Disturbance
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We ride on the avalanche we climb the melting red rungs
of the ladder that leads high to a darkening moon.
We're the watchers of disaster, we're the dancers on your tomb.
We're the invisible invaders of your privacy... your dreams.
We're the spectres on your screen. We murmur sweet transparent lunacy
on hot oppressive nights - you shine a light and you will see
just a shadow.




Overall Meaning

The Legendary Pink Dots' song "Disturbance" is a haunting and enigmatic piece that explores the idea of chaos and destruction as being an inevitable part of human nature. The opening lyrics "We ride on the avalanche, we climb the melting red rungs of the ladder that leads high to a darkening moon" suggest a journey into the unknown, a descent into chaos that is both exhilarating and terrifying. The song seems to be making a statement about the ultimate futility of trying to control or avoid chaos, and instead argues that we should embrace it as a necessary aspect of life.


The lyrics continue with the lines "We're the watchers of disaster, we're the dancers on your tomb. We're the invisible invaders of your privacy... your dreams. We're the spectres on your screen." Here, the song takes on a more sinister tone, implying that we are not only passive observers of chaos, but also active participants. The idea of being "dancers on your tomb" suggests a kind of exuberant celebration of death and destruction, while the idea of being "invisible invaders" in people's dreams and personal lives raises questions about the nature of privacy and autonomy.


The final verse of the song is perhaps the most haunting of all: "We murmur sweet transparent lunacy on hot oppressive nights - you shine a light and you will see just a shadow." Here, the song seems to be suggesting that chaos and destruction are not just external forces that act upon us, but are also fundamental parts of our inner psyches. The "sweet transparent lunacy" that we murmur to ourselves in the dark, oppressive night suggests that there is an irrational, unpredictable part of ourselves that we cannot fully understand or control. The final lines, "you shine a light and you will see just a shadow," seem to be a warning that if we try to confront these darker aspects of ourselves, we will only see vague, incomplete reflections of what lies within.


Overall, the lyrics to "Disturbance" are complex, mysterious and open to interpretation. The song's haunting melody and enigmatic lyrics make it a rich and rewarding listen that invites repeated listens and deep reflection.


Line by Line Meaning

We ride on the avalanche we climb the melting red rungs
We are boldly venturing forward despite the dangerous circumstances, making our way up the treacherous ladder to reach our goal.


of the ladder that leads high to a darkening moon.
The path we're on is leading us to a place of darkness and uncertainty, but we persist in climbing higher.


We're the watchers of disaster, we're the dancers on your tomb.
We are keenly aware of the disasters around us, and we embrace them with a sense of revelry even in the face of death.


We're the invisible invaders of your privacy... your dreams.
We are a force that invades your most private thoughts and fears, haunting your dreams like specters in the night.


We're the spectres on your screen.
We manifest on your screens like apparitions - a reminder of the unseen and unsettling forces that are ever present.


We murmur sweet transparent lunacy
Our words may seem nonsensical or crazy, but they reveal an unsettling truth that is difficult to grasp.


on hot oppressive nights - you shine a light and you will see
In the midst of oppressive conditions, we offer a glimpse of enlightenment and hope that can be seen by those willing to seek the truth.


just a shadow.
However, the light we provide may only reveal a glimpse of what lies beyond; we cannot fully illuminate the realities of the unknown.




Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions