Handmade Heaven by Marina Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Tapestry of Longing and Belonging
Lyrics
They live out their lives so purposefully
I envy the spiders, the squirrels and seeds
They all find their way automatically
But in this handmade heaven, I come alive
Bluebirds forever colour the sky
In this handmade heaven, we forget the time
‘Cause birds of a feather fly together
I carry along a feel of unease
I want to belong like the birds in the trees
I sit on my own, look over the town
The skyscrapers glow like they’ll never fall down
But in this handmade heaven, it’s paradise
Bluebirds forever colour the sky
In this handmade heaven, we forget the time
‘Cause birds of a feather fly together
In this handmade heaven, I come alive
Bluebirds forever colour the sky
In this handmade heaven, handmade heaven
Handmade heaven, handmade heaven
And I could no longer ignore
The ivy growing tall
This life don’t suit me anymore
The writing’s on the wall
In this handmade heaven, I come alive
Bluebirds forever colour the sky
In this handmade heaven, handmade heaven
Handmade heaven, handmade heaven
(Bluebirds forever) Birds of a feather
(Bluebirds forever) Fly together
(Bluebirds forever) In this strange, strange weather
(Bluebirds forever) In this handmade heaven
In this handmade heaven, in this handmade heaven
In this handmade heaven, in this handmade heaven
At first glance, ‘Handmade Heaven’ by Marina appears as a vivid tableau sketched with the metaphorical richness that is emblematic of the artist’s discography. But beyond its lush imagery, there lies a profound emotional landscape that resonates with themes of alienation, aspiration, and the quest for a utopian existence.
Engaging with the song lyrically and musically, listeners are invited into a world both familiar and fantastical. Marina’s poignant lyrics flutter like painted wings against the canvas of her melodic structure, creating an ecosystem where human longing meets a crafted paradise.
A Lyrical Journey Through Idealistic Escape
The song operates on a plane of existential yearning, lauding the simplicity and purposefulness with which nature’s creatures seem to live. These opening lines establish a dichotomy between human complexity and the straightforward lives of forest fauna, generating an undercurrent of envy that human lives cannot be as instinctually content.
Marina juxtaposes the life of a person bogged down by social constructs and self-conscious unease against that of creatures unburdened by such thoughts. This lyrical dichotomy presents a vision of a world where one yearns to drop the cloak of societal expectations and live with the authenticity of the ‘birds and trees.’
The Allure of ‘Handmade Heaven’
The term ‘Handmade Heaven’ is an inventive fusion of artifice and sanctity, suggesting a realm meticulously crafted to exude a celestial correctness. It is a place where the singer can ‘come alive,’ shaking off the malaise of the ordinary life – an ethereal expanse where kindred spirits find communion.
Through repetition and emphasis on the titular ‘Handmade Heaven,’ Marina crystallizes the concept of this custom-made paradise, where time capitulates to the far grander dance of nature and kindred unity. It becomes a solace for the artist, untouched by the rust of reality, echoing with the eternity of azure skies.
The Juxtaposition of Freedom and Confinement
The song details the stark contrast between the vistas opened by the natural world and the suffocating grip of urban life. As Marina sits ‘on her own, looking over the town,’ there’s a looming sense of entrapment, conveyed by the imagery of the ‘skyscrappers glow’ that stand tall, almost leering over the autonomy of the individual.
It mirrors the human conflict of aspiring to belong naturally, ‘like the birds in the trees,’ while also grappling with the constructs of modern society. This push and pull offer a latticework of tension threaded throughout the song’s narrative.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning in Planting New Roots
In what may seem like an abrupt shift, there comes an acknowledgment of life changes, signified by the ‘ivy growing tall.’ The song can be seen as Marina’s recognition that the life she’s known no longer fits her growing needs and that to ignore the signs of personal growth would be akin to constraining her spirit.
This foliage of change, ‘the writing on the wall,’ symbolizes Marina’s realization that to find her Handmade Heaven, alterations in her life must be embraced. In accepting this, Marina issues an imperative to the listener to heed their own ivy – their signs for change, and to chase their version of paradise.
Memorable Lines that Paint the Sky
‘Bluebirds forever colour the sky,’ a line repeated throughout the song, becomes a powerful leitmotif that adorns the firmament of Marina’s heaven. Bluebirds, often associated with happiness and resilience, underscore Marina’s quest for an eternal state of joy and the unyielding pursuit of a space where she can soar unfettered.
By illustrating heaven with constant brushstrokes of ‘bluebirds,’ Marina imbues the song with a transcendent note of optimism. The color blue becomes a holistic sentiment that also points to limitless potential and the serenity that comes from finding a community of likeminded ‘birds,’ or people, with whom one can share their handmade heaven.
