Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a striking revelation: a pervasive, "unceasing, unbeginning" music has always been present, yet the narrator "did not hear" it. This shifts dramatically as they now perceive the "chorus" and are "elated." It's a sudden awakening to a constant, fundamental soundscape previously ignored. The central tension lies in this profound shift from unawareness to deep, almost spiritual perception. The music isn't just background noise; it's a living entity, described with immense scope. The narrator doesn't just hear; they "fill myself with" the sounds, suggesting an immersive, all-consuming experience that transcends mere auditory input. The craft here shines in the vivid, almost synesthetic descriptions of the musical components. A "tenor, strong, ascending" brings "glad notes of daybreak," while a "soprano at intervals sailing buoyantly over the tops of immense waves" evokes both grace and power. Most strikingly, a "transparent base shuddering lusciously under and through the universe" paints a picture of sound as a foundational, sensual force permeating existence. This imagery elevates the music from an art form to a cosmic phenomenon. Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they articulate a discovery of profound meaning within sound. The narrator hears "not the volumes of sound merely" but is "moved by the exquisite meanings," even suggesting they "begin to know" the performers better than the performers know themselves. This implies that the music reveals universal truths and emotions—from "triumphant tutti" to "funeral wailings"—that connect the listener to something deeper than the performance itself.