Lyrical References and Alleged Meanings
A Hostage
The opening line of Hostage, “J’ai une ame solitaire,” is French for “I have a lonely soul.” It is taken from the David Lynch film Fire Walk With Me. Newby's pronunciation of the phrase is incorrect – this was pointed out to him by Québécois fans while the band was promoting the record in Canada.
The Novemberist
No known concrete references, but the song is reported to allude heavily to the philosophy of Taoism.
Io
No known references. The song reportedly studies the phenomenon of doppelgangers and metaphysical doubles.
Escape
Studies extreme anxiety and withdrawal. Lorazepam is an anxiety medication. “Give me all my garmonbozia” is taken from the David Lynch film Fire Walk With Me
We
The title is from Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin's dystopic novel of the same name. The lyrics are a dialogue between the main character and robotic superiors. The phrase data date was taken from the Kraftwerk song Computer Love.
The Iconoclast
The lyrics are an abstract ode to the female character Stark. “Resurrect the dead on Jupiter” is a reference to the mysterious Toynbee Tiles.
Zentropa
The title is from the Lars Von Trier neo-noir film Zentropa. The song is reported to be about running from the inevitability of death, and references the monolith, a device used elsewhere by Newby as a metaphor for death.
Fall Into
The only song to reference both supposed characters by name, with the line “Cold, stark, and pale – our sobriquet.”
Metropol
Follows Pale's descent into the dark and mechanical world of the robots to pursue Stark. Among the album's most literal lyrics.
Aventine
The song is an anthemic, though abstract, expression of triumph. Aventine is one of the seven hills of Rome.
Form and Function
Translated from Russian as “form and function.”
Fatale and Futique
The album's final track is another melancholy ode to Stark from the lovelorn Pale.
Read more about this topic: A Hostage And The Meaning Of Life
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