I had no idea what this lyric meant for years, but now I do after watching S5E02 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, 'Shaka, When the Walls Fell'.
The language used by the fictional Tamarian race explored in the episode is made up purely of allegory (referencing mytho-historical people and places from their culture) and as a result, this makes it very hard for any other race to understand them. To give a relatable example, when announcing the subject of love, a Tamarian might communicate this by saying "Juliet, on the balcony" (but obviously, an allegoric equivalent from their mythology/history). The typical result is confusion from any other race, but it makes for a very interestingly layered and cryptic method of communication; I believe adding some fantastical feeling of grandeur to it all.
Specifically, they use phrases like "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" (meaning 'co-operation') and "Uzani, his army" (meaning 'fight together'), but the ones that caught my ear were: "Shaka, when the walls fell" and "Temba, his arms wide".
"Shaka, when the walls fell" - 'failure'
"Temba, his arms wide" - 'signifying a gift'
Therefore I would guess this lyric roughly translates to: 'failure, but with a gift', but note that the very nature of communicating through using Tamarian language should not be taken literally - it stimulates a person to use their imagination through associated imagery, and so communicates more than just this basic, skin-deep translation.
To illustrate the point, this lyric makes me think of more:
I imagine the band (given the lyrical fourth wall breaks throughout the song) has had some failings in their songwriting (or at least, what they believe to be shortcomings and failings) but every effort and song they have written was meant as a gift, presumably for followers of the band, and indeed any other listeners, to enjoy.
This was extremely interesting to delve into and I certainly appreciate the depth behind this lyric's very specific and very niche reference.
"When the walls fell, with arms wide"
I had no idea what this lyric meant for years, but now I do after watching S5E02 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, 'Shaka, When the Walls Fell'.
The language used by the fictional Tamarian race explored in the episode is made up purely of allegory (referencing mytho-historical people and places from their culture) and as a result, this makes it very hard for any other race to understand them. To give a relatable example, when announcing the subject of love, a Tamarian might communicate this by saying "Juliet, on the balcony" (but obviously, an allegoric equivalent from their mythology/history). The typical result is confusion from any other race, but it makes for a very interestingly layered and cryptic method of communication; I believe adding some fantastical feeling of grandeur to it all.
Specifically, they use phrases like "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" (meaning 'co-operation') and "Uzani, his army" (meaning 'fight together'), but the ones that caught my ear were: "Shaka, when the walls fell" and "Temba, his arms wide".
"Shaka, when the walls fell" - 'failure' "Temba, his arms wide" - 'signifying a gift'
Therefore I would guess this lyric roughly translates to: 'failure, but with a gift', but note that the very nature of communicating through using Tamarian language should not be taken literally - it stimulates a person to use their imagination through associated imagery, and so communicates more than just this basic, skin-deep translation.
To illustrate the point, this lyric makes me think of more: I imagine the band (given the lyrical fourth wall breaks throughout the song) has had some failings in their songwriting (or at least, what they believe to be shortcomings and failings) but every effort and song they have written was meant as a gift, presumably for followers of the band, and indeed any other listeners, to enjoy.
This was extremely interesting to delve into and I certainly appreciate the depth behind this lyric's very specific and very niche reference.
@Galuppi correction: the episode is titled 'Darmok'
@Galuppi correction: the episode is titled 'Darmok'