The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Overhead the albatross
Hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine
And no one showed us to the land
And no one knows the where's or why's
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb toward the light
Strangers passing in the street
By chance, two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can?
And no one calls us to move on
And no one forces down our eyes
No one speaks and no one tries
No one flies around the sun
Cloudless everyday
You fall upon my waking eyes
Inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning
And no one sings me lullabies
And no one makes me close my eyes
So I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky
Hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine
And no one showed us to the land
And no one knows the where's or why's
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb toward the light
Strangers passing in the street
By chance, two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can?
And no one calls us to move on
And no one forces down our eyes
No one speaks and no one tries
No one flies around the sun
Cloudless everyday
You fall upon my waking eyes
Inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning
And no one sings me lullabies
And no one makes me close my eyes
So I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Undinal, patient957, tillyny, 1Bigdawg, Nmlgc, TomCrown, neeraj1030, Madanmohan, Blake614, importrade, tomslyrics123, ProppJoe
Echoes Lyrics as written by George Waters David Gilmour
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
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Love this song!
The first verse could be about the evolution of life moving out of the sea onto the land (towards the light). It may also be suggesting that we will never know why life IS or where it is going.
The second verse might tie in with this notion by suggesting that we are all part of a greater life system or conciousness or spirit. We can't describe it, but we might be able to experience it fleetingly through these chance glances. Insightful, inspiring and beautiful! (PF might be aware of other ways of expeiencing it also!)
If this makes any sense to you, check out some of the lyrics to Tool songs like Third Eye and Aenima - similar notions (although the similarity might only be in my interpretation!). The debate about their meanings is pretty interesting too.
if any tool song relates to you theory it would be schism, if you like the lyrics to this song i would definantly check tools lyrics for schism.
i mean lateralus not schism sorry.
I totally agree with this interpretation. Sparing the details, the current leading scientific hypothesis for the origins of life is that it began near hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. These hydrothermal vent ecosystems harbor the only life forms that don't in any way rely on sunlight for energy. <br /> <br /> "And no one called us to the land<br /> And no one knows the where's or why's.<br /> Something stirs and something tries<br /> Starts to climb toward the light."<br /> <br /> This early in life's history nothing else existed but these deep sea creatures, but some how they made it up towards the light, allowing endless diversity to form. The early creatures experienced a long process of evolution until we end up with us and the world as we know it.<br /> <br /> The two strangers are bth part of this long unfolding chain of events, and are thus essentially one. "I am you and what I see is me"<br /> <br /> "Almost everyday you fall<br /> Upon my waking eyes,<br /> Inviting and inciting me<br /> To rise.<br /> And through the window in the wall<br /> Come streaming in on sunlight wings<br /> A million bright ambassadors of morning."<br /> <br /> This is again referring to sunlight. The "million bright ambassadors of morning" are photons of light. They reach us each morning, and not only drive us out of bed, but are ultimately responsible for the energy that organizes our cells and keeps us thinking and moving.
adding support to the origin of life theory: watch Pompeii and the scenes of the band members wandering around the lava fields with geothermal bubbling pools. The opening line of an albatross throws me though - why would a fully-evolved bird precede the description of primal life forms crawling from the depths of the sea (unless that was what Waters was looking at when he heard the echoes and started to trip out on the concepts behind this song?) I also agree that the exchange of glances supports the theme of interconnectedness of beings and our collective consciousness. Ditto on photons, waking us each morning just as they drew our primal ancestors out from the sea. Incredible that Waters was tuned into this biology and physics which must have been just emerging 40+ years ago; the spiritual message is as ancient as traditions like buddhism