Seagulls

Motorama's 'Seagulls' is a haunting and melancholic song that delves into themes of loss, mourning, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a somber scene, where flowers from fields are brought to a burial, symbolizing the inevitability of death and the rituals that accompany it. The repeated mention of mothers who 'can't sleep enough' suggests a deep, unending grief that haunts those left behind. This imagery evokes a sense of perpetual sorrow and the struggle to find peace after a significant loss.

The seagulls in the song serve as a powerful metaphor. They come to shore, where the father stands 'on the edge right back to the dawn,' indicating a connection to the beginning of life or perhaps a return to a simpler, more innocent time. Seagulls are often associated with the sea and the shore, places of transition and change, which could symbolize the father's contemplation of life and death. The repeated call to 'open your gates to the shore' suggests an invitation to embrace these transitions, to accept the natural cycles of life and death.

The song's reference to 'colours and glimpse had gone to the catacombs' further deepens the sense of loss and the fading of vibrant life into the shadows of memory. The catacombs, being underground burial places, reinforce the theme of death and the hidden, often unspoken, aspects of grief. The plea to 'open your gates to the shore, brother' at the end of the song could be seen as a call for solidarity and support in facing these profound emotions. Motorama's post-punk style, characterized by its melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics, perfectly complements the themes explored in 'Seagulls,' making it a poignant reflection on the human experience of loss and mourning.