Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2007-01-01
- Album Name: Breathing Under Water
Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “Abyss” by Anoushka Shankar
‘Abyss’, released by Anoushka Shankar in 2007, takes us on a journey of emotional and unsure turbulence. In the song, Shankar conveys the difficult journey of going through a trying situation and learning to remain strong despite painfully intense depths of despair. Throughout the song, the listener is guided by Shankar’s vivid words, tugging on the heartstrings in order to demonstrate the beauty of sustaining resilience within adversity.
The lyrics of Abyss bring to life the concept of the depths of despair, depicted with strong imagery and metaphors. For example, one line in the song reads ‘The depths of the abyss are darker than night’. The metaphor paints a moving picture, conveying the depths of sadness as darker and more painful than the darkness of night. Shankar’s emotive lyrics are accompanied by mellow orchestral string instruments, including the sitar, creating an atmosphere of somberness and longing.
The song ultimately brings to life a powerful sense of hope, ending on a note of staying strong despite turmoil and affirming the idea that the emotions and challenges one may face do not have to define them. This is expressed in the lyrics ‘The night will slowly pass and moon will soon shine its light’. The listener is reminded that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and hope to be found, no matter how deep the abyss may be.