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All Waters Lyrics

when all waters still
and flowers cover the earth
when no tree is shivering
and the dust settles in the desert

when I can take your hand
on any crowded street
and hold you close to me
with no hesitating

oh my love
oh my flower
oh hold my hand
oh oh
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Cover art for All Waters lyrics by Perfume Genius

The song is a wish for a world where he and his boyfriend, Alan Wyffels (who also serves as his main musical collaborator), can hold hands in public without fear, and the lyrics ("When all waters still/ And flowers cover the earth") suggest that it's not going to happen any time soon.

To quote Pitchfork.

My Interpretation

The hesitation is his alone. I see gays holding hands in grocery stores in the south and the 30 or so minutes I am around them (and around dozens if not more people) nobody bothers them. The hesitation is his fear. Society does not accept many things (and with God's teaching on homosexuality, not everything should be accepted), but what stops someone from acting is his own fear...and not necessarily fear of retribution. It could be fear of not being socially accepted by friends; family; co-workers; fear of not measuring up to societal standards; fear of being discovered; etc.

@SweetCheeks2 ....Or fear of people who think that the supreme creator of the universe frowns upon aspects of homosexuality and feel the need to express that opinion.

"God's teaching on homosexuality".... Are you sure no humans were involved?

Cover art for All Waters lyrics by Perfume Genius

I don't really like the way that Pitchfork interpreted it, or at least how they worded it, because it makes the song sound so pessimistic. I don't think the song is saying "people will always judge and threaten us for being publicly gay," but more lamenting how, if you grew up in those conditions, and if you grow up with that hesitation and fear, it has a way of staying with you even if it's no longer necessary. It's like a kind of scar.

Cover art for All Waters lyrics by Perfume Genius

I agree that this is not an essentially sad song. It is instead an expression of a lovely dream world when anyone can love anyone and express that love to that world...

 
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