Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a stark, almost cynical view of love, framing it as a "tale of mystery" intertwined with "tragedy." It's depicted as something scavenged, "found in the back by the bins," suggesting a discarded or desperate quality. This initial portrayal is unsettling, painting love as a harsh reality that "sinks its claws" into one's very being.
A clear tension emerges as the speaker questions, "How, how can we fight it?" This struggle against love's perceived cruelty is set against a backdrop of a world that "makes mother cry," implying deep-seated pain. The invitation to "come with me, we'll change all our clothes" hints at a desire for transformation or a collective escape from this difficult truth. It suggests shedding old identities to face love anew, or perhaps to simply avoid its current, painful form.
The most striking element is the dramatic shift in imagery. Love initially appears predatory and gritty, yet the lyrics transition to a vision of "waterfalls of love cascading on angels." This ethereal, purifying image directly contrasts the earlier "tragedy" and the biting reality. This juxtaposition suggests love's dual nature: both a harsh, demanding force and a source of profound, cleansing beauty, accessible only after a period of waiting and perhaps a shedding of ego.
The effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their refusal to offer a simple definition of love. Instead, they present a complex, evolving understanding, moving from despair to a hopeful, albeit exclusive, vision. The final lines bring back the "mystery" but add a nuanced acceptance, noting that love is "welcomed by some, or a few." This concluding thought grounds the grand, angelic imagery, suggesting that even idealized love remains elusive and not universally embraced, making its eventual embrace feel earned and significant.