Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Inceptus” by Arcana
Arcana’s song ‘Inceptus’ is a mourning piece filled with longing and wistfulness. The song laments the passage of time that passes unnoticed, as well as the transience of life that is marked by sorrow and loss. The sparse and somber neo-classical instrumentals and the melancholic vocals set the tone for the track, conveying a lingering sadness that envelopes the heart in sorrowful nostalgia.
The lyrics of “Inceptus” signify a sorrowful transition from life to death, as evidenced in the opening lyrics “My heart is aching, my soul vanishing/All I know is dying and dying I go”. These words signify the composer’s awareness of his mortality, as well as his realization of the consequences of such fragility, like separation from loved ones and fear of the unknown.
The ominous chorus of the song also reflects this idea of death’s inevitability, as the repeating refrain of “Bring in the night, death is the light” serves as a reminder of life’s finitude. Here, death is presented as a state which is both unfamiliar and inviting. To add to this ambivalence, a disquieting dichotomy of both hope and despair is heard in the lyrics, as the composer expresses both a desire to cling to life and the embrace of death “Open wide, wider still, I am ready to die free/Take me in, in the night and I can be born anew”.
Overall, Arcana’s “Inceptus” portrays a deep sense of loss, mourning and acceptance that has the power to strike an emotional chord in anyone. The song is a powerful and melancholic meditation on life and death that conveys a sense of mourning, sorrow, and ultimately, hope and acceptance.