Amazing Things

Runrig’s “Amazing Things” is a poetic and powerful reflection on the contradictions of modern progress. Released in 1993, the song draws on the events and atmosphere of the early 1990s - post-Cold War uncertainty, famine, war, religious extremism, environmental concern, and personal hope. Below is a line-by-line interpretation grounded in historical and political context.

“White clouds cover the whole of the earth / Concorde flies through the skies to the States” These opening lines contrast natural beauty (or perhaps pollution) with elite technological achievement. The Concorde was a symbol of luxury and Western dominance. The “whole earth” view suggests both detachment and globalisation.

“Lifetimes in memory, flesh being born / But this is the age of invisible dawn” History is being forgotten while new generations are born into uncertainty. The “invisible dawn” represents a new era without clear light - likely a reference to the ambiguous hopes of the post-Cold War world after the fall of the USSR.

“And the man from the government says show me a sign / The mood of the moment says have a good time” A critique of political apathy and superficial culture. The politician demands proof while the public turns toward distraction and pleasure, ignoring deeper crises.

“Through stench and starvation, night never falls / There’s flies on the skeletons, shapes on the wall” Likely refers to the 1992-1993 Somali famine, which shocked the world. The graphic imagery reflects the horror of forgotten lives and Western indifference. “Shapes on the wall” may evoke distorted perceptions of suffering, filtered through media.

“As I draw my latest breath / Amazing things are done on earth” The chorus is deliberately ambiguous. It could refer to scientific wonder - or to the horror, hypocrisy, and contradictions of modern times. “Amazing” here has a dark double meaning.

“And the masters of flattery colour the trees / They walk on the oceans, put the town under siege” A critique of propaganda and manipulation. “Masters of flattery” might be political leaders or media figures. “Walk on the oceans” evokes false prophets. “Town under siege” could reference the Siege of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav Wars, or metaphorically the psychological pressure on societies.

“The king of humanity sleeps in despair / Walking out in the morning with hands in the air” A symbol of collective failure or disillusionment. Leadership is exhausted. The gesture of “hands in the air” suggests surrender or helplessness in the face of ongoing conflict or crisis.

“There’s zealots in anger, divine extremes / Emotional half-lives, disposable dreams” This reflects the rise of extremism - both religious and ideological - in places like Algeria, the US, and Northern Ireland. “Disposable dreams” critiques the loss of meaning in modern aspirations.

“Rumours of cease-fire inherit the streets / This is the war of the pure and the meek” This line most clearly echoes The Troubles in Northern Ireland. In 1993, rumours of ceasefires circulated while violence continued. The Downing Street Declaration offered hope, but bombings like the Shankill Road attack revealed how fragile peace was. “The pure and the meek” may refer to the moral language used by both sides - righteousness on one hand, and powerless civilians on the other.

“These days are overgrown in truth / Under the sun that’s nothing new” Overexposure to information leads to confusion rather than clarity. “Nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes) suggests that history repeats itself despite our illusions of progress.

“But flowers still open, flowers still close / Rearranged molecules, miracle cures” Despite everything, science and nature continue. This likely refers to medical breakthroughs in the early ’90s, including progress in AIDS treatment and genetic research (like the Human Genome Project).

“And I can still love you, call you my own / Till the blooms turn to doubt, till the angels come home” A tender reminder of love and personal connection amid chaos. However, even this is fragile - “blooms turn to doubt” hints at disillusionment, and “angels come home” may refer to death or redemption.

Conclusion: “Amazing Things” is not a straightforward celebration - it’s a lament wrapped in wonder. It reflects the awe and confusion of a world making incredible advances while still haunted by famine, war, lies, and loss. But it ends with the quiet assertion that love, beauty, and human connection endure - however uncertainly.

[Edit: Added in quotation marks]