Olympus Sleeping

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship fractured by external pressures and internal pride. The opening lines, "Well my god loves your god / Now what will a mortal do?", immediately establish a sense of cosmic indifference or perhaps a conflict of belief systems that leaves the "mortal" narrator feeling lost. This is quickly followed by a poignant admission, "Crucially I missed you too," hinting at a deep, perhaps interrupted, connection. The central tension revolves around a partner who seems to be pulled away by external forces or their own ego, repeatedly returning to a place or situation described as "home." The narrator's frustration is palpable: "I try to buy a ticket to get you out / But dammit you're just too proud." This suggests a struggle against the partner's will, a desire to escape a cycle that the narrator believes is destructive to their bond. The repeated phrase "We always kill our attractions" acts as a grim refrain, underscoring a pattern of self-sabotage within the relationship. The narrator seems to believe their connection is doomed by their own actions or the partner's choices, particularly the act of "going back home." The imagery of a "human sandwich on the way back from the states" is a stark, almost absurd, depiction of the mundane and lonely journey that separates them, highlighting the physical and emotional distance. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a profound sense of regret and loss, not just for the relationship itself, but for the potential that was squandered. The narrator's repeated plea, "Oh no, you never should have gone back home," is a desperate lament, suggesting that this return was the fatal turning point. The writing effectively captures the ache of watching someone you care about make choices that lead them away, leaving you behind in the "lonely place" of their absence.