The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Albatross" by the artist "Wild Beasts"

In the song "Albatross" by Wild Beasts, the albatross serves as a complex symbol of guilt, burden, and the inability to escape the past. The lyrical hero addresses the bird with accusations, as if it were responsible for his suffering: "I, I blame, I blame / You for my fate."

The albatross, known for its ability to soar above storms, contrasts with the restless state of the hero, who feels trapped by his own guilt. The phrase "Around my neck you hang / Like a chain, like a tag" creates an image of the albatross as a constant reminder of past mistakes.

The sea, in turn, symbolizes the mysteries and depths of the hero's subconscious. The phrase "I should have shared them" hints at a burden of shared secrets that he carries alone and that drags him down like a sinking ship: "They're drowning in me."

The reference to Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" reinforces the motif of curse and redemption. In the poem, the mariner kills an albatross, which dooms the ship and crew to misfortune. In the Wild Beasts song, there is no direct killing, but the hero's guilt makes the albatross an unbearable burden, a constant reminder of past misdeeds that are impossible to escape.