Christmas
Ulver Lyrics


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A god is born and others die. What is
Has neither come nor gone, but error moves.
Today we have exchanged eternities
And what is past no novelty improves.

Blind knowledge is working at useless ground
And crazy faith is living the dream of its liturgy
A new god is a word - or the mere sound
Don't seek and don't trust, for all is mystery.





Overall Meaning

Ulver's "Christmas" is a thought-provoking song that delves into religion and spirituality. The opening line, "A god is born and others die," immediately raises the question of the cyclical nature of life and death, and how different religions handle this concept. The second line, "What is has neither come nor gone," suggests that perhaps time is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, and that our perception of time is a product of human error. The following lines, "Today we have exchanged eternities / And what is past no novelty improves," seem to suggest that no matter what we do, we are still part of an unchanging cycle of birth and death.


The second stanza delves deeper into the theme of religion and spirituality, with the line "Blind knowledge is working at useless ground" suggesting a criticism of those who hold onto outdated beliefs without questioning them. The line "A new god is a word - or the mere sound" further emphasizes the idea that religion is a construct of human language and culture. The final two lines, "Don't seek and don't trust, for all is mystery," seem to suggest that the answers to life's big questions may never be fully known, and that we should be content with the mystery of existence.


Line by Line Meaning

A god is born and others die. What is
The constant cycle of life and death is happening, but the meaning of it all is uncertain.


Has neither come nor gone, but error moves.
The idea of God or any higher power has always existed, but different beliefs and interpretations have caused error and confusion.


Today we have exchanged eternities,
During the Christmas season, we experience a sense of timelessness and exchange a piece of eternity with each other.


And what is past no novelty improves.
No matter how we try to reenact or recreate past traditions, they will never be the same or as meaningful as they once were.


Blind knowledge is working at useless ground
Knowledge without a deeper understanding or spiritual connection is pointless and ineffective.


And crazy faith is living the dream of its liturgy
Following religious rituals without truly understanding the significance behind them is a meaningless and illogical practice.


A new god is a word - or the mere sound
The idea of God or any higher power only exists because of the words and sounds we use to describe it.


Don't seek and don't trust, for all is mystery.
The true nature of God and the universe is a mystery, and we should not blindly seek or trust in any one belief or interpretation.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MICHAEL W. SMITH, JOANNA CARLSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

CoderatheGreat

It's Christmas day again, I always go back to this song every year. :)

Y G

@Sam Mack Same

Sam Mack

Same

TheEricGrant

Ulver could very well be the best band that ever was or ever will be...

Martial Wolf

I love it! It's so chaotic yet it sets a nice Xmas mood. :D

Giants Fan

It is Christmas once again, and here I am listening to my favorite Christmas song.

Lucas De Munter

Great song, truly a trip

ryans1012

Ulver aren't classifiable. They're more like a mysterious force of audible essence

kohoutekcorporation

@ryans1012 Sir, I think you nailed it. Absolutely amazing music, amazing vocals, the whole package.

M2 Recording Studio

Great music, i love it.

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