>>18051017 (lb)
>Did you forget you were immortal?
Pneuma Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We are spirit bound to this flesh
We go 'round, one foot nailed down
But bound to reach out and beyond this flesh
Become Pneuma
[Chorus]
We are will and wonder, bound to recall, remember
We are born of one breath, one word
We are all one spark, sun becoming
[Interlude]
Spirit
Spirit
Spirit
Spirit
[Verse 3]
Bound to this flesh
This guise, this mask, this dream
[Chorus]
Wake up, remember
We are born of one breath, one word
We are all one spark, sun becoming
[Outro]
Pneuma
Reach out and beyond
Wake up, remember
We are born of one breath, one word
We are all one spark, eyes full of wonder
_____
Pneuma (πνεῦμα) is an ancient Greek word for “breath”, and in a religious context for “spirit” or “soul”.
This song is a vivid reminder to us that being a human is not bound to the physical being. We are one word, we are “one spark beyond this flesh”. Also, this “Pneuma”, soul, spirit or breath is much more important than what we see and experience physically, as in the first lines we are asked to acknowledge it. Then further in the lyrics we “Children” as in innocents or ignorant about such an important concept, are asked to open our eyes to realize this wonder, to see the big picture, our spirits.
This concept is indeed not new to Maynard’s lyrics throughout his career and is evident in the abstractions in Lateralus.