Salt Silver Oxygen

Antony and the Johnsons' song 'Salt Silver Oxygen' is a rich tapestry of mystical imagery and spiritual exploration. The lyrics are filled with surreal and symbolic language that invites listeners to delve into a world where the boundaries between the physical and the metaphysical blur. The opening lines, 'The flying horse carries me across the sky / Triumvirate swallows make our breath,' evoke a sense of transcendence and otherworldliness, suggesting a journey beyond the mundane reality.

The recurring question, 'Can we grow a sun / A water run / The Great White Water?' seems to ponder the possibility of creating something divine or pure, perhaps a new beginning or a source of life. This imagery is juxtaposed with references to 'every slum inside an ox inside it / Sweet crevice for miniature flies,' which could symbolize the presence of life and beauty even in the most unexpected and humble places. The song's exploration of dualities continues with the line 'Dancing with her casket / Christ becomes wife,' blending themes of death, resurrection, and transformation.

The repeated invocation to 'Elect the Salt Mother / For she's a selective Christ' introduces a figure of maternal and divine authority, possibly representing a nurturing yet discerning force. The command to 'Punch her ghost! / For shore she'll sigh / And watch the window gifts rise' adds a layer of enigmatic action, suggesting a release or transformation of spiritual energy. Overall, 'Salt Silver Oxygen' is a poetic meditation on creation, transformation, and the interplay between the sacred and the profane, inviting listeners to find meaning in its abstract and evocative verses.