babylon
r.e.g. Lyrics


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Babylon (Babylon)
It's for you, I sing
Babylon (Babylon)
In a sea of other things
This song (this song)
Burnin' the offering

Liquid shaky ground
That the soil cannot reach
Tower casts a shadow
Virus when you speak
Love it when I see you
In a state of disbelief

Run along (run along)
Even though you don't believe
Go on (go on)
So easy to be deceived
Right or wrong (right or wrong)
So difficult to leave

It's not that I don't get it
I really think I do
We wanted to be different
But ain't happen any time soon
Mood spelled backwards
Doom

Babylon (Babylon)
It's for you, I sing
Babylon
In a sea of other things
This song
Burnin' the offering

Liquid shaky ground
That the soil cannot reach
Tower casts a shadow
Virus when you speak
Love it when I see you
In a state of disbelief

(Babylon)




(Babylon)
(Babylon)

Overall Meaning

In "Babylon" by r.e.g., the singer is addressing the complexities of life and society in today's world. He repeats the word "Babylon" throughout the song, a reference to the ancient city which, in the Bible, represented corruption and sin. The song's chorus, "It's for you, I sing/Babylon, in a sea of other things/This song, burnin' the offering," suggests that through singing about the struggles and faults of society, one can offer a sacrifice to overcome them.


The imagery used in the song is powerful and poignant. The line "Liquid shaky ground/That the soil cannot reach" paints a picture of instability and uncertainty. The "Tower" that "casts a shadow" represents the powerful institutions and individuals in society that create a dark influence over people. The use of "virus" metaphorically links how our words and actions can spread and have negative effects. Moreover, the lines "Love it when I see you/In a state of disbelief" suggests how people act to remain ignorant, even though the issues are staring them in the face.


The song concludes with the line, "Mood spelled backwards/Doom." Here, the singer suggests that people ignore the bad mood, and in turn, these actions lead to one's doom. The repetitive use of the word "Babylon" highlights that society is at a tipping point and is desperately in need of change.


Line by Line Meaning

Babylon (Babylon)
The mythical place 'Babylon' is the focus of the song


It's for you, I sing
This song is dedicated to the listener


In a sea of other things
Babylon is just one thing among many others


This song (this song)
The song itself is an offering to Babylon


Burnin' the offering
The song is like a fire burning the offering for Babylon


Liquid shaky ground
Something is unstable, like liquid on shaky ground


That the soil cannot reach
The ground is so unstable that even soil cannot fix it


Tower casts a shadow
A tall tower casts a shadow on the unstable ground


Virus when you speak
Words can infect like a virus on that unstable ground


Love it when I see you
The singer enjoys seeing Babylon, the unstable ground


In a state of disbelief
The singer is amazed by the instability of Babylon


Run along (run along)
The singer advises someone to leave, even though they may not believe the situation is bad


Even though you don't believe
Despite not believing, they should still leave the unstable situation


Go on (go on)
The singer encourages them to keep going and not give up


So easy to be deceived
It's easy to fall for illusions on this shaky ground


Right or wrong (right or wrong)
It's hard to make decisions on what is right or wrong on this unstable ground


So difficult to leave
Even though it's unstable, it's hard to leave Babylon


It's not that I don't get it
The singer understands the situation


I really think I do
The singer is confident that they understand the situation


We wanted to be different
People wanted to be distinct from Babylon's instability


But ain't happen any time soon
That difference won't happen anytime soon, as Babylon's instability persists


Mood spelled backwards
Mood spelled backwards is 'doom', a reflection of the gloomy situation of Babylon


Babylon
...and so the song ends with the repetition of the word 'Babylon'




Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: Daniel Lopatin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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