Poet by Bastille Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Immortality of Words
Lyrics
Obsession it eats me whole.
I can’t say the words out loud,
So in a rhyme I wrote you down.
Now you’ll live through the ages,
I can feel your pulse in the pages.
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
And all the world will read you
And you will live forever
In eyes not yet created
On tongues that are not born
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
Your body lies upon the sheet,
Of paper and words so sweet.
I can’t say the words,
so I wrote you into my verse.
Now you’ll live through the ages,
I can feel your pulse in the pages.
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
And all the world will read you,
And you will live forever
In eyes not yet created
On tongues that are not born
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
I have read her with these eyes,
I’ve read her with these eyes,
I have held her in these hands.
I have written you down,
Now you will live forever.
The virtues in the verse,
And you will live forever.
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
And all the world will read you
And you will live forever
In eyes not yet created
On tongues that are not born
I have written you down
Now you will live forever
In the realm of music, powerful lyrics often transcend mere words on a page, becoming a form of immortality for emotions, stories, and the artists themselves. Bastille’s ‘Poet’ offers a poignant exploration of this eternal legacy, making it an anthemic ode to the written word.
The track, nestled in the heart of the band’s discography, is a lyrical tapestry that weaves a narrative of love, artistry, and the everlasting impact of recording one’s feelings. It delves into the timeless nature of words and how they preserve our essence long after we’re gone. Let’s dissect the song’s intricate layers and uncover the hidden meanings within its verses.
Obsession’s Inkwell Spills Over
The song kicks off with a vivid portrayal of obsession. ‘Obsession takes control, obsession eats me whole,’ is more than the struggle with a passionate fixation; it’s a testament to the overwhelming need to capture sentiments in written form.
The protagonist cannot verbalize their feelings, and so the obsession becomes a catalyst for creation. ‘So in a rhyme, I wrote you down,’ isn’t a simple act but a ritualistic preservation of something, or someone, deeply cherished. It’s an artistic compulsion to eternalize emotions deemed too profound for the spoken word.
The Immortalization of Love
Bastille doesn’t just sing about writing someone down; they talk about the immortalization of a loved one through poetry. ‘I have written you down, now you will live forever,’ these lines serve as a declaration that the subject will defy mortality through the verses.
The song suggests that the act of documenting love in poetry can keep it alive for generations to come. This idea captures the essence of all artists’ desires—to create something that outlives them. In ‘Poet’, the lover is transformed into art, given life through every read, every recited word, and in every heart that finds solace in the poem.
Enduring Beyond the Physical Realm
One striking aspect of ‘Poet’ is the lyrical focus on physical transcendence. ‘Your body lies upon the sheet, of paper and words so sweet,’ points to a metaphysical embodiment within the confines of the poetic.
It’s a mesmerizing concept—translating the tangible into the latticework of literature. The artist uses the power of the pen to elevate the ephemeral existence of the flesh into something infinitely preserved on paper, making a profound statement about the way art captures and transforms our material experience.
The Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Tribute to the Art of Songwriting
At its core, ‘Poet’ is a self-reflexive homage to the craft of songwriting itself. The track serves as an introspective mirror reflecting Bastille’s own creative process and the aspirations to leave a permanent mark through their music.
Through the lens of a love story immortalized in verse, Bastille tacitly acknowledges the songwriter’s yearning for legacy. Each time the lyrics resonate with a listener or find a new interpretation, the song breathes anew, thus achieving the immortality the artist seeks.
Memorable Lines That Etch the Heart
‘In eyes not yet created, on tongues that are not born,’ these words cut to the core of what it means to create with hope for the future. The lyricist envisions a future where individuals not yet existing will interpret and cherish the writings in vivid, personal ways.
It’s this forward-looking assurance that makes ‘Poet’ so memorable. These lines epitomize the magic of written and spoken word, the idea that a good poem or song can reach through time and connect with people in ways the author will never witness, but always hoped for.
