It doesn't have a particular theme. It's just a dark Victorian, post-punk/deathrock influenced jam.
Vagues de Vapeur
Vernian Process Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A time of progress, a time of steam
Chimneys billowing across the sky
A time of conquest, a time to die
Riding, riding, riding on the waves
A time that never was, welcome the old ways
Riding, riding, riding on the waves of steam
It could be you! Could be me!
Could be us, just wait and see!
Combustible hearts and minds
Are all that we will leave behind!
Times are changing
Rearranging
Cathedral spires glisten in the sun
While down below war has begun
A new invention to save us all
A brand new cause for our downfall!
Riding, riding, riding on the waves x4
Riding, riding, riding on the waves
A time that never was, welcome the old ways
Riding, riding, riding on the waves of steam
On the waves of steam
It could be you! Could be me!
Could be us, just wait and see!
Combustible hearts and minds
Are all that we will leave behind!
The lyrics of Vernian Process's song "Vagues de Vapeur" (Waves of Steam in English) tell a story of nostalgia for a bygone era of innovation and progress fueled by steam power. The "stained glass memories of a broken dream" evoke images of a once-great industrial age that has fallen by the wayside, while "riding on the waves of steam" speaks to the excitement and wonder that people felt at the time. However, the song also hints at the darker side of progress, with the line "chimneys billowing across the sky/A time of conquest, a time to die" suggesting the environmental and human toll that such rapid industrialization took.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become increasingly metaphorical. The "cathedral spires glistening in the sun" represent the hope and promise of progress, while "down below war has begun" speaks to the conflicts and struggles that inevitably accompany change. The final stanza of the song brings the message home, with the warning that "combustible hearts and minds are all that we will leave behind." This line reminds us that even as we celebrate the achievements of the past, we must also acknowledge their costs and be mindful of our impact on the world today.
Overall, "Vagues de Vapeur" is a beautifully written and haunting song that captures the complex feelings of longing and ambivalence that we often feel when we look back on historical periods of great change.
Line by Line Meaning
Stained glass memories of a broken dream
Recollections of a shattered aspiration, like fragments of brightly colored glass on a church window
A time of progress, a time of steam
An era of advancement, powered by the vaporized remains of water
Chimneys billowing across the sky
Smokestacks belching out their exhaust into the heavens above
A time of conquest, a time to die
A period of domination and pillage, with consequences no one could escape
Riding, riding, riding on the waves
Sailing upon the currents, gliding in harmony with the world around us
A time that never was, welcome the old ways
An age that wasn't, beckoning to familiar traditions from the past
Riding, riding, riding on the waves of steam
Journeying on the surging power of steam
On the waves of steam
Floating atop a sea of misty vapor
It could be you! Could be me!
Anyone could be affected, no one is invincible
Could be us, just wait and see!
We may not know for sure, but we should prepare for the possibility
Combustible hearts and minds
Passionate souls and fiery intellects
Are all that we will leave behind!
The only legacy we'll leave for future generations
Times are changing
The world is evolving, transforming into something new
Rearranging
Shifting into new configurations, altering its very structure
Cathedral spires glisten in the sun
Towers of great churches shining in the light of day
While down below war has begun
But beneath their grandeur, conflict and strife persist
A new invention to save us all
An innovative creation to rescue us from our troubles
A brand new cause for our downfall!
Yet potentially creating another reason for our ultimate ruin
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.