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“Vampire Empire,” written by Adrianne Lenker, is a song released on the 19th of July, 2023. For a while now, Big Thief has captivated audiences with their enigmatic live performances of the haunting song, “Vampire Empire.” Back in the winter, the band showcased their talents on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, leaving fans eager for its official release. The meaning of “Vampire Empire” lyrics by Big Thief is to set healthy boundaries & to implement them to experience unbroken & infinite love. “Vampire Empire” was recorded at the Teatre de ca l’Eril Studio in Guissona, Spain, during the band’s European tour earlier this year. In a statement, lead vocalist Adrianne Lenker provided insight into the essence of the song, describing it as an exploration of breaking free from toxic internal patterns and escaping the clutches of an energy-draining empire.
You can listen to Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire” below.
Big Thief, Vampire Empire: the Lyrics & Their Meaning
“Vampire Empire” lyrics begin with imagery depicting a tired and bleeding soul watching TV while lying on a bed. The mention of expired milk and dead leaves paints a desolate picture of the speaker’s emotional state. Then, the following lines emphasize the passive nature of their relationship with someone else, suggesting an unbalanced dynamic where one party merely receives what the other offers. The singer seems overwhelmed and filled with feelings and ideas that they have internalized from their counterpart’s words and actions.
Then, the chorus brings forth a sense of vulnerability and disillusionment. The singer expresses his weariness and dissatisfaction with the status quo, comparing it to undergoing unpleasant drills. Also, the use of pronouns like “I am nothing, you are nothing, we are nothing” portrays a shared sense of emptiness, likely stemming from the reliance on pills as a coping mechanism. The mention of an enigmatic “she” implies a character who holds the power to fill the emptiness and make Big Thief feel alive, albeit temporarily.
After that, the repetition of “Falling, yeah” adds an element of uncertainty and emotional turmoil to the narrative, symbolizing a continuous struggle within the relationship.
In the second verse, Big Theif observes his partner rejecting his earthly power, focusing instead on protecting and dissecting every moment. The imagery of jumping into a pond and coming under the shower implies a desire for purification and cleansing, perhaps from the toxicity of the relationship. He longs to see their partner’s true self, stripped of pretenses, and desires a deeper connection. Also, he wishes to understand his partner on a profound level, transcending the conventional roles of gender and societal expectations.
The chorus resurfaces, reinforcing the idea of mutual emptiness and reliance on external substances or people for fulfillment. Here, the reference to the “vampire empire” hints at a destructive and parasitic force that drains the speaker’s essence and energy. Then, the brief bridge section adds an ethereal quality to the song, further accentuating its enigmatic nature.
The final verse delves into the tumultuous nature of the relationship. Big Thief likens his interactions to trying to start a fire with matches in the snow, suggesting a futile struggle. His partner seems conflicted, unable to fully commit or let go, leaving the speaker in a state of confusion. Surrender and control become elusive concepts for the speaker, leading to inner turmoil. The partner’s conflicting desires, wanting both solitude and family, further contribute to the emotional complexity. Then, the chorus resurfaces for the last time, amplifying the themes of emptiness, dependency, and the haunting presence of the vampire empire. In the post-chorus, the repeated “Falling, yeah” becomes a poignant conclusion, leaving listeners with a sense of unresolved emotions and the realization that the journey continues.
In “Vampire Empire,” Big Thief masterfully weaves a tale of emotional struggle, vulnerability, and the quest for love and understanding. Adrianne Lenker’s powerful lyrics and haunting vocals lay bare the complexities of human relationships, urging listeners to confront their own internal battles and strive for healthier connections. The song serves as a reminder that acknowledging and setting boundaries is essential for cultivating genuine, unbroken, and infinite love, i.e. a love that does not drain but nourishes and sustains.
What Are the Lyrics of “Vampire Empire” by Big Thief?
These are the lyrics of Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire” via Genius:
Vampire Empire Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Watching TV tired, bleeding on the bed
The milk has just expired, all the leaves are dead
I’m not quiet, you’ve been quiet, just receiving what you said
Reeling, feeding, feeling filled by everything you fed
I see you as you see yourself through all the books you read
Overwhelmed with guilt and realizing the disease[Chorus]
You give me chills, I’ve had it with the drills
I am nothing, you are nothing, we are nothing with the pills
I am empty ’til she fills, alive until she kills
In her a vampire empire, I am[Post-Chorus]
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah[Verse 2]
I see you there rejecting all your earthly power
Protecting and dissecting ’til you’ve emptied every hour
We jump into the pond, then we come under the shower
You lay upon my pillow and you open like a flower
I wanted to see you naked, I wanted to hear you scream
Wanted to kiss your skin and your everything
I wanted to be your woman, I wanted to be your man
I wanted to be the one that you could understand[Chorus]
You give me chills, I’ve had it with the drills
I am nothing, you are nothing, we are nothing with the pills
I am empty ’til she fills, alive until she kills
In her a vampire empire, I am[Post-Chorus]
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah[Bridge]
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Ooh[Verse 3]
Well, I walked into your dagger for the last time
It’s like trying to start a fire with matches in the snow
Where you can’t seem to hold me, can’t seem to let me go
So I can’t find surrender and I can’t keep control
You turn me inside out and then you want the outside in
You spin me all around, then you ask me not to spin
You say you want to be alone, and you want children
You wanna be with me, you wanna be with him[Chorus]
You give me chills, I’ve had it with the drills
I am nothing, you are nothing, we are nothing with the pills
I am empty ’til she fills, alive until she kills
In her a vampire empire, I am[Post-Chorus]
Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire” Lyrics
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah
Falling, yeah
Comment on the meaning behind the song “Vampire Empire” lyrics by Big Thief below or on the Twitter handle “@laviasco”.
