Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: goth
Song Meaning of “Buildings” by Katatonia
This reflective song by Katatonia offers a unique and poetic insight into the power of a sense of place. It speaks of the importance of finding stability and security in the physical and emotional sense, of creating a safe place for oneself among the chaotic uncertainty of the outside world.
The song opens with a longing for a place to call home, with the imagery of ‘high windows long roads, fading lights and dawns approaching’. It is in these buildings where our memories linger and even a sense of sadness can be found, a type of bittersweet nostalgia. In the chorus, the singer pleads for a space that’s safe, even if it can be hard to find.
The bridge of the song takes a more philosophical approach to the fourth wall. The singer speaks of the value of letting go and living free, only to embrace the freedom of impermanence as a way of life and realize that they’re ‘living in constant pain’. The song touches upon a theme of embracing impermanence in order to cope with life’s inherent uncertainty and to find joy despite the darkness of life.
In the end, the singer understands the inherent uncertainty of life and struggles to find a place of safety amongst it all. By connecting with the physical and emotional sense of space, they are able to create a safe space of their own, one that allows them to find solace amidst life’s ever changing nature.