An altered look about the hills

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a series of striking natural observations. Hills appear "altered," and a "Tyrian light" bathes the village. It's a world subtly shifting, each detail a keen observation of change. This creates an immediate sense of quiet wonder and impending revelation. The poem meticulously lists sensory shifts: a "wider sunrise," "deeper twilight," even "fern odors on untraveled roads." Yet, these natural observations are juxtaposed with almost mythical images like "a print of a vermilion foot" and "a purple finger on the slope." This blend of the earthly and the ethereal creates a potent tension, suggesting a profound, almost magical reordering of the landscape. The consistent anaphora, beginning almost every line with "A," builds a rhythmic, almost hypnotic catalog of observations. This structural choice makes each detail feel equally significant, accumulating into a powerful sense of transformation. The rich, specific color palette—"Tyrian light," "vermilion foot," "purple finger"—elevates these changes from mundane to almost sacred. The true impact arrives with the final lines, shifting from objective observation to a shared, knowing secret. The shared "furtive look you know as well" directly implicates the reader, drawing them into a conspiratorial understanding. This culminates in "Nicodemus' Mystery / Receives its annual reply!"—transforming the myriad changes into a cyclical, profound event, a secret ritual unfolding year after year. The lyrics make us feel like we're finally in on something truly special.