Objects Outlive Us Lyrics – Steven Wilson

Objects Outlive Us Lyrics Meaning

[Part 1: No Monkey’s Paw]
This verse reflects a sense of emptiness or lack of supernatural mystery. The speaker is looking to space, feeling detached from things like ghosts, mystery, or fate (represented by the monkey’s paw, which symbolizes the consequences of wishes). It’s almost as if the speaker is trying to find meaning but nothing magical or mysterious appears.

[Chorus]
In the chorus, the speaker encounters someone in the mist, who questions if they’ve been forgotten. The speaker replies “yes,” suggesting that the person was distant and hard to connect with. It shows a sense of emotional detachment or missed connection, implying that the person’s absence or indifference made them easy to forget.

[Part 2: The Buddha of the Modern Age]
This part of the song critiques modern life and values. It begins by talking about the “Buddha of the modern age,” who represents wisdom and truth but is barely paid, highlighting how society undervalues spiritual or moral guidance. The lyrics suggest that, in the past, people reached for something greater (symbolized by “touching the sky”), but now they no longer care to try. The “blurred photos of ghosts of men” refer to how people’s legacies or past efforts are fading, and we fail to understand the permanence of life. The phrase “slaughter the sacred cow” suggests that society destroys its own values to feed its selfish desires. The reference to “insatiable thirst to kill” and “interlopers” points to humanity’s destructive nature. The verse reflects how people are lost, focusing on shallow desires like instant gratification through dopamine. The constant pursuit of pleasure makes it hard for us to reflect or see the bigger picture.

[Part 3: Objects: Meanwhile]
This part contrasts the trivial concerns of everyday life with the vastness of the universe. It starts by showing a woman whose shopping bag breaks, symbolizing the small accidents and frustrations that happen regularly, but no one cares. People are so focused on their own lives that they don’t notice others or the world around them. The lyrics then expand to show people worried about their mundane tasks—like hurrying to church or worrying about bills—while cosmic events like meteors or the sun disappearing occur unnoticed. The song suggests that people are obsessed with their small, individual concerns, while grand, universal events happen without their awareness. The reference to stars lining up and the argument over borders further shows how people focus on petty divisions. Meanwhile, in the background, cosmic events are happening—such as the death of a star or the movement of a nebula—but people are unaware or uninterested in anything beyond their immediate, trivial experiences. The lines about a nurse losing her job and a teenager gazing at the stars with hope further illustrate the contrast between personal struggles and the indifferent universe. In all of this, the song highlights how disconnected humanity is from the bigger, more important picture, lost in the cycles of their own lives.

[Part 4: The Cicerones/Ark]
This part seems to involve an instrumental section, which may symbolize a transition or a break in the narrative. The title “Cicerones/Ark” could suggest guidance or a journey, with “Ark” possibly hinting at a larger, existential journey or survival, like Noah’s Ark. It might serve as a reflection or pause before moving to the next section of the song.

[Part 5: Cosmic Sons of Toil]
This part of the song is entirely instrumental, which could imply a shift in mood or reflection. It might be suggesting a cosmic or spiritual movement beyond words, possibly representing the vastness of time or space that humans cannot fully comprehend.

[Part 6: No Ghost on the Moor/Heat Death of the Universe]
[Verse]
This verse repeats the earlier themes from the first part of the song. The speaker still looks to space, but there’s still nothing mystical like ghosts or other supernatural elements. This reinforces the idea that we are disconnected from deeper, meaningful forces and that life is devoid of those mysterious or magical elements we might long for.

[Chorus]
The chorus mirrors the earlier one, with the speaker being asked if they’ve forgotten someone. The answer is still “yes,” further emphasizing emotional detachment. The line “you played too hard to get” might suggest that the relationship was never fulfilling or balanced, leading to indifference. The repetition reinforces the themes of distance and unreciprocated emotional connection.