DNA by Empire of the Sun Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Strands of Nostalgia and Connection
Lyrics
Back in spring of ’79
There were no rules to feel sublime
Let’s trek down the path
We slept to the radio
Gentle as my heart beats now
Turn up the fuse all over again, my friend
Just to take me away
Rewind, be my DNA
Don’t wanna fade away
Rewind, there’s no yesterday
It’s our discovery
Dreamtime, it’s a special place
Let’s keep each other awake
Our hearts, now they beat the same
There is a thread that runs along
The seam of all the paths we’ve crossed
A colour wheel that spins around
Weave all into one
The price of getting setting suns
We’re running to the beat of the drum
We are the creatures, rays and larks
Relax
Just to take me away
Rewind, be my DNA
Don’t wanna fade away
Rewind, there’s no yesterday
It’s our discovery
Dreamtime, it’s a special place
Let’s keep each other awake
Our hearts, now they beat the same
Take me away
So far away
No-one will find us
On our own island
Just out of choice
The dreamer fought the battleship away
It’s over the horizon
Voices inside of us to guide us on
Guiding us on (can’t you hear us calling you)
Can’t you hear us calling you
Can’t you hear us calling you
Rewind, we were DNA
Don’t wanna fade away
Rewind, there’s no yesterday
It’s our discovery
Dreamtime, it’s a special place
Let’s keep each other awake
Our hearts, now they beat the same
Empire of the Sun’s ‘DNA’ is a track that synthesizes the ethereal with the rhythmic, creating a rich soundscape that begs for a deeper dive into its lyrical significance. It’s a musical voyage that deals with the themes of nostalgia, connection, and discovery — all wrapped up in the band’s signature electro-pop sound.
With ‘DNA,’ listeners are teleported to a place beyond time where the past wrangles with the present in a dance of cosmic proportions. This song is less a simple melody and more a beckoning into a world where every beat is a heartbeat, and every line is a thread in the fabric of a shared human experience.
A Trip Down Memory Lane: ‘Spring of ’79’
The opening lines of ‘DNA’ set the stage with a vivid picture of youth, embedded in the specific temporal setting of the ‘spring of ’79.’ This not only anchors the song in a specific moment in history but also evokes a sense of timeless freedom associated with youth. It was a moment where ‘there were no rules to feel sublime,’ suggesting a pure, untainted experience that the artists long to return to.
This look back is not just a reminisce but a powerful attachment to periods in life marked by intense emotion and a feeling of infinity. Whether it’s an actual year or a metaphorical springtime of life, the lyrics resonate with the listener’s own memories of careless and free-spirited days.
The Beating Heart of Nostalgia: Rewinding Time
‘Rewind, be my DNA’ repeats as a haunting refrain throughout the song. It implores an almost impossible return to the past, a yearning to make one’s very essence a living memoir that resists the fade into oblivion. The line evokes a yearning to physically embody the cherished moments of the past, fuelling one’s existence in the present.
By repeating the desire not to ‘fade away,’ the song touches on a universal human fear of mortality and irrelevance. It’s a plea to hold on to the core elements that define us, the moments that are as intrinsic to our being as DNA.
Discovering ‘No Yesterday’: The Eternal Present in ‘DNA’
While the song revels in nostalgia, it equally expresses a complete immersion in the present with ‘there’s no yesterday.’ It exclaims a relentless discovery, each moment being perceived as new and untouched by the preconceptions of the past. This awakens the listeners to the concept of eternal newness, wherein history is not a shackle but a launching pad for the present experience.
Empire of the Sun crafts a vision where time folds upon itself—a place where the idea of yesterday becomes obsolete and every ‘now’ is a revelation. It’s a philosophical musing clothed in pop synth, as the song challenges us to live within the ever-unfurling ‘now.’
An Ode to Interconnectedness: Weaving the Color Wheel
The lyrics speak of a ‘thread that runs along / The seam of all the paths we’ve crossed,’ suggesting the interconnected nature of our experiences and relationships. The paths and the color wheel spinning around serve as metaphors for the diverse spectrum of human life and the ways in which we are all intrinsically linked.
This universality is further emphasized by the declaration that ‘our hearts, now they beat the same,’ underlining a shared rhythm of life, a collective experience that binds us together. Empire of the Sun perceives this interconnectedness as vital as DNA, making it an essential component of our human makeup.
The Lyrical Lifeline: ‘Can’t You Hear Us Calling You’
Among the most profound appeals in the song is the line ‘Can’t you hear us calling you.’ It acts as a siren call for the communal and the spiritual, an invitation to join in the collective consciousness. These words resonate with a sort of urgency and intimacy that suggest the presence of a bond that surpasses the mundane.
In its simplicity, the line speaks volumes about the desire for connection and recognition. It begs for attention not just from the listener but from all those who have been a part of the journey, those who are integral to one’s personal narrative—the figurative ‘DNA’ of existence.
