What Did You See?
Cemeteries
Whispers of the Unseen: A Journey Through 'What Did You See?' by Cemeteries
Cemeteries' song 'What Did You See?' delves into the eerie and introspective realms of the human psyche, blending haunting imagery with a sense of existential dread. The opening lines, 'Stop, don't say a word / And if you do, just keep it a whisper,' set a tone of quiet tension, suggesting that some truths are too unsettling to be spoken aloud. This whispering motif creates an atmosphere of secrecy and fear, as if the singer is trying to avoid awakening something dark and hidden.
The lyrics 'I will not be growing old here / I will not grow old' reflect a refusal to succumb to the stagnation and decay that often accompany a mundane existence. This could be interpreted as a desire to escape the inevitable passage of time or a rejection of a life that feels unfulfilled. The repetition of this line emphasizes the singer's determination to break free from these constraints, adding a layer of urgency to the song's narrative.
The questions posed in the latter part of the song—'What did you see under my window? / What do you hear when the wind blows? / What did you feel under my floorboards grabbing your feet?'—evoke a sense of paranoia and supernatural unease. These lines suggest that the singer is haunted by unseen forces or memories, blurring the line between reality and hallucination. The imagery of something grabbing at one's feet from beneath the floorboards is particularly chilling, symbolizing buried fears or unresolved issues that threaten to resurface. Through these vivid metaphors, Cemeteries crafts a song that is both haunting and thought-provoking, inviting listeners to confront their own hidden fears and uncertainties.