Assassin's Bay

John Zorn's "Assassin's Bay" is a haunting and enigmatic piece that delves into themes of chaos, birth, and death, all set against a backdrop of a mysterious bay. The song opens with vivid imagery of someone coming ashore, crying for a blow of eggs in the sand, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for new beginnings or the birth of something fragile and new. The mention of blood on the sheets and raising heartbeats suggests a sense of urgency and impending danger, setting a dark and foreboding tone.

The lyrics then shift to a more surreal and dreamlike quality, with references to Dostoyevsky and watercolors on a cracks game. This could be seen as a nod to the chaotic and often contradictory nature of life, where beauty and violence coexist. The phrase "We were born in the tidal chaos of assassin's bay" reinforces this idea, suggesting that the characters in the song are products of a tumultuous and unpredictable environment. The mention of a "death parade" and "sadic ritual magic spectacle" further adds to the sense of macabre and ritualistic elements at play.

Throughout the song, there is a recurring motif of listening to the sea, with lines like "Put a shell to your ear, and you might hear the sound of me" and "Maybe you will hear the sound of my love." This suggests a deep connection between the characters and the natural world, as well as a longing for understanding and connection. The song's closing lines, with the sea foaming and the hourglass playing along, evoke a sense of timelessness and the cyclical nature of life and death. Overall, "Assassin's Bay" is a complex and layered song that invites listeners to explore its many metaphors and meanings.