Black Gold

Foals' song 'Black Gold' delves into themes of disillusionment, loss, and the stark contrast between past and present. The repeated imagery of being at the 'top of the world' and the 'bottom of the ocean' suggests a cyclical nature of highs and lows, success and failure. This duality reflects the human experience of being built up only to be broken down again, a common theme in modern life where achievements are often fleeting and followed by setbacks.

The lyrics emphasize that 'the future is not what you see' and 'not where you've been to at all,' highlighting a sense of unpredictability and the disconnection between expectations and reality. This sentiment is further reinforced by the line 'the future is not what it used to be,' suggesting a nostalgic longing for a time when the future seemed more certain and promising. The song critiques the modern world's tendency to strip away heritage and identity, as seen in the lines 'they buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left just the residue.' This metaphor of buried gold represents lost heritage and the commodification of culture, leaving behind only a hollow shell of what once was.

The recurring mention of a 'hollow heart' and being 'worlds apart' underscores a profound sense of emptiness and alienation. The song paints a picture of individuals who have been stripped of their roots and left to navigate a world that feels increasingly disconnected and superficial. The journey 'through the forest and into the night, away from the city, away from the light' symbolizes a search for meaning and authenticity in a world that often feels devoid of both. 'Black Gold' is a poignant reflection on the complexities of modern existence, the loss of cultural identity, and the quest for something real in an ever-changing world.