Exalted

Song Meaning

Thurston Moore's "Exalted" is less a love song and more a psychedelic hagiography, a tripped-out canonization of a woman elevated to the status of mystic icon. The lyrics, a torrent of evocative descriptors, paint a portrait of a figure unbound by conventionality, a "spaced out in timelessness" oracle who embodies both fierce independence ("Sukeban fighter") and sensual abandon ("French kisser"). The song meaning isn't found in narrative, but in the accumulation of these almost contradictory images, suggesting a woman of profound depth and multifaceted character. Moore isn't just describing someone he admires; he's constructing a deity for his own personal pantheon. The central theme revolves around altered states and spiritual transcendence. References to "peyote walker," "herb-stink shaman," and "morphine woman" suggest a journey beyond the mundane, a quest for enlightenment through chemical and sensory exploration. The line "Deep trance and soul dances" reinforces this idea, portraying the subject as someone capable of accessing higher planes of consciousness. This isn't mere drug use; it's a deliberate engagement with the ecstatic, a shamanistic practice aimed at unlocking inner truths. The phrase "free grass world" hints at a utopian vision, a liberation from societal constraints through altered perception. Ultimately, "Exalted" reads as an act of artistic naming, a ritualistic declaration of reverence. The repeated phrase "I name it" underscores Moore's role as both observer and creator, bestowing upon his subject a new identity, a new significance. He christens her "Arethrean," a word that evokes ancient mythology and reinforces the sense of timeless, archetypal power. The concluding lines, "Oh my comedian / Oh my Delphic / Oh my turpentines," are particularly intriguing. The juxtaposition of "comedian" with "Delphic" (referencing the Oracle of Delphi) suggests a figure who can both entertain and enlighten, who possesses a wisdom that is both profound and playful. The final image of "turpentines"—a raw, almost volatile substance—hints at the unrefined, potentially dangerous nature of true inspiration, and the intoxicating power this woman holds.