Fairy Paradise

CocoRosie's 'Fairy Paradise' is a hauntingly poetic exploration of environmental degradation and the mystical elements that intertwine with nature. The song opens with vivid imagery, describing a child emerging from a 'deep inferno' and a 'crusty head of dead volcano,' setting a tone of desolation and rebirth. The lyrics paint a surreal landscape populated by heartless crows, wooden crosses, and lilac dust, evoking a sense of decay and the remnants of a once-vibrant world. This imagery serves as a metaphor for the Earth's current state, ravaged by human activity and neglect.

The song's middle section delves into the ethereal realm of fairies and mythical creatures, who dance to trance music and weave wigs with eyelashes. This whimsical imagery contrasts sharply with the earlier scenes of decay, suggesting a world where magic and nature once thrived in harmony. The fairies' dance and the medieval spells echoing from snail shells symbolize a lost connection to the natural world, a time when humans lived in balance with their environment. The 'wicked river of thorn and blade and silver sliver' represents the destructive forces that have disrupted this harmony, leading to the current state of environmental crisis.

As the song progresses, it becomes a poignant reflection on the consequences of human actions. The lyrics speak of the Earth making its 'final passage' after being ravaged by humans, with angels escorting souls home and leaving the elementals free to roam. The imagery of 'plastic toys and metal trees' on a beach combed for nuclear debris underscores the artificial and destructive impact of human civilization. The song concludes with a cosmic lament, as stars cry and the cosmos mourns the dying planet. This final section serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life and the urgent need to address environmental issues before it's too late.