su sonrisa era un arcoíris.
Su cabello eran ondas de luz solar,
resplandeciendo a su alrededor como un halo.
Su rostro era un cuento de hadas
(tenía escondida una manzana envenenada).
Su cráneo era un poderoso foso.
Su cerebro era el Castillo.
Y el Castillo se confunde
con una forma congelada entre las nubes.
Y el Castillo es más brillante
que mil árboles de navidad.
Y el Castillo nunca podrá
reconstruirse de nuevo...
de ninguna manera.
Un día estalló una extraña tormenta
mientras ella cabalgaba su dragón.
Las setas y los abejorros
le contaron a las flores lo que sucedió:
ella se perdió en la guerra invisible,
luchando en el frente de batalla;
su amor aún continúa enterrado ahí,
en las ruinas del Castillo.
Y el Castillo oscila
hacia el corazón palpitante de su mente.
Y el Castillo es más alto
que las auroras boreales.
Y el Castillo nunca podrá
reconstruirse de nuevo...
de ninguna manera.
El Castillo nunca podrá
reconstruirse de nuevo...
de ninguna manera.
Lindsay K
When this song first came out, it was a perfect reflection of the time. Watching it again after all of these years still makes me cry. It was meant to be an anthem of the zeitgeist and it truly was. It takes me right back. ❤💕
Tim K
I totally relate to this comment. I first heard this song and saw the video right as Trump was elected. I was truly frightened by what the future could hold. This song somehow brought me solace.
Peter Sun
This song actually brings me to tears, makes me think of my daughter, beautiful song.
MCB TEX
Her eyes were butterflies
Her smile was a rainbow
Her hair was sunbeam waves
Shining round like a halo
Her face was a fairy tale
It has a poison apple
Her skull was a mighty moat
Her brain was the castle
And the castle gets mistaken for a ship
That's frozen in the clouds
And the castle is brighter than a thousand Christmas trees
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
One day a strange storm rolled in
While she was riding on her dragon
The mushrooms and bumblebees
Told the flowers how it happened
She was lost in the invisible war
Fighting in the battle
Her love is still buried there
In the ruins of the castle
And the castle oscillates to the beating heart of her mind
And the castle is taller than the Northern Lights
And the castle can never rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
And the castle can never be rebuilt again
No way
Noooo way
No way
No way, No way
No way
NothingHereMoveOn
LOVE this track - it's been on constant repeat for the last few days. But surely I'm not the only longtime Lips fans who has noticed their last 2-3 albums have been mastered WAY too loud. They're brick walled as hell, and I always have to adjust my EQ when I listen to them.
Trip Gunn
I think they're enjoying the effect of pushing the equipment.. the overload and distortion, etc. Personally, I find it distracting.
Shady Groves
Yeah I feel like they really love to distort layers and compress the shit out of the recordings. Dave Friddman is the man, he makes it work. His production on the latest album by The Vaccines "English Graffiti" was perfect - same kinda loud, distorted, overload / overwhelming sounds but very cool.
Mark Hammond
Shady Groves yes you know what I was thinking it's time to get better speakers but realise now it's not just me.
SILTOR CAME
Ty segall is the LOUDEST no joke it will destroy your speakers
Dables
Agreed, my speakers hate this stuff. Embryonic was WAY too loud.