Smell of Incense (single mix)

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a stark image of a persistent presence: "She stood as still as the shadows of stone." This figure occupies "the edge of my mind," suggesting a memory or an internal struggle rather than a physical encounter. The narrator's immediate reaction is one of resistance, trying to "push her away" and "shut and locked the door." Despite the narrator's efforts, this presence remains, her "eyes grew large and asking," hinting at an unresolved plea or question. The tension deepens with the introduction of "ever present fullness / Of expectation," implying a heavy burden or unfulfilled potential associated with "she." The poignant question, "What happened to her childhood dreams?", shifts the focus from the narrator's struggle to the figure's lost innocence. The most striking element is the pervasive, hypnotic repetition of the refrain, "And the smell of incense filled her room." This sensory detail acts as an inescapable anchor, transforming from a simple observation into a suffocating motif. The "smell of incense," often associated with ritual or atmosphere, here becomes a symbol of the lingering, almost oppressive memory or presence that the narrator cannot escape, even as they try to lock it out. These lyrics effectively convey a sense of haunting persistence and quiet despair. The narrator's attempts to create distance are futile against the "shadows of stone" and the "ever present fullness" of this figure's unresolved state. The bleak image of "The sidewalk smothers us tomorrow" suggests a shared, inevitable fate, making the lingering "smell of incense" a potent, almost suffocating reminder of what was lost or left unaddressed.