Empire by Of Monsters and Men Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Depths of Human Connection
Lyrics
Shivering teeth
See the mountains where they meet
Smothering me
As the wind fends off the waves
I count down the days
Heavy stones fear no weather
I find comfort in the sound
And the shape of the heart
How it echoes through the chest
From under the ground
As the hills turn into holes
I fill them with gold
Heavy stones fear no weather
From the rain comes a river
Running wild that we create
An empire for you
Illuminate there is a river
Running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
And I paint your body black
I hide in your hair
And you’re staring back at me
Like I wasn’t there
As our bodies become stills
We welcome the fear
Heavy stones fear no weather
From the rain comes a river
Running wild that will create
An empire for you
Illuminate there is a river
Running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
From the rain comes a river
Running wild that will create
An empire for you
Illuminate there is a river
Running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
Of Monsters and Men is known for crafting anthemic folk-pop that echoes the vast landscapes of their native Iceland. ‘Empire,’ a standout track from their sophomore album, is no exception. The song enchants listeners with a majestic intertwining of natural imagery and deeply human emotion, prompting a deeper exploration into its lyrical substance.
While on the surface ‘Empire’ exudes a grand beauty, the layers beneath reveal a more complex and intimate portrayal of love, connection, and the creation of something enduring. In the spirit of its artfully ambiguous poetry, let us traverse the lyrical terrain to unearth the song’s nuanced meanings.
Nature’s Canvas: A Backdrop for Intimate Empires
‘Empire’ opens with evocative imagery of the natural world — oceans breathing, mountains looming, and wind battling waves. This paints a portrait of nature’s enduring strength, which mirrors the song’s thematic focus on building an emotional stronghold. The lyrics suggest that, much like the inexorable forces of nature, human bonds can be sculpted into something resilient and unyielding.
Through these vivid descriptions, the songwriters juxtapose the impermanence of human life against the timeless backdrop of nature. There’s a sense of seeking to leave one’s mark, to build an ’empire’ of personal legacy — not of territory, but of shared moments and memories.
Echoes Through The Chest: The Heart’s Resonance
In a striking metaphor, ‘Empire’ alludes to the heart’s sound and shape, emphasizing how personal connections resonate within us. The terrain of human emotion is likened to the earth itself — with hills and holes representing the highs and lows of relationships, which the song’s characters aim to fill with ‘gold,’ or perhaps, with cherished experiences.
This metaphor extends to depict the fortification of love amidst adversity. Just as heavy stones endure harsh weather, so too does the relationship within the song withstand the trials it faces. The ‘sound’ and ‘shape’ of the heart are essentially the foundations of the empire they’re building — strong, precious, and eternal.
The Hidden Meaning: A River of Creation and Illumination
A pivotal line in the song is the repeated refrain, ‘From the rain comes a river running wild that will create.’ This suggests that from the struggles and ‘rain’ comes the potential for something new and powerful, like a river that carves its own path. These lines speak to the idea that adversity is not just an obstacle, but a fertile ground for growth and creation.
This ‘river’ brings life to the ’empire,’ offering both illumination and a drive toward a shared future. It is a call to embrace the unpredictable nature of life and relationships, acknowledging that while we cannot control the rain, we can decide what to build with the river it brings forth.
Painting Bodies and Hiding in Hair: Intimacy Unmasked
There is a striking intimacy in the stanzas that describe ‘painting your body black,’ and ‘hiding in your hair.’ It can be interpreted as a raw immersion into one’s partner, a willingness to merge and lose oneself in the other. The colors and textures evoked present a canvas ripe for emotional and physical connection.
The act of ‘staring back’ speaks to the recognition of this deep connection, an acknowledgment even in moments of stillness or fear. The line ‘And you’re staring back at me like I wasn’t there’ offers a paradox that invites introspection. It could reflect the depth of the union where the boundaries between the self and the other blur into absence.
Memorable Lines: Building An Empire for Two
The recurring promise to ‘create an empire for you, an empire for two’ serves as the song’s emotional keystone. It sets a tone of shared destiny, a mutual commitment to forge a personal realm that stands the test of time. The empire is a metaphor for the life they will build together, a domain governed by love and shared dreams.
By choosing an empire as a symbol, there’s an air of grandeur and durability to the relationship they’re singing about. It’s a resounding affirmation that whatever they face, they will face together, building upon the empire of their bond with each day that passes.
