Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Twin Dragon/Hello Skeleton” by Cursive
The song ‘Twin Dragon/Hello Skeleton’ by Cursive is an emotionally charged piece regarding the difficult emotions of facing death and grief. The song speaks to the difficulty in facing the certain truth that all things must end and that death is inescapable. The theme of mortality is reflected in both the lyrics and the music of the song, with its loud and chaotic instrumentation lending a sense of chaos and unpredictability as the speaker grapples with their own mortality.
Lyrically, the song speaks to the confusion and bitterness felt when being presented with death, as well as the painful sensation of realizing that everyone and everything eventually must die. References to fire and dragons capture the difficulty of accepting such a harsh fact, as a dragon is traditionally seen as a powerful and dangerous creature and fire is emblematic of destruction.
The core message of the song appears to be that life is unpredictable, and that we must savor every moment because life is fleeting. Instead of trying to deny or ignore death, the speaker encourages listeners to accept it as it is a part of life. This is especially seen in the chorus line of the song, ‘Hello skeleton, every one must meet you eventually’.
The song also speaks to the journey of grieving after a person close to us has passed. The lyrics ‘Twin dragon stalking the white smoke’ alludes to the painful rhythm of wondering why this has happened and then coming to terms with it. This is further reflected in the chaotic instrumentation of the bridge as the lyrics express confusion and anguish.
Ultimately, ‘Twin Dragon/Hello Skeleton’ is a moving piece about the difficult realities of facing our own mortality. By embracing the knowledge that death is apart of the human experience, the song conveys the importance of cherishing the moments that we have and loving our time here on earth.