Let the horizon lead
Onto the ether of the night
Draped across the burning heavens
Flying homeward like a bird of the soul

Shattered into a million brighter stars
Each flare unique and rare
Scattered across forever
Out from creation's core
An end beyond compare
Iridium

Now is the time to leave
We lie awake, we stand afire
At the edge of the world
Above a myriad of light
Below the mantle of the stars
And strangely they fall

Shattered into a million brighter stars
Each flare unique and rare
Scattered across forever
Out from creation's core
An end beyond compare
Iridium

Shattered into a million brighter stars
Each flare unique and rare
Scattered across forever
Out from creation's core
An end beyond compare
An end beyond compare
Iridium



Lyrics submitted by forever smacked

Track duration: 06:43

"Iridium" as written by Daniel Antonsson, Mikael Bengt Stanne, Martin Brandstrom, Anders Jivarp, Niklas Bo Sundin, Martin Henriksson

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Iridium song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning:Mikael Stanne:

    "I accept the idea that on cosmic level nothing can stay forever. There is an end to everything, nothing's eternal. Even the small particles in the atmosphere will disintegrate and nothing will be left of them. I think it's a perfect ending for the album."

    Source: Bulgarian "Pro-Rock" Magazine, #67, March 2010
    [Since the article was in Bulgarian, this is my translation, not his exact words in English, but you get the meaning.]
    Flag ChesterBon April 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I have an extended analysis of the lyrics of the album as a whole available at the following link.

    ultimatemetal.com/forum/dark-tranquillity/…

    The earlier portion of the thread is dedicated to an analysis of the techniques and structure of the music itself; not necessarily relevant to non-musician readers.

    In general, I would agree with the opinions above: Iridium is about a global extinction event. More on why I think so, and how it relates to other songs above!
    Flag stizzleomnibuson November 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:It could be related to the oscillatory universe theory, which argues that the universe will ultimately collapse in on itself to form an infinitely small and infinitely dense clump of matter which then triggers the next big bang and the creation of a new universe.

    That would explain the "End beyond compare": The end of one universe, which marks the birth of another.
    The rest of the lyrics could then tie in with the big bang theories put forward before.

    The verse beginning "Now is the time to leave" could suggest that humans still exist when this happens. Before the universe starts collapsing, it has to reach a point at which it can expand no longer-"The edge of the world". "And strangely they fall" could indicate the beginning of the collapse, where everything starts falling in on itself.

    The only flaw with this idea is that it would happen over a space of millions or possibly billions of years, and humans probably wouldn't be around by then.
    Flag entity0009on August 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Most likely it isabout describing a massive and splendorous meteor collision. Iridium is an extremely rare metal often found on meteorites on greater quantities. It "falls into the creation's core" which could somewhere in Earth rich on life like the a rainforest and brings "an end beyond compare" referring to a massive extinction event. The part which says "mantle of stars, strangely they fall" likely refers to shooting stars coming from the meteorite.
    About the dinosaurs? Possibly.
    Flag haxxiyon July 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:have you read the book Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov?
    It's about the fall of a galactical Empire, and the rise of another one.
    Iridium is a main resource, which the Empire need.
    The Foundation lies "at the edge of the world" and conquers the galaxies.

    the idea came up by reading the book, and the element name iridium was so familiar from this song title, and after checking the lyrics i think there may be some reference. dont you think?
    Flag seldonateon June 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think its about the meteor that kills the dinosaurs - the iridium anomaly in some parts of the earth crust fits as proof for that. here's the link for that: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

    Now is the time to leave
    We lie awake, we stand afire
    At the edge of the world
    Above a myriad of light
    Below the mantle of the stars
    And strangely they fall

    Shattered into a million brighter stars
    Each flare unique and rare
    Scattered across forever
    Out from creation's core
    An end beyond compare
    Iridium

    especially when i read this parts i must think of an event, when one meteors kills a thousand of lives. the album contains a few other songs that deal with the subject death, so think, maybe he pick this one to finish the whole theme off.
    Flag unholymistresson May 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Sattlelite collision?

    "Iridium 33" & "Kosmos-2251" Collided

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    Flag jeanjacque666on April 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Hey, another idea: what if it's separated like this:
    Above: a myriad of light below the mantle of the stars. And strangely, they fall.
    So, above the person is a myriad of light, but those lights are below the mantle of the stars (mantle being the outer layer of the star). And, strangely, these stars fall.
    Flag SassuWunnuon March 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"Shattered into a million brighter stars
    Each flare unique and rare
    Scattered across forever
    Out from creation's core
    An end beyond compare
    An end beyond compare
    Iridium"

    The end beyond compare, I suggest, is being scattered across forever. Like there is nothing worse.

    Anyways, I'm glad people care about the meaning of songs. I'm new, so could you tell me if there is a way to see if there is a new comment here?
    Flag SassuWunnuon March 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"Shattered into a million brighter stars
    Each flare unique and rare
    Scattered across forever
    Out from creation's core
    An end beyond compare
    An end beyond compare
    Iridium"

    The end beyond compare, I suggest, is being scattered across forever. Like there is nothing worse.

    Anyways, I'm glad people care about the meaning of songs. I'm new, so could you tell me if there is a way to see if there is a new comment here?
    Flag SassuWunnuon March 14, 2010   Link

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