IAMX – Song Of Imaginary Beings

Her mother said that she couldn't love
The physical way a woman should
Then where else could she go?
Where the sisters and the fathers can't save her soul

Send them in, see them on
She can't find a lover, she'll fashion one
Imaginary men
Like the burned out poets in the hinterland

The phoenix says,
The devil says,
The serpent says,
The siren says,
Why use the word, when the word means the beast?
Why use the word, when the word means the beast?

The hourglass sees what shelf life does
She asked, exactly tell me
"What is love but grieving life alone?"
Just the words from prophets and religious shows

Imagine hurt, imagine tears
She opened up until she disappeared
Vanished, hand in hand,
With all the long-lost children locked in Neverland

The phoenix says,
The devil says,
The serpent says,
The siren says,
Why use the word, when the word means the beast?
Why use the word, when the word means the beast?

The phoenix says
The devil says
The serpent says
The siren says

Oh, the phoenix says
Burn for me
The Devil says
Lie for me
The serpent says
Beg for me
The siren says
Die for me

Oh, the phoenix says
Burn for me
The Devil says
Lie for me
The serpent says
Beg for me
The siren says
Die for me


Lyrics submitted by pinkillusion

"Song of Imaginary Beings" as written by Liam Coverdale-howe Suzanne Powell

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Song Of Imaginary Beings song meanings
Add your thoughts

21 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    My InterpretationI think this girl may be intersexed (born with ambiguous genitalia; raised as a girl from birth). Her mother makes her feel inadequate and is in a self-defeating, despondent state. She is ashamed about her body and turns to religion and/or celibacy to escape earthly desire and/or societal expectation in how a woman should function. She has failed to find a lover who would accept her as she is. Besides, she isn't getting any younger (see references to 'hourglass' and 'shelf life') and any hope of conceiving children (if she had any potential at all) is fading fast. She has to face the fact that love continues to elude her and may have to spend the rest of her life alone, "in grief" of love that was never found (as opposed to a loss). In her lifetime "love" has given her only grief so she retreats into herself... maybe she becomes mentally absent or ill as a result.

    Perhaps she perpetually lives in a fantasy world. Why all the mythological figures? The phoenix represents rebirth, renewal... The devil and serpent reminds me of Adam's wife [Lillith and/or Eve]? And the legendary siren song that seduces men to their deaths? Fantasies that sort of fulfill what the woman longs for to some extent.
    pragmaticon January 02, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top