Wild Beasts

Albatross

4 Meanings

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Albatross Lyrics

Albatross, albatross
How callous the ocean you cross

I, I blame you, I blame you
For all of those things I've been through
Don't feel bad, not a pang
It's my neck around which you hang
Like a chain or a tag
I flinch and you fall through the cracks
To the sea and all it bears
The secrets that I should've shared
They drowned then and there
Yeah drowned then and there
Yeah drowned then and there

I, I blame you, I blame you
For all of those things I've been through
Don't feel bad, not a pang
It's my neck around which you hang
Like a chain or a tag
I flinch and you fall through the cracks
To the sea and all it bears
The secrets that I should've shared
Drowned then and there
Yeah drowned then and there
Yeah drowned then and there

Albatross, albatross
Which way to turn when we're lost

Submitted by

blunte On Mar 10, 2011

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When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

blunte

Submitter

2011-03-10 20:28:44

4 Meanings

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by keano23229

15y ago

albatross' is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse. It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798).

In the poem, an albatross starts to follow a ship – being followed by an albatross was generally considered an omen of good luck. However, the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow, which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship (which indeed suffers terrible mishaps). To punish him, his companions induce him to wear the dead albatross around his neck indefinitely (until they all die from the curse, as it happens). Thus the albatross can be both an omen of good or bad luck, as well as a metaphor for a burden to be carried (as penance).

The symbolism used in the Coleridge poem is its highlight. For example:

Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks
Had I from old and young !
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.

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by DaP

14y ago

Tom Fleming wins the 2011 Award for most subtle use of backing vocals in this song.

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by keano23229

15y ago

I can not wait for the new album, i love this song :)

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by MaleFunction

15y ago

I thought this was a song about some bloke called Albert Ross.

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