Carbon
Tori Amos Lyrics

carbon made found her at the End of a chain "time to race"
Tori Amos starts her song by saying that carbon found her at the end of a chain and urged her to race. Carbon is a metaphor for life, and the chain suggests that she is feeling trapped. She urges herself to race downhill, implying that she wants to escape and move forward in life.

She said "race the downhill"
Tori emphasizes that she is urging herself to move forward and escape from her current situation; she encourages herself to race downhill as a metaphorical escape from her trapped life.

Behind crystalline irises Loons can drive Where the world bleeds white
Here, Tori shifts focus to the listener by saying that behind their seemingly crystal clear eyes, they too can drive and move forward in life. The world may seem bleak, but one should keep moving forward despite the challenges.

Just keep your eyes on her
Here, Tori is urging the listener to keep their eyes on her and follow her lead. She is a symbol of hope and encouragement, and the listener must not lose sight of her.

Keep Don't look away
Tori emphasizes that it's important not to look away from her, as she represents a symbol of hope and a way out of difficult situations in life. She encourages the listener to focus on their goals and not be distracted by obstacles.

Keep your eyes on her horizon
Tori reminds the listener to focus on her horizon, or goal, and to keep moving forward towards it despite the obstacles in their path.

Bear claw free fall A gunner's view black and blue Shred in ribbons of lithium Blow by blow
Here, Tori describes a chaotic scene of extreme danger and fear. It's a metaphor for the difficult times in life, where it can feel like you're spiraling out of control and being torn apart by life's challenges. She describes a world where the individual is having to fight for their very existence, and every challenge is taking its toll on them.

Her mind cut in sheets Layers deep now unravelling
Tori describes the psychological impact of life's challenges on the individual. One's mind can feel like it's being cut into pieces, with each layer getting progressively deeper until it unravels completely.

Get me Neil on the line No I can't hold Have him read "snow glass apples" Where nothing is what it seems
Here, Tori is seeking guidance from Neil, likely a reference to Neil Gaiman who wrote the short story 'Snow Glass Apples'. The story is a retelling of Snow White with a dark twist. Tori wants Neil to read it to her to remind her that life can be full of illusions, and what seems wonderful may actually be harmful.

"Little sis you must crack this" He says to me "you must go in again carbon Made only wants to be unmade"
Tori shares Neil's advice to her, which is to confront her challenges and overcome them. She must go in again, face her fears, and come out unmade. This is a powerful image of transformation, where one comes out on the other side stronger and more resilient.

Blade to ice it's Double diamond time
Tori describes the intensity of the situation, using an image of a blade cutting through ice, showing the difficulty of cutting through life's challenges. This is now double diamond time – referencing a skiing term for an advanced and challenging ski run.

And keep your eyes on her On her eyes on her horizon
Tori reminds the listener to keep following her lead and keep their focus on their goal. Keep their eyes on her and her horizon, where they will find hope and the strength to overcome life's challenges.