Spectrum Lyrics
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
We were light and paper-thin
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
'Till we let the spectrum in
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
[Repeat: x2]
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
We'll be dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
We'll be dressed up all in gray
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
And you'll scream our names aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from their graves
And every color illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we'll never be afraid again
Love makes you shine like a star, exposing the full spectrum of your feelings and personality, in a way greater than you ever dreamed. You call out to your love to "Say my name" as a request to be fully seen and fully acknowleged.
And then you both shine together, bringing out the best in one another.
Just as white light contains within it all the colours of the rainbow, love brings out all your colours and potential, the full realisation of everything good that is you.
And for Florence, that love can last forever, as even after death, dressed in black, as if mourners at your own funeral, your loved one screams out your name to light you up again, as you both drag your resurrected bodies from the ground.
Beautiful interpretation! I agree, at first impression this song struck me as about being about love and how it lights up all of your colours and makes you feel alive.
Beautiful interpretation! I agree, at first impression this song struck me as about being about love and how it lights up all of your colours and makes you feel alive.
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
@yhtrownu This is not about love/ relationships. Florence's said that it is about not being afraid of being yourself and following your heart. And in this song she identifies herself with a group of people, and she has even said that she wrote it for her younger fans. Lines like "And when we come for you" should clearly say about that.
@yhtrownu This is not about love/ relationships. Florence's said that it is about not being afraid of being yourself and following your heart. And in this song she identifies herself with a group of people, and she has even said that she wrote it for her younger fans. Lines like "And when we come for you" should clearly say about that.
To me this song is about spiritual enlightenment/ planetary awakening. I think Florence is a Lightworker/ Starseed trying to express the importance of what is happening here on earth and trying to awaken people to it through her music.
Say my name, And every colour illuminates, We are Shining, And we'll never be afraid again.
In this verse she is telling you she is awakened, she can see the truth, she is illuminated. She is shining and realises she is a spark of light/ God. Because of this there is no need to fear, we are immortal.
And when we come for you, We'll be dressed in blue, With the ocean in our arms, Kissing eyes and kissing palms.
Blue symbolizes peace, confidence and unity. I believe the ocean represents the universe, brothers and sisters in arms incarnating to help heal, awaken and raise vibrations for humanity for the oncoming ascension.
When it's time to pray, We'll be dressed up all in grey, With metal on our tongues, And silver in our lungs.
Grey Symbolizes strength and sophistication. Metal on our tongues means 'We come with strong illuminating words" and silver in our lungs "And we proud of it".
And when we come back, We'll be dressed in black, And you'll scream our names aloud, And we won't eat and we won't sleep, And we'll drag bodies from their graves.
Black symbolizes authority and power. "We come in force, we are ready for battle, we will do everything in our power and sacrifice our own important needs to not let humanity be sent to their graves".
Just think about all the negativity happening on earth. Pollution, wars, corruption, poverty, famine, greed, insecticides and additives in our food, etc. We are destroying ourselves and we think this is the norm.
In most of Florence's songs she makes references to enlightenment. This is her form of lightwork to humanity. In her song "No Light No Light " she explains to you why her songs are in riddles, because she is understands that people would ridicule her if she said what she thinks straight out.
'Cause it's so easy, To say it to a crowd, But it's so hard, my love, To say it to you out loud.
So people, I really hope we can learn the importance of her music and embrace it.
Love and Light to All xoxo
Your interpretation aims too high. Don't put Florence on a pedastal. Try again, Friend.
Your interpretation aims too high. Don't put Florence on a pedastal. Try again, Friend.
I have a very similar interpretation of the song, but I am not sure if it is about a speciffic form of enlightenment (I don't know what it means to be a starseed or a Lightworker), I would rather see it as a metaphor for any kind of enlightenment and epiphany I didn't know about the color symbolisms though. Thank you for those :D
I have a very similar interpretation of the song, but I am not sure if it is about a speciffic form of enlightenment (I don't know what it means to be a starseed or a Lightworker), I would rather see it as a metaphor for any kind of enlightenment and epiphany I didn't know about the color symbolisms though. Thank you for those :D
@OrionSeed I see what you mean. Florence is enlightened and, in my opinion she is channeling spiritual knowledge in most of her songs.
@OrionSeed I see what you mean. Florence is enlightened and, in my opinion she is channeling spiritual knowledge in most of her songs.
we may never know what Flo intended this song to actually mean. She says that most of her songs are simple and straight to the point.
I have to disagree with most people on here. I do not believe this song is about a relationship. To me this song is about the liberation of a group. I believe that this particular group is the LGBT community, not because of connection between a spectrum and the rainbow flag that has been popularized as a symbol for the LGBT community. To me, generally speaking, the song goes through a process of first being afraid and not having an identity to being proud and full of joy, where being called who you actually are is not offensive.
Again, we may never really know what it is about, but this is just my take on it! Enjoy!
No. Sorry, Friend. This song is NOT promoting some agenda for the LGBT community or anyone else's for that matter.
No. Sorry, Friend. This song is NOT promoting some agenda for the LGBT community or anyone else's for that matter.
In response to Chartre777: Would you like the band any less if it were true?? I think this song is more about either spirituality or love, but it would be just as great if it were about LGBT acceptance. Besides, Florence has said in an interview that she loves her gay fans and the gay community.
In response to Chartre777: Would you like the band any less if it were true?? I think this song is more about either spirituality or love, but it would be just as great if it were about LGBT acceptance. Besides, Florence has said in an interview that she loves her gay fans and the gay community.
I believe that interpretation is whatever rings true to you.
I believe that interpretation is whatever rings true to you.
BUT! I agree with your train of thought with it being about the LGBT community. Or hell, just about someone that is hiding their true self from others.
BUT! I agree with your train of thought with it being about the LGBT community. Or hell, just about someone that is hiding their true self from others.
"When we first came here we were cold and we were clear"
"When we first came here we were cold and we were clear"
I believe that could be interpreted as being blank, or hidden from others.
I believe that could be interpreted as being blank, or hidden from others.
"'Till you let the Spectrum in"
"'Till you let the Spectrum in"
But then the person let in the light, and came to revelation about his/herself.
But then the person let in the light, and came to revelation about his/herself.
"When it's time to pray We dress up all in gray With metal on...
"When it's time to pray We dress up all in gray With metal on our tongues And silver in our lungs"
I'm not sure about the praying, but I could see dressing in gray as hiding again, as trying to pass as background noise and go unnoticed. And metal on your tongue being as you have to hold your tongue. Someone that has silver in their lungs could be someone use to being cunning or lying.
"Say my name And every color illuminates"
But every time someone actual sees the person for who they really are, the person again becomes whole, "illuminated".
Anyways, that's my interpretation of the song, which sort of is similar to what you saw while listening to it.
I know it probably wasn't Florence's intention for the song to be taken this way, but this is how I see it: It sounds to me as if the narrating voice is something of a cult or group mentality...not actually a person, or, if it is a person, then it's the leader of this group. The first verse seems to speak about coming together during a time of trouble (The tone and lyrics indicate this). Then... "with no colors on our skin / til we let the spectrum in" symbolizes the formation of this unity, the "spectrum".
"Say my name / and every color illuminates / we are shining / and we will never be afraid again"
The chorus gets louder and louder each time, and seems to illustrate some kind of mob mentality. Like, every time "they" reinforce the group (say the name), things become clearer (colors are illuminated) and thus they won't have to fear anything anymore.
With each verse, the mob idea is more developed. First ("When it's time to pray"), the thinking is restricted to just a finite group of people, but by the end, Florence is belting out the "And when we come back we'll be dressed in black". The tone is much more militaristic and driven. They have a mission and are empowered by the fact that they are a group.
I don't know, just my thoughts. :)
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
Fortunately Florence has explained this song a little: "(...) like 'Heartlines' and 'Spectrum,' they're really earnest, saying don't be afraid of who you are and follow your heart. I get scared of being earnest. Like a lot of British people, I prefer sarcasm and irreverence. So those grand statements were hard for me. Wearing my heart on my sleeve. Very frightening." https://florenceandthemachine.fandom.com/wiki/Heartlines_(song)
Easily my favorite one on this record.
"When we first came here we were cold and we were clear" talking about the first time they met, they were just everyday run of the mill, people. When they "Let the spectrum in" the relationship became a deeper connection, and revealed all about their past and present to each other. The spectrum being trust and love. "Say my name" is just as yhtrownu said is to be fully acknowleged by one another and to verify who each other is. "And we will never be afraid again" this is talking about the fear of trusting someone completely when you are trying to start a relationship, but since the spectrum has revealed them they don't have to worry about that ever again, they have each other. "And we'll come back dressed in black" once again as yhtrownu said, even in death, they will know each other and be together forever.
Beautiful, and so full-filling. Florence is the best!
Ummm, I thought this song was about when Satan and his demands were first cast out of Heaven. . .
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
"Say my name" = Lucifer.... "and every Color Illuminates" (Lucifer = Morning Star, Shining One, Bringer of Dawn, Light-bringing) "When we first came here, we were cold and we were clear, with no colours on our skin, we were light and paper-thin (Fallen Angels)....
A lot of the interpretations are of growth. That is the purpose of cells and evolution. When we first came here as cells, we had no color, we were clear. We were light, and paper thin (a human is made of 50,000,000,000,000 cells so imagine how thin one cell is)
Over time, more and more of the spectrum of divine intelligence (God/Universe/Quantum Mechanics) was let in / perceived through a constant growth of awareness/membrane/cytoplasm. Single cells reached a limit where they would burst if they gained anymore cytoplasm/awareness. This was the first stages of the evolution leading to humans of today. We are still on a constant journey for more and more awareness; We are blessed because we can use our pineal gland to stream information not needing to constantly expand like single cells. Once the spectrum was let in, single cells graduated to multicellular creatures creating a beautifully diverse biosphere. A spectrum of unique life forms.
Say my name is God/Universe/Mother Nature/Quantum Mechanics/Information that transcends time and space. When we are in tune with, and saying the name of God, we are projecting the entire spectrum (white light / purity). Our mission on the planet is to project our personal spectrum and integrating our unhindered spectrums into a super colony called humanity where we can express a collective unhindered spectrum. The strongest love you can ever feel. You can't be afraid with the power of God and the entire Universe on your side. (and in the future enlightened individuals that double as mentors and foundations.) The power of God is love so it can't be used for evil. (For people concerned about cults; you'd have what we have today, brainwashed masses with no power.)
Someone mentioned how each new refrain is louder and has more sounds incorporated. That is the journey of adding more and more people to the movement ending in the superorganism humanity. More and more people shedding their convictions and searching for truth.
I just watched a video series on Qi Gong. There are 3 important areas for energy flow located in the center of the forehead (Third Eye) the palms and the feet. It reminded me of the stigmata of Jesus. Orionseed's interpretation above I like a lot. I don't know anything about colors. For me, the ocean of the universe, and the enlightened individuals who are projecting the universe through them, no longer listening to the ego, will be kissing the third eyes, and the energy centers of the palms, awakening dormant spirits confined from self expression.
Again, I know nothing of symbolism and colors so I will leave the pray / gray part to Orionseed.
When it's time to pray, we become neutral not donning a mindset, a philosophy, a set of rules. We put metal on our tongues to stop them from moving, and wanting to talk. We become silent, and listen with no agenda. We breathe in pure spirit and energy when we pray / meditate / Qi Gong / etc.
We will always be reborn indefinitely into the future. Our existence now is proof that we have existed before. We only borrow different frequencies to comprise our personality. Have you ever met 2 or 3 different people with THE SAME EXACT MANNERISMS AND PERSONALITY? Even if they are different genders, races, etc.? They are reflecting (like pigments reflect light) certain existing frequencies originating at the source of all information that transcends space and time a.k.a God. We are made in God's image. An image reflects. We reflect aspects of God creating a unique personality. For the part about being dressed in black, I thought about our dormant power. We have the power to raise the dead like Jesus. In fact, my friends and I have a theory that Jesus is a story about what any ordinary human is capable of if they listen to him, and love unconditionally. When we come back, our physical bodies, our egos, the self, will be dead, but we'll be the unified superorganism humanity with the tremendous power to heal and raise the dead. We won't need to eat or sleep.
-We won't need to sleep / meditate in order to reach our dormant spirit and it's dreams. It will be awake and fully realized every waking moment.
You'll scream our names aloud because we will be the new prophets, heralded throughout time, as we evoke miracles.
It was very reassuring to find similar interpretations.
It is a song about growth, and finding out who you are. After you find out who you are, and can express yourself unhindered, then you can begin incorporating other unhindered souls to grow to something even larger. I think she keeps it simple, because she understands how holistic the universe is, how interconnected and related everything is, and that this song can have 20 seemingly different interpretations which are really still one overarching meaning.
This song is about LOVE and Life and nothing else. the first verse just like the comment above me is about their meeting. the chorus is about saying her name which is probably confess to me and the whole world that you love me. Verse two when she says wearing blue part is probably about the blue days that will come to them later and she's ready for it. The gray pray part is the only part I don't get and I'm sure swapping the words iron and silver has a meaning because people say silver tongue not iron tongue. Bridge is about after life they will probably haunt people and enjoy life after death. so... say my name This is sure my favorite song in the album
lol "they will probably haunt people" xD
lol "they will probably haunt people" xD
Favourite song on the new album (though it's hard to pick one...) It's epic! So catchy and wonderful. To me it's about falling in love and the euphoria one feels when they are.