Without a Song
Vetiver Lyrics
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Borrowed a car with no radio
Gone before the sun had a chance to shine
The free wind weighed on my mind
How many roads begin under dark umbrella
They can see the memory of love
Shifting soon every thought in my head
'Til they all get tangled up in blue
This melody promises me someday words will come
And when they do, I'll shape them into a song
In Vetiver's song "Without a Song," the singer speaks about leaving the city without a specific destination in mind. The opening line, "Without a song I left the city," is a reference to the lack of direction and purpose in the singer's life. The car that the singer borrows is also without a radio, symbolizing the absence of any external guidance or distraction. The journey is described as starting before the sun has had a chance to shine, indicating a sense of urgency and a desire to leave quickly.
The second verse speaks about the various paths that can be taken in life, each with its own memories and experiences. The line "They can see the memory of love" suggests that these paths are often connected to past emotional experiences, whether positive or negative. However, the arrival of a new melody "clears the way like a siren" and shifts the singer's thoughts. This melody becomes a central focus, overwhelming all other thoughts and creating a new sense of direction. The final line, "This melody promises me someday words will come / And when they do, I'll shape them into a song," highlights the transformative power of music and the hope that it can bring.
Overall, "Without a Song" is a song about the power of music to provide direction, clarity, and purpose in life. The lack of a specific destination at the beginning of the song is replaced by the promise of a future song at the end. The melody becomes a guiding force, pulling the singer out of confusion and towards a new creative endeavor.
Line by Line Meaning
Without a song I left the city
I left the noisy city without any particular melody or rhythm in my mind.
Borrowed a car with no radio
I borrowed a car that had no radio and felt the isolation of the car and the emptiness of the highway.
Gone before the sun had a chance to shine
I started driving before the sun came out and felt the darkness within myself.
The free wind weighed on my mind
The wind felt free and much unencumbered than I felt.
How many roads begin under dark umbrella
I wondered how many journeys begin in darkness and depression.
They can see the memory of love
Even in the painful moments, I hoped to see and smile at memories of love.
Comes a tune, clearing way like a siren
A melody came that was so irresistible, it cut through my deep depression and hopelessness like a siren.
Shifting soon every thought in my head
The music overwhelmed me and sent my thoughts spiraling in different directions.
'Til they all get tangled up in blue
My emotions get mixed into the music, all blending in nicely as one tangled knot.
This melody promises me someday words will come
This song I'm hearing soothes and inspires me such that it promises to inspire me to write someday.
And when they do, I'll shape them into a song
When my words eventually find the way out of my head, I will turn them into a beautiful melody and bring it to the world.
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.