Don't Look Back Orpheus
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger Lyrics
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Of the son of Calliope
She taught him to sing and
Gave him golden guitar strings
Never was a sound so curious
Even the trees would follow Orpheus
Even the furies were not furious
His heart only beat
For the nymph Eurydice
But on their wedding day
She stepped upon a deadly snake
He set off to the underworld alone
There he found Hades sitting on his throne
He said, there's just one way to
let her go
Never was a sound so curious
Even the hounds bow down to Orpheus
Hades laughed, "There's just one catch;
Don't look back."
But he couldn't resist
When looked, she turned to mist
Murmuring farewell
Forever, she returned to hell
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger's song "Don't Look Back Orpheus" is a retelling of the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The lyrics describe the story of Orpheus, the son of Calliope who was taught to sing and given golden guitar strings by his mother. Orpheus' heart belonged to the nymph Eurydice and they were to be wed. However, on their wedding day, Eurydice stepped on a deadly snake and died. Heartbroken, Orpheus ventured to the underworld to find Hades and ask for Eurydice's release. Hades agreed to let Eurydice go on the condition that Orpheus did not look back as they ascended from the underworld.
The song's chorus highlights the enchanting power of Orpheus' music, which was so captivating that even the trees and the hounds bowed down to him. The furies, who were known for their rage and anger, were also subdued by Orpheus' singing. The tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice comes to a climax in the final verse when Orpheus' curiosity gets the better of him, and he looks back at Eurydice as they are ascending, causing her to turn to mist and return forever to the underworld.
Overall, "Don't Look Back Orpheus" is a hauntingly beautiful song that emphasizes the power of love and the dangers of curiosity. The song's lyrics are a tribute to the timeless Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which has been retold through the ages in various forms of media.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the tragedy
Let us recount the unfortunate tale that arises before us
Of the son of Calliope
Of the offspring of the muse who gifted him with the voice of an angel
She taught him to sing and
She instructed him in the art of weaving melodies and tunes
Gave him golden guitar strings
Provided him with perfect strings for his instrument to pluck and set his music free
Never was a sound so curious
No other music in the world could capture the attention of the world as perfectly
Even the trees would follow Orpheus
The plants would yield to his music and sway to its lovely tune
Even the furies were not furious
The creatures from the underworld became calm and peaceful when they heard his songs
His heart only beat
He only had eyes for one-- a beautiful nymph named Eurydice
For the nymph Eurydice
This woman had captured his heart and he was dedicated to her above all else
But on their wedding day
Unfortunately, tragedy struck on the day of their nuptials
She stepped upon a deadly snake
The bride walked upon a serpent that poisoned her
He set off to the underworld alone
Orpheus went in search of his fear, travelling to the great abode beneath the earth
There he found Hades sitting on his throne
He uncovered the god of the dead ruling his kingdom atop the underworld
He said, there's just one way to
The god was willing to allow Orpheus to rescue his beloved on one condition
let her go
To permit Eurydice to return to the land of the living with Orpheus
Never was a sound so curious
His voice was so beautiful, it compelled even the underworld's hounds to drop to their knees
Even the hounds bow down to Orpheus
Even the great beasts recognized and submitted to his impeccable musical talent
Hades laughed, "There's just one catch;
"There exists only one requirement to undertake such a feat
Don't look back."
"However, you must avoid the tempting urge to glance back upon her, or catastrophe shall strike
But he couldn't resist
Sadly, Orpheus was unable to ignore the temptation to check on his true love
When looked, she turned to mist
Eurydice vanished into nothingness the moment that he broke their pact by glancing back.
Murmuring farewell
Sadly, the last bit of sound she would ever utter was goodbye.
Forever, she returned to hell
Eurydice never left the underworld again, and Orpheus was forced to accept the consequences of his actions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLOTTE KEMP MUHL, SEAN ONO LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind