Prelude

Miley Cyrus's 'Prelude' is a poetic exploration of the transient nature of beauty and the longing for connection. The song uses vivid imagery to convey the idea that certain experiences and emotions, while deeply personal and profound, are fleeting and often beyond our control. The opening lines compare the act of watching landscapes from a moving train to the inevitability of time passing, suggesting that no matter how much we try to hold onto moments, they inevitably slip away into the distance.

The lyrics continue with metaphors of holding ashes and feeling the warmth of the sun through a window, emphasizing the theme of impermanence. These images highlight the futility of trying to grasp or preserve what is inherently transient. The song suggests that while we can feel the warmth and see the beauty, we are often separated from fully experiencing or possessing it. This separation creates a sense of longing and a desire to make the intangible tangible, to bring the beauty we perceive into a shared reality.

Cyrus also touches on the theme of solitude and the human desire for connection. The lines about walking alone through a lucid dream and saying one's name in an empty room evoke a sense of isolation and the yearning to be seen and understood. The song concludes with the idea that beauty found in solitude is like a prayer, a deeply personal experience that longs to be shared with others. This reflects a universal human desire to connect and share our innermost experiences, transforming personal beauty into a collective one.