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Black Gold Lyrics

Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to beat the surf in

Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all

The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be

Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found the ground again
So now you know to beat the surf in

Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all

The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be

They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you

They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you

Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you

Now that spring is finally here
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light

Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart

They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth

Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And we're worlds apart

Into yourself, Pacific (x4)
Into yourself (x6)
Song Info
Submitted by
jcphoenix On Apr 25, 2010
11 Meanings

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Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

its actually about mike tyson. my friend who's friends with yannis told me

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

Hmm, I think this song may be about a country or culture that is totally alienated and displaced by western, industrial influence. The song starts with "top of the world, bottom of the ocean", the song also has the word "pacific", "forest", all quite natural non-urban themes. The personna tells the individual to "drive through the forest and into the night, away from the city away from the light". There's also the line "they gouge you out, they dug you in" the individuality of the country being taken out, then fixed into an economically stable and linear lifestyle. "They took the name right out of your mouth"- the loss of a native tongue, general cultural identity and what not. And the whole "they buried the gold your ancestry sold and left just a residue", perhaps the foreign economic force industrially colonised this country, and once its natural resources, the black gold, was gone, they left, leaving nothing but hollowness in their wake.

The song could be a more personal metaphorical type of thing. But there is a big black gold industry in the pacific islands. With Spanish Sahara the Foals are referncing a geo political situation while weaving in personal themes. Perhaps that is what they've done here. I'm not really sure about any of this, it's just some thoughts. But I think it's a brilliant song :D

I thought the "into yourself, past of it" line was "inch yourself past the fear". "Inch" can be used as a verb, meaning "to move by inches or small degrees". Hence also, "inch yourself into yourself, into yourself, etc..."

If it isn't, then it should be. :)

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

I thought the "into yourself, past of it" line was "inch yourself past the fear". "Inch" can be used as a verb, meaning "to move by inches or small degrees". Hence also, "inch yourself into yourself, into yourself, etc..."

If it isn't, then it should be. :)

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

I have no idea what this song can mean, But to me, I get alot of imagery stil.

"They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left Just the residue They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left Just the mist of you"

reminds me of what the spanish did to the natives. Taking their gold, terminating their culture, and leaving just a "mist" or "residue" of their true history and name.

"They gouge you out, they dug you in They took the name right out of your mouth

Hollow heart, your hollow heart You know Worlds apart And we're worlds apart"

Your future is not what it was suppose to be

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

There are a few parts I'm not 100% sure (beat the surf in/right out of your mouth/past of it, etc) about so if someone has a better idea, lemme know.

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

I think the part you have as

'Just the mist of you'

is supposed to be

'Just a mess of you'

Makes more sense that way.

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

Just noticed, it's down as "pacific" on here not "past of it". Apologies, a lot of the lyrics sites have it as the latter. The "fear" reference would also fit in with the other similar references to "the horror here". Just a thought.

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

What does the last line mean....into yourself, past of it/pacific??????? This song is amazing and that one line always gets me going, but I dint understand what it means!!!!!!

Gaaaah......

Amazing album with sine beautifully complex yet simplistic lyrics and some unbelievably intricate and incredible tunes! Argh I bloody love foals......don't think my life would be right wuthout them!

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

What does the last line mean....into yourself, past of it/pacific??????? This song is amazing and that one line always gets me going, but I dint understand what it means!!!!!!

Gaaaah......

Amazing album with sine beautifully complex yet simplistic lyrics and some unbelievably intricate and incredible tunes! Argh I bloody love foals......don't think my life would be right wuthout them!

Cover art for Black Gold lyrics by Foals

I think this is clearly about how we give such a big value to money. "black gold" except meaning oil can clearly mean any material that we overvalue. Black because valuing material is just blacking our thoughts and gold because we give it such a big value.

"Top of the world, bottom of the ocean" -> How you feel powerful and glad but in reality you are someone on the bottom, someone enslaved to your materialistic desires.

"The future is not what you see, It's not where you've been to at all" -> The real future is not what you see from the state you are.

"The future is not what it used to be, used to be" -> Future meaning here the present. The rest is selfexplanatory.

"They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold" -> This can mean the oil(which in fact literally is your ancestors buried deep in the ground), it can mean the history, the culture(for example indian), treason.

 
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