Adagio
Wishing Chair Lyrics

The lyrics to Wishing Chair's song "Adagio" pay tribute to Vedran Smailovic, a cellist in the former Sarajevo Opera Orchestra. In the summer of 1992, a mortar hit a line of people waiting for bread outside a bakery, killing 21 men, women, and children. To honor their memory, Smailovic played Albinoni's Adagio in Gm for 21 days straight - one day for each victim. The song's lyrics speak to the power of music in times of war and violence, acknowledging the impact it can have on those who are struggling to survive.

The opening line, "Speak to me in Adagio," evokes a sense of urgency and desperation, as though the author is pleading for some kind of solace in the midst of chaos. The use of the word "Adagio" is significant; it is a musical term that indicates a slow tempo, and comes from the Italian phrase ad agio, meaning "at ease." By asking to be spoken to in this way, the author is seeking a calming presence amidst the violence and destruction.

The lines "this bow will heal this sky" and "how can I play while they bomb" speak to the power of music to offer solace in the face of death and destruction. The author acknowledges the absurdity of playing music while bombs are falling, yet also recognizes that the act of making music in the midst of chaos can have a transformative power. The final lines, "But how can they bomb while I play," suggest that, perhaps, music has the power to bring about an end to the violence itself.

Overall, "Adagio" is a moving tribute to the human capacity for resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable suffering. It underscores the power of music to offer solace in the darkest of times, and the ways in which we can use art to respond to trauma and grief.