when all the numbers swim together
and all the shadows settle
when doors forced open shut again
a flytrap and a petal

my eyes burn and claws rush to fill them
and in the morning after the night
i fall in love with the light
it is so clear i realize
that here at last i have my eyes

when all the figures sound retreat
the soft skin starts to shrivel
when dreams made real become less sweet
the orchid and the metal

my sex turns and claws rush to spill them
but in the morning after the night
i fall in love with the light
it is so pure i can arise
without the fear of secret lies

when all the characters form signs
and every moon is level
when all the spirits burn in line
the center pierced by steel

my eyes burn and claws rush to fill them
but in the morning after the night
i fall in love with the light
it is so clear i realize
that now at last i have my eyes


Lyrics submitted by precipitate, edited by freindbeast

The Orchids song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Why no commentary? Come on, there's got to be at least one PTV fan here!

    Nightmares fading a daybreak as others appear, I suppose. Has a very occult air about it. Beautiful, amazing song, though. Very "Sunday Morning"-ish, on several levels.

    Cynothoglyson January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is awesome, but what's the story behind Cold Steel, the one that pretty much is the same exact song?

    jkevinfon March 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Genesis said in a radio interview that the song is about him and his girl piercing their genitals.

    GOPon May 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well, what that other guy heard in an interview is obviously probably right... this however, is my take.

    Genesis studied magic under Brion Gysin, who was friends with William S. Burroughs (author of Naked Lunch). I think this is where he got "claws rush to fill them" since crab-like creatures are one of Burroughs' favorite characters. Especially the mention of his sex, this also reminds me of Burroughs' style.

    The day after the night, the dark night of the soul? The period in which people who study magic start to doubt it. Which is then followed by something but I can't remember, although I'll bet it has to do with light.

    I think it's about enlightenment, and the magical teachings of Gysin/Burroughs.

    dublecruxon June 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the science fiction book "Dhalgren" by Samuel R. Delaney...

    djunaon February 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    According to G.P.O orchids were the result of wolves sperm left in the grass...

    kaplanon September 27, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Genesis commented on an old youtube video (wish it was still posted) that what inspired the song was the stark juxtaposition of the phonetically similar words - an orchid, the flowering plant, and an orchiectomy, the surgical procedure.

    In the same comment stream, someone asked if they'd heard the Califone cover, and they commented that they had, and loved it.

    brian11499on December 19, 2020   Link

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