The Sky Under The Sea
Pierce The Veil
Navigating Love and Loss in 'The Sky Under The Sea'
Pierce The Veil's song 'The Sky Under The Sea' is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complex emotions that intertwine them. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship marked by longing and unfulfilled desires. The opening lines, 'I still remember the night / You tried to kiss me through the window,' set the tone for a narrative filled with yearning and missed connections. The imagery of trying to 'settle for the taste of touching glass' over the sound of answering machines underscores the distance and emotional barriers between the lovers.
The chorus, with its dreamlike vision of driving with closed eyes and swimming in circles under blue lights, suggests a desire to escape reality and find solace in a perfect, albeit imaginary, world. The line 'Beauty needs an animal to breathe' implies that the beauty of their relationship is dependent on the raw, primal connection they share. However, this connection is fraught with pain, as indicated by the plea to 'sharpen your teeth and bite as hard as you want,' symbolizing the inevitable hurt that comes with deep emotional bonds.
As the song progresses, it delves into themes of self-doubt and existential questioning. The repeated question, 'Do you think you're the only one afraid of this machine?' reflects a shared fear of the complexities and potential destructiveness of their relationship. The metaphor of the 'selfish machine' suggests that their love, while intense, is also consuming and self-serving. The desire to 'fade away into the sky under the sea' represents a longing for escape and transcendence, a wish to leave behind the pain and confusion for a place of peace and unity.
Ultimately, 'The Sky Under The Sea' is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the highs and lows of love, the struggle to connect, and the yearning for a perfect, unattainable world. It captures the essence of human vulnerability and the eternal quest for meaning and connection in the face of life's inevitable challenges.