Temporary Peace

Anathema's 'Temporary Peace' is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of inner turmoil and fleeting moments of tranquility. The song opens with the imagery of the sea, a powerful metaphor for the subconscious mind. The waves washing over 'half forgotten memories' suggest the constant ebb and flow of past experiences and emotions that resurface, often unbidden. This sets the stage for a journey into the depths of the human psyche, where laughter and sorrow intermingle, rising and falling like the tides.

The lyrics delve deeper into the protagonist's internal landscape, revealing a sense of discovery and realization. The lines 'I swear I never knew how it could be' and 'all this time all I had inside was what I couldn't see' speak to the often hidden nature of our true feelings and thoughts. The waves washing over 'all that hurts inside of me' symbolize a cleansing process, albeit a temporary one, as the pain and memories are never fully erased but merely subdued for a time.

As the song progresses, the horizon becomes a symbol of hope and dreams, a tranquil sea unbroken by the 'rumours in the sky.' However, this peace is threatened by an impending storm, representing external pressures and internal conflicts. The 'voices crying on the wind' and the 'serenade growing cold' illustrate the fragility of this temporary peace. Yet, amidst this chaos, the presence of a loved one offers a fleeting respite, a 'sort of temporary peace' that allows the protagonist to drift in and out of their troubled thoughts. This duality of serenity and turmoil captures the essence of the human experience, making 'Temporary Peace' a poignant reflection on the struggle for inner calm in a world of constant change.