Voodoo

Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a poignant reflection on a past influence, noting a departure from an initial, visceral understanding: "Fallen from the first full feel / That you taught me." Despite adopting a "new ideal," that foundational teaching appears to linger, having imparted "more than I can" fully grasp or express. It immediately sets a tone of introspection, hinting at a profound, perhaps overwhelming, impact from a past relationship or experience. The central tension emerges in the chorus, shifting from a personal past to a collective present. The narrator, now part of a "We," suggests a deliberate detachment: "We stay aside to know / To see what we all lie." This implies that true understanding, particularly of collective truths or deceptions, requires stepping back from the fray. There's a compelling contrast between the passive observation of "what we all lie"—which could mean the falsehoods we collectively tell, or simply the state in which we exist—and the active effort to "make our minds to / To feel what we all are." Craft-wise, the shift from the singular "I" in the verse to the plural "We" in the chorus is particularly effective. It takes a personal journey of learning and loss and expands it into a shared human endeavor. The ambiguity of the word "lie" is also potent; it forces the listener to consider whether the collective is being observed in its state of deception or simply in its fundamental existence. This deliberate detachment, to "stay aside," is presented not as disengagement but as a crucial step towards profound, collective self-awareness. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they articulate a universal human quest for authenticity. They suggest that understanding ourselves, both individually and collectively, often requires a period of quiet observation and critical thought, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths. The repeated chorus acts like a meditative mantra, reinforcing the ongoing, cyclical nature of this search to truly "feel what we all are."