Mirage City

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's 'Mirage City' is a vivid exploration of escapism and the yearning for a better place amidst personal turmoil. The song's protagonist is caught in a tumultuous home environment, with parents who constantly fight. This drives the desire to escape to a fantastical place, 'Mirage City,' which symbolizes hope and a sanctuary from the chaos. The lyrics paint a picture of an ethereal city where the waters are frozen superliminally, tachyons fly, and mythical figures like Chang'e play silver strings. This city represents an idealized world, a stark contrast to the protagonist's harsh reality.

The song delves into the concept of traveling through space and time, imagining what it would be like to traverse cosmic ravines and reach this dazzling city. The imagery of waves crashing and a heavenly haze shimmering in the ocean water adds to the surreal and dreamlike quality of 'Mirage City.' However, the protagonist is aware that this city might just be a mirage, a fleeting illusion that offers temporary solace but ultimately cannot be reached. This realization brings a sense of melancholy, as the protagonist grapples with the unattainability of their dream.

In the latter part of the song, the protagonist expresses a desire to leave behind the 'nightmare' of their current life and follow a new path, symbolized by following the crow and draining the vein to feed the gull. This suggests a willingness to endure pain and sacrifice in the hope of finding peace. The song concludes with a sense of resignation, acknowledging that 'Mirage City' might just be an illusion, but it remains a powerful symbol of hope and escape. The protagonist's journey reflects a universal human desire to find a place of peace and happiness, even if it exists only in the mind.