(Interlude 1) by alt-J Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Cryptic Soul of Melodic Mantras
Lyrics
Walk to to count count her steps,
Eighteen teen strides and she stops to abide
By the law that she herself has set.
That eighten steps is one complete set,
And before the next nine right and nine left.
She looks up up at the blueeeeeee,
And whispers to all of the above.
Don’t let me drown, don’t breathe alone,
No kicks no pangs no broken bones.
Never let me sink,
Always feel at home,
No sticks no shanks and no stones.
Never leave it too late,
Always enjoy the taste,
Of the great great great grey world of hearts.
As all dogs everywhere bark bark bark bark
It’s worth knowing,
Like all good fruit, the balance of life is in
The ripe, and ruined.
The hauntingly ethereal ‘(Interlude 1)’ serves as an esoteric gem in alt-J’s discography. It’s a song that at first hums with a deceptive simplicity, yet upon closer inspection reveals layer upon layer of intricate emotion and cryptic symbolism. The British indie rock band, known for their unconventionally poignant lyrics, propels listeners into deep contemplation with this track.
With its sparse lyrics and captivating melody, ‘(Interlude 1)’ stands as a powerful testament to alt-J’s artistry. The song’s brevity belies the complexity of its themes––a masterful blend of vulnerability, the search for assurance, and the profound reflection on life’s duality. This analysis seeks to decode the subtleties of the song’s lyrics and their broader resonance within the human condition.
Counting Steps Towards Elysium
The repetitive and obsessive counting of steps by the song’s protagonist is not merely about movement but a sacred ritual, an attempt to find order amidst chaos. Each stride represents a careful tread through life’s uncertainty. alt-J encapsulates the essence of this human ritual in their few choicely stark lines, a meticulous act of seeking control when everything feels insurmountably arbitrary.
This captivating mantra of steps alludes to the wider human experience of navigating existence, each footfall a carefully judged mix of hesitation and hope. It is a powerful metaphor for the human need to create personal mantras, routines, and superstitions as a means of coping with the sprawling, often intimidating canvas of life.
Blue Skies and Silent Pleas
Looking ‘up at the blueeeeeee,’ the protagonist murmurs a prayer to the heavens, a silent plea for survival and companionship in a vast and often indifferent universe. This upward gaze symbolizes both a longing for spiritual connection and an acknowledgment of existential solitude.
alt-J thus invokes a universal human yearning to communicate with a force greater than ourselves, to not ‘drown’ or ‘breathe alone’ in the deep waters of our personal battles. The reference to the color blue may also represent both the ‘blue’ of melancholy and the ‘blue’ of the transcendent, serene sky—a canvas upon which we project our deepest desires and fears.
A Litany Against Suffering
The lyricist intones a chant of protection—’No kicks no pangs no broken bones’—evoking folklore’s protective charms. It’s a modern incantation to shield one from life’s physical and emotional tribulations, perhaps a commentary on the fragility of the human spirit and our collective aversion to pain and despair.
This mantra-like assertion is a gripping reminder that within the human soul lies a delicate balance: a battle between the endurance of hardship and the allure of a life devoid of such struggles. alt-J crafts a spellbinding ode to the resilience necessary to traverse the uneven terrain of the heart.
Tasting the Dual Nature of Existence
alt-J implores the listener to ‘Always enjoy the taste,/Of the great great great grey world of hearts.’ It’s nuanced counsel advocating for a full-blooded embrace of life’s complexities. The imagery evokes a world not simply black or white but ‘great grey,’ filled with myriad shades of human emotion.
In these lines, the band captures the quintessence of existence itself—the ‘ripe’ moments of joy and satisfaction, counterbalanced by the ‘ruined’ fragments of sorrow and loss. It is a call to recognize the bittersweet flavors of our journey, to savor them as part of a rich, enigmatic tapestry.
The Enigmatic Chorus of Canine Calls
Trailing the song’s delicate melancholia is the mention of ‘all dogs everywhere bark bark bark bark.’ Beyond the surface, this evokes a primordial, communal voice, perhaps symbolic of an innate call to unite with one’s kindred spirits or an instinctual reflection of inner turmoil and external chaos.
It’s a striking image interlocked with the song’s overarching motifs, merging the personal with the universal, reflecting alt-J’s ability to resonate with our collective subconscious. The humble barking chorus becomes a testament to the commonality of experience, an echo of the human cry for recognition and the reassurance of belonging.
