I've been meditating on these lyrics for a long time now, and I think I have them figured out. This is an INCREDIBLY well-written song, both lyrically and musically, to say the least. I'll give a general analysis first and have a more in-depth look at the lyrics/support below. ONWARD!
THE BASIC STORY
This song tells a story about two LOVERS (Erica and a man -- we don't get his name). Erica is pregnant with Isadore(2) -- very pregnant(1), possibly even to the point where she could conceivably give birth soon. Erica and the father-to-be decide to have sex(1). They start out slow, but they gradually take it farther and farther due to the amount of passion involved and the love they have for each other; This is instigated by the man(3). These two lovers are so involved and focused on their feelings (read: "their emotions are clouding their judgment") that they let it go too far(4), to the point where Erica is mortally wounded. Somehow, Erica is induced into labor and gives birth to Isadore before the father's eyes(5), and then she dies(6).
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
The verses of the song are narrated by the father and the storyteller, whereas the bridge ("You can't just leave...") and chorus "It's not who you were..." sections are narrated by the father only. The general story is delivered through the verses, with the bridge and chorus sections of the song providing the emotional side of the story, namely the impact the story's events have on the father(0).
(1) "Erica and her Isadore climbed aboard a balloon"
The narrator is speaking here. "Her Isadore" = Erica's unborn child. The balloon is a TRIPLE-metaphor: 1) for Erica's womb, expanding out during pregnancy. She's late into her pregancy (due to the size of her belly), so she must be expecting Isadore relatively soon. 2) an allusion to the emotional high they're on -- think of a hot-air balloon: The sky's the limit. 3) A condom. A deflated condom resembles a deflated balloon. Erica and the child she is carrying "climb aboard"... well, you know...
(2) See jackiechelle's previous comment about the name "Isadore" and its translation.
(3) "I want more than this kite will soar,
Set our sights on the moon"
The father is speaking here. He is so sucked into his passion for Erica that he can't get enough and wants to take their lovemaking as far as he possibly can.
(4) "Blinded by their unbridled height,
Our lovers turn dissolute."
The narrator is speaking here. "Height" is referencing the sexual high they're on (IE, the height of their passion). "Unbridled" (by definition) means "not controlled or restrained". "Dissolute" (by definition) means "given to immoral or improper conduct. Synonym = "debauchery"). So, our lovers' unrestrained passion for each other turns into something morally wrong.
(5) "Then with eyes wide a splintered sight..."
The eyes belong to Erica's lover; They're wide because what's happening is unexpected. When something is "splintered", it is broken off into 2 or more independent groups. Isadore is a part of Erica while still in the womb and exists separately from her after birth. (the proof that Erica has given birth lies in the next line...)
"there's just one parachute"
The parachute is a metaphor for the umbilical cord, connected to Isadore. Parachutes are made to ensure a safe landing when falling from a height high enough to be fatal. Going back to the balloon metaphor from earlier, it appear the balloon that Erica and Isadore were in has "popped" (her water broke), and only Isadore is safe from the fall. A BRILLIANT metaphor.
(6) "Goodbye Erica now I see
that my worst fears were in tune"
The father is speaking here. This "Goodbye" isn't simply a "see you later" -- It's a final farewell (see previous line's analysis). His "worst fears" are, of course, that Erica wasn't going to make it through her childbirth alive. He's always thought of this as a possibility (see the BRIDGE section), but now he has no choice but to accept it as inevitable.
(0) BRIDGE & CHORUS
In the BRIDGE, the father is making an emotional plea to Erica, realizing that she's dying. He's not ready to give in to the fact that she may, in fact, die ("You can't just leave..."), having invested all of his emotions into loving her and into bringing Isadore into the world.
The CHORUS has the father making another statement -- this time, it's in remembrance of Erica ("It's not who you were, It's who you are"). Because she has died, the father now pledges to do everything in his power to raise Isadore in Erica's honor. ("I won't rest until the world knows the name Isadore")
Awesome!! Special thanks to Musician4Sale I think Brandon and the guys would say, whether the song was written as you think or not...; you did hell of a job man!!! in my country, we would say "que arrechas palabras mi pana!!"
Awesome!! Special thanks to Musician4Sale I think Brandon and the guys would say, whether the song was written as you think or not...; you did hell of a job man!!! in my country, we would say "que arrechas palabras mi pana!!"
I don't want to harp too harsh and much on you, but I really have to disagree with you here. You're jumping between narators so many times, only to make it somehow fit your theory of pregnancy, although it's much more likely that there's only one narator, Isadore. Why? Because the narator "wants more than this kite will soar" (line 3) and because he's the one taking the parachute, leaving Erica behind (lines 29 - 31).
Let me put it this way: in order to support your theory, you had to invent a narator outside of the baloon and made him...
I don't want to harp too harsh and much on you, but I really have to disagree with you here. You're jumping between narators so many times, only to make it somehow fit your theory of pregnancy, although it's much more likely that there's only one narator, Isadore. Why? Because the narator "wants more than this kite will soar" (line 3) and because he's the one taking the parachute, leaving Erica behind (lines 29 - 31).
Let me put it this way: in order to support your theory, you had to invent a narator outside of the baloon and made him have sex with Erica, all of this based on the name "Isadore" and it's ethymology. A similar approach to this would be:
"Ok, Erica in fact means 'ruler of people', so I guess the song is about this powerhungry Erica traveling over the world in a baloon with a man called Isadore, who eventually grows tired of her, although he originally had feelings for her. Therefor he jumps out of the baloon with a parachute, the parachute being a metaphor for his safe trip back into normality and to the common folk. However, before jumping out of the baloon, Isadore clearly states, that he no longer supports Erica's methods of ruling over people and tells her so ("I can't believe you're taking everything, you're taking everything ")."
Again, I do not want to flame or harp on you. But I see a lot of flaws in your analysis and frankly, it just makes a lot more sense, that this song is actually inspired by and about the book "Fear of Flying", written by a certain "Erica Jong" and about a certain "Isadora Zelda White Stollerman Wing".
My friend, the fact that you are disagreeing with me only speaks in favor of your intelligence, not against it [And, in looking back on this post after reading the ones after it, your call of "Bullshit" was quite valid :) ].
My friend, the fact that you are disagreeing with me only speaks in favor of your intelligence, not against it [And, in looking back on this post after reading the ones after it, your call of "Bullshit" was quite valid :) ].
Believe me, when I arrived at my interpretation of the lyrics, I wasn't completely satisfied with the results. Could Incubus really have meant all that? If my meaning was the intended one, needless to say, that's one hell of a headache if you're the one writing the poetry! Plus, how many people would you (as the artist) honestly expect to arrive at such a conclusion?? Probably not many.
In hindsight, I wish I'd have known about "Fear of Flying" before I decided to produce my take on the meaning of the lyrics -- At the very least, it would have saved me a headache or two :)
I've been meditating on these lyrics for a long time now, and I think I have them figured out. This is an INCREDIBLY well-written song, both lyrically and musically, to say the least. I'll give a general analysis first and have a more in-depth look at the lyrics/support below. ONWARD!
THE BASIC STORY This song tells a story about two LOVERS (Erica and a man -- we don't get his name). Erica is pregnant with Isadore(2) -- very pregnant(1), possibly even to the point where she could conceivably give birth soon. Erica and the father-to-be decide to have sex(1). They start out slow, but they gradually take it farther and farther due to the amount of passion involved and the love they have for each other; This is instigated by the man(3). These two lovers are so involved and focused on their feelings (read: "their emotions are clouding their judgment") that they let it go too far(4), to the point where Erica is mortally wounded. Somehow, Erica is induced into labor and gives birth to Isadore before the father's eyes(5), and then she dies(6).
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
The verses of the song are narrated by the father and the storyteller, whereas the bridge ("You can't just leave...") and chorus "It's not who you were..." sections are narrated by the father only. The general story is delivered through the verses, with the bridge and chorus sections of the song providing the emotional side of the story, namely the impact the story's events have on the father(0).
(1) "Erica and her Isadore climbed aboard a balloon"
(2) See jackiechelle's previous comment about the name "Isadore" and its translation.
(3) "I want more than this kite will soar, Set our sights on the moon"
(4) "Blinded by their unbridled height, Our lovers turn dissolute."
(5) "Then with eyes wide a splintered sight..."
The eyes belong to Erica's lover; They're wide because what's happening is unexpected. When something is "splintered", it is broken off into 2 or more independent groups. Isadore is a part of Erica while still in the womb and exists separately from her after birth. (the proof that Erica has given birth lies in the next line...)
"there's just one parachute"
The parachute is a metaphor for the umbilical cord, connected to Isadore. Parachutes are made to ensure a safe landing when falling from a height high enough to be fatal. Going back to the balloon metaphor from earlier, it appear the balloon that Erica and Isadore were in has "popped" (her water broke), and only Isadore is safe from the fall. A BRILLIANT metaphor.
(6) "Goodbye Erica now I see that my worst fears were in tune"
(0) BRIDGE & CHORUS
After that lengthy but wonderful analysis, I feel too simplistic in saying, "You took the words right out of my mouth."
After that lengthy but wonderful analysis, I feel too simplistic in saying, "You took the words right out of my mouth."
Awesome!! Special thanks to Musician4Sale I think Brandon and the guys would say, whether the song was written as you think or not...; you did hell of a job man!!! in my country, we would say "que arrechas palabras mi pana!!"
Awesome!! Special thanks to Musician4Sale I think Brandon and the guys would say, whether the song was written as you think or not...; you did hell of a job man!!! in my country, we would say "que arrechas palabras mi pana!!"
I don't want to harp too harsh and much on you, but I really have to disagree with you here. You're jumping between narators so many times, only to make it somehow fit your theory of pregnancy, although it's much more likely that there's only one narator, Isadore. Why? Because the narator "wants more than this kite will soar" (line 3) and because he's the one taking the parachute, leaving Erica behind (lines 29 - 31). Let me put it this way: in order to support your theory, you had to invent a narator outside of the baloon and made him...
I don't want to harp too harsh and much on you, but I really have to disagree with you here. You're jumping between narators so many times, only to make it somehow fit your theory of pregnancy, although it's much more likely that there's only one narator, Isadore. Why? Because the narator "wants more than this kite will soar" (line 3) and because he's the one taking the parachute, leaving Erica behind (lines 29 - 31). Let me put it this way: in order to support your theory, you had to invent a narator outside of the baloon and made him have sex with Erica, all of this based on the name "Isadore" and it's ethymology. A similar approach to this would be:
"Ok, Erica in fact means 'ruler of people', so I guess the song is about this powerhungry Erica traveling over the world in a baloon with a man called Isadore, who eventually grows tired of her, although he originally had feelings for her. Therefor he jumps out of the baloon with a parachute, the parachute being a metaphor for his safe trip back into normality and to the common folk. However, before jumping out of the baloon, Isadore clearly states, that he no longer supports Erica's methods of ruling over people and tells her so ("I can't believe you're taking everything, you're taking everything ")."
Again, I do not want to flame or harp on you. But I see a lot of flaws in your analysis and frankly, it just makes a lot more sense, that this song is actually inspired by and about the book "Fear of Flying", written by a certain "Erica Jong" and about a certain "Isadora Zelda White Stollerman Wing".
My friend, the fact that you are disagreeing with me only speaks in favor of your intelligence, not against it [And, in looking back on this post after reading the ones after it, your call of "Bullshit" was quite valid :) ].
My friend, the fact that you are disagreeing with me only speaks in favor of your intelligence, not against it [And, in looking back on this post after reading the ones after it, your call of "Bullshit" was quite valid :) ].
Believe me, when I arrived at my interpretation of the lyrics, I wasn't completely satisfied with the results. Could Incubus really have meant all that? If my meaning was the intended one, needless to say, that's one hell of a headache if you're the one writing the poetry! Plus, how many people would you (as the artist) honestly expect to arrive at such a conclusion?? Probably not many.
In hindsight, I wish I'd have known about "Fear of Flying" before I decided to produce my take on the meaning of the lyrics -- At the very least, it would have saved me a headache or two :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.