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Swing Lo Magellan Lyrics
Last night all my attention
squinting westward at the sunset
with a map and a compass
When a man reached up, said something
There, against the sky, a ball of light
too invisible to give itself to the naked eye
On the shore, people yelling
In their eyes a great reflection
In the griddle where they're positioned
Unconcerned with intuition
There could never be not a sympathy
from that wilderness
so let it be arrested
Swing low, oh Magellan
9 by 6 or 8 by 7
Post a sentinel at the border
of what you attempt, what you ignore
I saw my friend in a pool of light
all drowned in doubt and shame
and I knew that I had lost my sight
squinting westward at the sunset
with a map and a compass
When a man reached up, said something
too invisible to give itself to the naked eye
In their eyes a great reflection
In the griddle where they're positioned
Unconcerned with intuition
from that wilderness
so let it be arrested
9 by 6 or 8 by 7
Post a sentinel at the border
of what you attempt, what you ignore
I saw my friend in a pool of light
all drowned in doubt and shame
and I knew that I had lost my sight
Song Info
Submitted by
blahblah123123 On Jun 30, 2012
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"I saw my frame in a pool of light"
A 9x6 and an 8x7 rectangle have the same circumference (= 30). My boyfriend pointed that out for me (thanks!). Still, not sure if it's significant.
Excellent observation by your bf! Lead singer/primary songwriter David Longstreth turned 30 years-old recently which may be what the 30 would refer to. Perhaps he is reflecting on turning 30 by saying that when you reach that age (or any age) your journey along the way is what matters. Who knows...
Excellent observation by your bf! Lead singer/primary songwriter David Longstreth turned 30 years-old recently which may be what the 30 would refer to. Perhaps he is reflecting on turning 30 by saying that when you reach that age (or any age) your journey along the way is what matters. Who knows...
What? For one thing, 9x6 = 54, and 8x7 = 56, neither are 30. Secondly, rectangles dont have circumference, they have perimeter. And thirdly, multiplying the length x width gives you area, not perimeter. You add to get perimeter.
What? For one thing, 9x6 = 54, and 8x7 = 56, neither are 30. Secondly, rectangles dont have circumference, they have perimeter. And thirdly, multiplying the length x width gives you area, not perimeter. You add to get perimeter.
@shmortisborg - the only mistake @tpdewhurst made was to say 'circumference' instead of 'perimeter' (an understandable slip, given circumference is essentially a certain type of perimeter). You point that out, so I don't understand why you start multiplying the numbers and then make the point that multiplying length x width gives area. No one was suggesting to multiply. The insight of tpdewhurst's post remains valid -- the perimeter of either a 9x6 or an 8x7 rectangle is 30.
@shmortisborg - the only mistake @tpdewhurst made was to say 'circumference' instead of 'perimeter' (an understandable slip, given circumference is essentially a certain type of perimeter). You point that out, so I don't understand why you start multiplying the numbers and then make the point that multiplying length x width gives area. No one was suggesting to multiply. The insight of tpdewhurst's post remains valid -- the perimeter of either a 9x6 or an 8x7 rectangle is 30.
This song sounds like it's lamenting the ease of navigation in the modern age.
The "ball of light" is a GPS satellite - invisible to the naked eye.
The people on the shore are using handheld GPS that reflects in their eyes - "in the grid, aware their position."
"Magellan" refers to a specific brand of GPS unit that the narrator uses, seeing his frame in its pool of light and being disappointed that he cannot navigate by intuition.
"9 by 6 or 8 by 7" may refer to some technical aspect of GPS.
There could be other meanings too, but this aspect seems straightforward.
This song explores the issue of what constitutes our reality. During the age of exploration we used reason and no intuition to destroy the notion the earth was flat. There is always a frontier of are reality, those things we attend and those we ignore, beyond our ability or willingness to perceive.
the author seems to be mourning the loss of people's sense of reason and intuition in the modern age ("all drowned in doubt and shame, and I knew that I had lost my sight"), becoming dependent on technology to guide them through the wilderness.
Swing Low Sweet Chariot was a slave spiritual sung on plantations; slaves sang for the chariot to "swing low, and carry me home". Magellan was the first man to circumnavigate the globe (and is also the GPS software brand).
When he says "Swing Low, Oh Magellan" the author might be yearning for a way to find his way home, on his own power.
'There could never be no sympathy'
Swing low is a old spiritual sung by plantation slaves. Swing Low primarily refers to their eventual semblances of freedom, E.T.A. 28th August 1963. Possibly, the "Sweet Chariot" symbolizes civil rights legislation that may free the oppressed black peoples of America, and everywhere in a more general way.
Swing Low, Sweet Chaaariot, Comin' for to carry me home...