The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Stabat Mater" by the artist "Woodkid"

In his song "Stabat Mater", Woodkid draws a parallel between the innocence of childhood and the brutality of war, using contrasting imagery and rhetorical questions. The title, referring to the Catholic sequence about the Virgin Mary's suffering, sets a tone of grief and loss.

"In those glorious days when we were not yet lost" is a nostalgic reminiscence of a carefree past, where "war was just a game." This contrast emphasizes the horror of real war, which has replaced childhood games.

The wind howling "over other plains" symbolizes change, perhaps the onset of war in once peaceful lands. The question "when will I see you again" conveys anxiety and fear of the unknown, separation, perhaps death.

The image of a departing train, drowning out all sounds, enhances the feeling of loss and loneliness. The lyrical hero wonders how to maintain intimacy in the face of chaos and uncertainty.

"Night bathes in shame" is a metaphor describing moral decline, the darkness that has gripped the world. The question about flowers in hair is a symbol of former beauty, innocence, and joy, contrasted with the "clatter of boots and the clinking of chains," attributes of war and violence. The smell of daisies, symbolizing peaceful life, is under threat of disappearance under the onslaught of cruelty.

The image of circus horses galloping across the bay refers to the illusory nature of the world, the fragility of beauty against the backdrop of approaching fire. The fear of losing the past reflects the hero's desire to preserve at least something from the old life. The recurring question about war as a game emphasizes the tragedy of what is happening and the impossibility of returning to the past.