Archaeologists
Wintersleep Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The archaeologists found
Some winged boy's remains
Stained by the fire and clouds
In the belly of a whale
The day the lightning came

The belly of a whale (x6)
Packed up and shipped to London
Discard, discard the rotted parts
Preserve the heart and lungs





Belly of a whale (repeat until end)

Overall Meaning

The song "Archaeologists" by Wintersleep is a hauntingly beautiful piece that takes its listeners on a journey through time and space. At the core of the song is the story of some archaeologists who find the remains of a winged boy in the belly of a whale. The imagery is powerful, and the lyrics are rich in metaphor and symbolism. Throughout the song, the lyrics reference fire, clouds, and lightning, which are all elements of nature that are often seen as powerful and uncontrollable forces. These forces are juxtaposed with the mysterious, almost mythical story of the winged boy, adding to the song's overall sense of magic and wonder.


The second half of the song shifts to a more practical and scientific tone, as the remains of the boy are packed up and shipped to London, where the archaeologists discard the rotted parts and preserve the heart and lungs. This transition highlights the tension between science and superstition, between the desire to understand the mysteries of the past and the human need for stories and mythology.


Overall, "Archaeologists" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the human fascination with the mysteries of the past, and the emotional and spiritual significance of buried stories and forgotten histories.


Line by Line Meaning

The archaeologists found
A group of scientists discovered something important


Some winged boy's remains
The body of a deceased person with wings was uncovered


Stained by the fire and clouds
The body had evidence of being burned and also dirt/debris from the sky


In the belly of a whale
The body was found inside the stomach of a whale


The day the lightning came
The day when a lightning strike occurred


Packed up and shipped to London
The body was moved to London


Discard, discard the rotted parts
The parts of the body that were damaged were thrown away


Preserve the heart and lungs
The heart and lungs were kept intact to study and analyze


Belly of a whale
Repetition of the line to emphasize the location of where the body was found




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions