Albatross

Foals' song 'Albatross' delves into the metaphorical weight of personal and ancestral burdens, using vivid imagery to explore themes of legacy, time, and psychological struggle. The recurring symbol of the albatross around the neck, drawn from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' represents a burden one carries, often due to past mistakes or inherited responsibilities. This burden is further illustrated by the 'hundred broken lightbulbs' and 'dozen ticking time bones,' suggesting a constant awareness of failure and the relentless passage of time.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of insatiable desires and the cyclical nature of life. The protagonist seems trapped by their own actions and the expectations set by their forebears, as indicated by the lines about burning the lungs created by ancestors and sitting by a river waiting for time to roll back. This imagery suggests a struggle with accepting the flow of life and an inability to find satisfaction, no matter how much one consumes or achieves. The 'quicksands of the mind' and 'twisting of the vines' metaphorically depict the internal and external complexities that entangle the individual.

Musically, Foals often blend indie rock with lyrical depth, and 'Albatross' is no exception. The repetitive, haunting refrain of 'sunblind' might symbolize a blinding by ambition or by the harsh realities of life, which aligns with the song's exploration of existential and temporal dilemmas. The cyclical repetition of the song's structure mirrors the lyrical themes of recurring struggles and the inescapable nature of certain life patterns.