Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a stark, almost cosmic picture of a primal, feminine divine, "god," whose "stunning flesh" is observed with a strange mix of awe and dread. The imagery immediately establishes a powerful, almost predatory presence, her "green body" reaching into "unseen things, things obscene." This initial scene sets a tone of unsettling mystery and raw, untamed power, suggesting a force far beyond human comprehension. The central tension arises from the contrast between this overwhelming feminine divinity and a more vulnerable, perhaps masculine, entity whose "smile wan" and "blood stopped" in the face of her "hunger." Her "shovings and the lovings of Her tongue" suggest an act that is both destructive and intimate, a terrifying embrace that leaves the observer diminished. The lyrics frame this encounter as a fundamental conflict, where the primal force of "Her" existence directly impacts and overwhelms a more fragile, reactive presence. The most striking aspect of the craft is the personification of "god Is The Sea," transforming a vast, indifferent natural force into an active, sentient being. This sea-goddess is the source of "terrors" and a "hideous Work most old," yet her "battening gesture prophecies a freeing / of ghostly chaos." The deliberate capitalization of both "god" and "God" further complicates the divine hierarchy, suggesting a worshipful relationship between these two powerful entities, even as the sea-goddess unleashes chaos. The final image of "chaste stars writhe captured in brightening fright" is a powerful, unsettling metaphor for the overwhelming reach of this divine power, even extending to the celestial. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their audacious, unsettling imagery and the way they subvert traditional notions of divinity. By presenting a terrifying, all-consuming feminine force that is both the sea and a god, the writing creates a visceral sense of awe and dread. The language is dense and evocative, forcing the reader to confront a primal, chaotic creation myth where even stars are not safe from the "hunger" of the divine.