I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Silence drawing a crowd
Surely you would have known
Never could have read it aloud
Woven webs cover the walls
Wine stains on the floor
Of the Oslo novelist now
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Finally nothing to say
More empty words on the page
Pour a glass all the ribbons are dry
Raise a toast for the novelist tonight
Sun down fell, starting to wake
Tragedy at a time
Getting later earlier every day
Words in lines and I
Can't decide, how to make this end any other way
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Finally nothing to say
More empty words on the page
Pour a glass all the ribbons are dry
Raise a toast for the novelist tonight
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Surely you would have known
Never could have read it aloud
Woven webs cover the walls
Wine stains on the floor
Of the Oslo novelist now
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Finally nothing to say
More empty words on the page
Pour a glass all the ribbons are dry
Raise a toast for the novelist tonight
Sun down fell, starting to wake
Tragedy at a time
Getting later earlier every day
Words in lines and I
Can't decide, how to make this end any other way
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Finally nothing to say
More empty words on the page
Pour a glass all the ribbons are dry
Raise a toast for the novelist tonight
Come tomorrow this will all be gone
Lyrics submitted by iangurteen
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I'm pretty sure about all these lyrics; some slight doubt about the line with "ribbons" in (typewriter ribbons = novelist ?) - it's a bit weird and utterly beautiful. I saw that when Mat was asked "Why Oslo?" he said he had no idea, they just made it up as they went along!
Made a few changes, the ribbons line was right but several other were wrong, beautiful version at youtube.com/watch was very helpful!
Now I think about it, this must partly describe the way the band ripped up all their lyrics and pretty much made them up as they got into the studio, so that would make the Oslo Novelists... themselves!
could it be "oh, the ribbons are dry"?
"it's getting later earlier every day"
Nice one nadasurferchris - change made!