Femme Mirage
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics


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I rise from sleep, as a ray strokes my shoulder. Wishing to walk unveiled
to the world - my flesh on view. These things stand in our way - the cold
of the earth, the state of our minds. And the camouflage. The sticky
threads that communicate the meaningless in a thousand different ways. My
voice shuns your honey words on hour glass shapes. On the fragile, unreal,
objects of desire. The words don't flow, neither the feelings. No more ink
on wood to betray my thoughts. Just this - a cry on the dark side.




Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Legendary Pink Dots's song Femme Mirage address themes of visibility, desire, and the constraints imposed on our ability to express ourselves authentically. The singer of the song wishes to be able to walk through the world without the need for camouflage or hiding, to be seen as they truly are, with their flesh on view. However, various obstacles stand in the way of this desire, including societal pressure to conform, the coldness and indifference of the world, and the state of our own minds.


The lines "My voice shuns your honey words on hour glass shapes / On the fragile, unreal, objects of desire" express a rejection of the superficial and the false, a desire for something more authentic and meaningful. The singer is unwilling to be seduced by flattering words or objects that are designed to appeal to base desires, instead yearning for a genuine connection.


The closing lines, "No more ink on wood to betray my thoughts / Just this - a cry on the dark side" suggest a sense of despair at the difficulty of finding a way to express oneself without being co-opted or misunderstood. The cry on the dark side represents a last-ditch effort to be heard and seen, a refusal to disappear completely into the void of meaninglessness.


Line by Line Meaning

I rise from sleep, as a ray strokes my shoulder.
I awaken to the touch of light on my skin.


Wishing to walk unveiled to the world - my flesh on view.
I desire to be seen for who I am, without any concealment or cover.


These things stand in our way - the cold of the earth, the state of our minds.
We encounter obstacles such as the harshness of reality and the limitations of our own thoughts and emotions.


And the camouflage. The sticky threads that communicate the meaningless in a thousand different ways.
We are also hindered by the deceptive illusions and empty messages that pervade our world.


My voice shuns your honey words on hour glass shapes.
My words reject your flattering phrases that seek to control and manipulate me.


On the fragile, unreal, objects of desire.
I do not base my desires on superficial or fleeting things.


The words don't flow, neither the feelings.
I struggle to find the right words to express myself and my emotions are blocked.


No more ink on wood to betray my thoughts.
I no longer want to share my innermost thoughts in a way that can be easily misunderstood or misinterpreted.


Just this - a cry on the dark side.
All that remains is a desperate expression of pain and longing that emerges from the depths of my soul.




Contributed by Jonathan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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