Cartographist by Purity Ring Lyrics Meaning – Mapping the Human Experience
Lyrics
We’ll sew clothes from the stem of our womb
We’ll bathe often in light of the moon
We’ll sew clothes from the stem of our womb
Oh, my sweet fairy the past is strong (strong, strong)
Touch not my bosom for I’ll not get far (far)
Colour your cartography in your dreams of me
Maps will not lie, will not lie, will not lie in me
Grow into gardens, the caverns you found in me
Peel off the weightless, you held from the start of me
Oh, my sweet fairy, our hearts did us wrong
But rudders of bodies doth carry us on (on)
And more moons than our eyes can recount and store
Yet they bid that we see the same things
Sweet they bid that we swim in their seas
(They bid that we swim in their seas)
(They bid that we swim in their seas)
(They bid that we swim in their seas)
(They bid that we swim in their seas)
(They bid that we swim in their seas)
Well then, the amber woods are calling
Lie down to keep thy hands from falling
Kill them then bury seeds beneath me
Measure thy deeds, in due time harvest
Well then, the amber woods are calling
Lie down to keep thy hands from falling
Kill them then bury seeds beneath me
Measure thy deeds, in due time harvest
In their song ‘Cartographist’, Purity Ring crafts a poetic exploration of inner emotional landscapes that resonate deeply with the complexity of the human experience. The Canadian electronic pop duo, known for their ethereal soundscapes and lead singer Megan James’ haunting vocals, infuses their music with an air of mystery and introspection. This piece does not stray from that tradition.
With a title suggestive of map-making, ‘Cartographist’ conceives a metaphorical world where memories, feelings, and intimate relationships are territories to be charted. As we delve into the meaning behind its enigmatic lyrics, we uncover an atlas of the heart, guiding us through the tempestuous and often unexplored territories within ourselves.
Illuminating the Lunar Cycle: Bathing in Moonlight
The lines ‘We’ll bathe often in light of the moon / We’ll sew clothes from the stem of our womb’ wash over us with a ritualistic and cyclical significance. It’s a symbolic cleansing, a renewal that’s tied to the lunar phases and reflective of the perpetual ebb and flow of human emotion. This baptism by moonlight sets the stage for a transformation, an intimate and almost sacred process of preparing for what lies ahead.
The repetitive nature of these lines mimics the constancy of the moon’s presence, suggesting a continuous search for clarity and enlightenment. The act of sewing clothes from ‘the stem of our womb’ speaks to creation derived from one’s essence, an intentional and personal cultivation of identity that is both protective and revealing.
Tracing Dreams and Desires: The Cartography of Self
The command to ‘Colour your cartography in your dreams of me / Maps will not lie, will not lie, will not lie in me’ conjures images of self-exploration and the subconscious. This directive invites an intimate partner to navigate the speaker’s intrinsic landscape, promising that the emotional topography charted there is honest and true.
Maps are typically objective tools that depict the physical world, but when applied to the psyche and heart, they transform into subjective representations of one’s deepest desires, fears, and truths. In Purity Ring’s lyrical universe, to map is to understand and to accept – a vital act of love.
Sowing Seeds of Transformation: The Gardening of Souls
The metaphor expands into an organic realm with ‘Grow into gardens, the caverns you found in me / Peel off the weightless, you held from the start of me.’ This coupling implies personal growth and the nurturing of something within that once lay dormant. The caverns represent hidden depths of the self that, once discovered, can be tended to and cultivated into something beautiful and sustaining.
Peeling off the weightless touches upon the shedding of superficial burdens or preconceived notions at the beginning of one’s emotional journey. What’s revealed underneath is the truth of one’s character, which can then be nourished into flourishing gardens – a symbol of inner prosperity and development.
Navigating Heartfelt Storms: The Odyssey of Emotion
The lyrics weave a complex emotional narrative with ‘Oh, my sweet fairy, our hearts did us wrong / But rudders of bodies doth carry us on.’ These lines reveal the paradox of love and hurt, the sense that one’s emotions can lead one astray, yet the inherent physical drive pushes individuals forward regardless of the heartache.
There’s resilience in this confession, a recognition that despite missteps in love or judgment, life’s voyage continues. The physical body becomes a vessel with a rudder, steering through tumultuous seas of emotion – bound to both the pain and the solace that memories bring.
Through Amber Woods We Walk: The Allurement of Forbidden Paths
Towards the song’s closure, ‘the amber woods’ act as another rich metaphor for an overwhelming draw towards the unknown. The caution to ‘lie down to keep thy hands from falling’ reflects a moment of rest but also the natural tendency to grasp at things we might be better off leaving untouched.
The directive to ‘kill them then bury seeds beneath me’ suggests a violent rebirth, sowing new life where the old one was laid to rest. It presents the cyclical concept that destruction makes way for new creation, and from the death of one’s past actions and memories, a future is to be harvested.
