Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of an inescapable presence, a pervasive force that emanates from light and extends everywhere. It's a state of being where absence is nearly impossible, a constant immersion that makes hiding futile. The imagery of shadows having no border to light suggests a fundamental interconnectedness, where distinctions blur and escape routes vanish. This sets up a feeling of being observed or influenced by something omnipresent, making the attempt to 'jump to points and try to hide' a desperate, ultimately unsuccessful endeavor.
The core tension seems to revolve around this pervasive 'where' and the struggle against its influence. The narrator observes 'neighbours' who 'take a shape and turning around,' their 'traces far in the background,' hinting at a collective experience of this force, perhaps a societal or existential pressure. The mention of 'their master's master is never to explain' adds a layer of mystery and futility to understanding the origin or purpose of this pervasive element, suggesting a hierarchy of control or influence that is beyond comprehension.
The most striking aspect is the shift in imagery from the abstract 'light' to the visceral 'flesh to the hole's warm sides.' This transition grounds the omnipresent force in a more primal, biological reality, where 'animal reasons are going to strike.' The idea of 'growing up in a warm cage' and 'proud heads gliding in a new age' creates a complex, almost unsettling paradox. It suggests that this inescapable condition, while perhaps confining, is also presented as a natural progression, a new era where conformity or adaptation is the norm, even if it stems from a place of instinct and confinement.