Opal

Soen's song 'Opal' delves deep into themes of deception, betrayal, and the quest for truth. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where individuals are led astray by false promises and materialistic pursuits. The opening lines, 'In your heart lies a devotion for starting pyres / To drown your brother within the mire,' suggest a betrayal driven by greed and a lack of genuine human connection. This betrayal is further emphasized by the line, 'You pledged allegiance to gold,' highlighting the corrupting influence of wealth and materialism.

The song also critiques the superficiality and emptiness of certain forms of expression, as seen in the lines, 'In your art your words laid out in a vacuous manner / The mind is there but the soul is absent.' This suggests a disconnect between intellectual pursuits and genuine emotional or spiritual depth. The use of 'smoke and mirrors' implies a facade, a deceptive appearance that hides the truth. The recurring imagery of fire and tidal waves symbolizes both destruction and cleansing, indicating that the truth will eventually come to light and wash away the lies.

The chorus, 'One day we’ll form a tidal wave / Come rushing all over and / Come tear down this wall of lies until nothing remains,' serves as a rallying cry for collective action against deception and falsehood. The song urges listeners to 'turn away, beware don’t be led astray / By vultures that turn our temple to a house of trade,' warning against those who exploit sacred spaces for personal gain. The closing lines, 'Ask yourself, in trouble / Am I my brother’s keeper,' call for introspection and a return to genuine human values, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and mutual support in the face of adversity.