Atlantic

Sleep Token's 'Atlantic' is a haunting exploration of emotional and psychological distress, using powerful oceanic imagery to convey a sense of drowning and overwhelming sorrow. The song opens with a striking line about burying bodies underwater, immediately setting a dark and somber tone. This metaphor of submersion and the blue light over murder suggests a deep, inescapable sadness that permeates the narrator's existence. The reference to crumbling temples and future daughters hints at a loss of hope and the destruction of potential futures, painting a picture of a world in decline as the oceans recede.

The chorus, with its plea to be flooded like the Atlantic and bandaged up, speaks to a desperate need for relief and escape from the pain. The narrator's struggle is further emphasized in the second verse, where they describe waking up surrounded by eyes like frozen planets, symbolizing isolation and a sense of being trapped in a cold, unfeeling universe. The mention of sobbing statues at the bedside adds to the imagery of frozen, unchanging sorrow, and the narrator's effort to avoid being crushed into sand underscores their fragile state.

The repeated refrain of 'Don't wake me up' at the end of the song can be interpreted as a desire to remain in a state of unconsciousness, where the pain and reality of their situation are temporarily suspended. This plea for escape highlights the depth of the narrator's despair and their longing for peace, even if it means remaining in a dreamlike state. Sleep Token's 'Atlantic' masterfully uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the profound emotional struggles of its narrator, making it a poignant and powerful piece that resonates with listeners on a deep level.