Orpheus
Twelfth Gate Lyrics
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You couldn't bring the past to life
Slipped through your hands again
Don't look back
And you mourn again
Who from us can feel your pain?
Sing a sweet song
Entrancing even the most harden
Convinced the highest ranking to do your bidding
Let us into the underworld to retrieve your only love
And defy the serpent's curse of death
The magic you possess
The different ways they said you died
I say you died of loneliness
Sad and alone
Sunrise to sunset
You touch a chord with me
The lyrics of Twelfth Gate's song Orpheus depict the Greek mythological character Orpheus, who was a legendary musician known for his incredible skills in playing the lyre. He was deeply in love with his wife, Eurydice, who tragically died after being bitten by a serpent. Orpheus, devastated by the loss of his love, ventured into the underworld to retrieve her. He used his musical prowess to charm the underworld's gatekeepers and convince them to let him enter. Once there, he negotiated with Hades to release Eurydice with the condition that he must not look back as he leads her out of the underworld. In a moment of weakness, Orpheus looked back, and Eurydice was forever lost.
The lyrics of the song touch on the themes of loss, love, and the power of music. Orpheus is portrayed as a respected star in his time, but he couldn't bring his past love back to life. The song highlights the pain and sorrow that he felt, and how he used music to soothe his soul. Furthermore, the lyrics also depict the difficulty of accepting loss, and how Orpheus' quest to retrieve his wife was an attempt to defy death itself. Ultimately, the song suggests that Orpheus' tragic end was his own doing, as he couldn't move on and accept the loss of his love.
Line by Line Meaning
Star in your time respected
You were once beloved and respected in your time.
You couldn't bring the past to life
You were unable to resurrect the past, no matter how hard you tried.
Slipped through your hands again
You lost your chance to bring back what you lost.
Don't look back
Move forward, don't get stuck in the past.
And you mourn again
You continue to grieve for what you've lost.
Who from us can feel your pain?
No one can truly understand the depth of your pain and loss.
Sing a sweet song
Find comfort in music and distraction from your sorrow.
To pass the day
To help you endure the passage of time while you grieve.
Entrancing even the most harden
You have the power to captivate and charm even the most resistant.
Convinced the highest ranking to do your bidding
You were able to persuade those in power to do your bidding.
Let us into the underworld to retrieve your only love
You were willing to go to any lengths to retrieve what you've lost, even if it meant entering the underworld.
And defy the serpent's curse of death
You were determined to overcome the odds and bring your love back to life.
The magic you possess
Your unique abilities and talents that allow you to accomplish the impossible.
The different ways they said you died
There are many different versions of your story, each with their own interpretation of what happened.
I say you died of loneliness
I believe your greatest pain was your isolation and lack of connection with others.
Sad and alone
You suffered from a profound sense of sadness and loneliness.
Sunrise to sunset
Your sorrow and pain were constant, from sunrise to sunset.
You touch a chord with me
Your story resonates with me on a deep level, and I feel a connection to your pain and loss.
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.