Introduction
This maritime story set in an apocalyptic future comes to us in the medium of, you guessed it, a concept album! The first full length album by the London-based band Haken, Aquarius is a story of tragedy regarding the exploitation of a mermaid, a cataclysmic natural disaster, and tackles themes of love and self sacrifice. Haken usually stays away from commenting on the details of the story in their albums, so this is mostly going to be my interpretation of the music. The only details I could find of the band commenting on Aquarius’ story are from an interview with vocalist Ross Jennings, relating the story to its original idea of the journey that water takes across different landscapes, and further relating that to human life and reincarnation.
Haken is a band that focuses heavily on themes in their albums. Each collection of songs, whether tied to a concept or not, has a strong connecting soundscape. With Aquarius the band tied together different aquatic themes, creating atmospheres filled with the many temperaments of water. There’s also sections that a lot of my friends like to call ‘circus metal’, where the band will use a wide variety of instruments and diminished melodies. Haken is very fond of constantly changing time signatures throughout their music, switching the pacing as well as turning the emotional attitude of the song on a dime.
The Point Of No Return
Lyrics
Until the ice has melted
into tears of pain or fear,
pure anticipation
In hope we are, patient for a cryA child is born tonight
and love has come to lifeListen to her heartbeat, the sound of life,
an angel's song, pure anticipation
In hope we are, patient for a cryA child is born tonight
and love has come to lifeLiving in this nightmare,
falling further to his knees.
The purest disappointment
In hope we're not patient for a lieA child was born tonight
at the point of no returnWe can't raise this child,
this precious circus freak
with fins for arms
and a tail where legs would beThere's no turning back:
our decision is made
If we don't let her go,
we cannot love her as our own"The water is thicker than blood
and we can't look her in the eyes.
Release her to the stream!"At the point of no return,
the point of no returnLet me go, I don't belong here
I'll be free, I won't return homeIt's no wonder that she's out there all alone
It's no wonder that she is soaked to the bone
It's no wonder water is thicker than blood
Wonder if the storm will come for us?She'll find a way to the point of no return
She's on her way past the point of no return
Analysis
For a bit of background to preface the story and give us a setting, Aquarius takes place roughly one hundred years from now. The world is falling apart, as humans have laid waste to the planet and irreparably changed the climate. The ice caps are melting, and we will soon see the full effects of our choices. The first lines that Ross sings hints at this immanent threat, but also alludes to the excitement of the expecting parents that begin the story.
Our first characters in the story are two lovers, living in this portrayed future. They have just given birth to a child, a product of their mutually enamored hearts. Unfortunately for them, they were unlucky enough to have given birth to a child afflicted with an unnatural form. This child (let’s refer to her as ‘Aquarius’ to make things easier on me) was born as a piscine hybrid; a mermaid.
Needless to say, they’re pretty freaked out. Birthing a human child is shocking enough for most parents, could you imagine the emergence of green scales and a tail fin? The father is no longer feeling like this is the happiest day of his life by now. The parents care for this child, but also understand that there is no way they can raise an amphibian. Can you imagine how large of a tank you’d need? No one has room for that in their home in the 22nd century economy. They decide that they must release their daughter into the sea, knowing it will be better for her to live in a proper environment.
As they go to the shore to send her off, they realize this is the point of no return. Once she is gone, there is nothing they can do for her. At this point they have made their decision, and even if they turn back now they know the weight of their decision won’t allow them to truly love her as their own. From Aquarius’ perspective we are told of her longing for the sea, knowing that this is where she truly belongs (this is really soon for a child to have such strong cognitive abilities, but maybe it’s from her fish side). She is released, adopted by the ocean, as the parents depart from the shore.
Finally we get the final thoughts of the parents before they exit the story, as they contemplate the morals of their actions. They know she rightfully belonged to the water, but was it okay to surrender their blood to an unknown fate? Will they see repercussion for their actions? She will find a way on her own, away from her human heritage and without parental guidance.
Streams
Lyrics
I - STREAMS
Oooh, now that I am free,
swimming with the many fishes of the stream
Yeah, and I am welcome here,
we all just connected swimminglyStreams of life digress
like water running through my veinsI'm learning how to breathe,
living underwater,
I am deeper than the eye can see
Yeah, it was meant to be,
now I'm flowing with the current of the streamStreams of life digress
like water running through my veins
Running through my veins
Running through my veinsI start my life again,
just as well this ain't the first stream I have swam
Cold water rushing to my brain
is thicker than the blood that's flowing through my veinsStreams of life digress
like water running through my veins
Streams of blood like liquid love
is rushing to my brain
II - VEINS
It suddenly hits me in the heat of the sun,
a product of fear, far from human
It suddenly hits me and crushes my world
like a tidal wave trapped in my shellIt suddenly hits me, what have I become?
Searching for answers in my aquarium
It suddenly bites me and poisons my veins,
lost and unable to find my way
III - DIGRESSION
My chosen path, the direction that I take
is the consequence of your greatest mistakeWhen that day arrives, it's decision time
Which way will I turn?
Will I ever really learn?If I'm shown the way, I will never be alone
The choice is mine in deciding where I'll goAll our souls digressed, we started as one
All our journeys will end at the same destinationStreams of life digress
like water running through my veins
Streams of blood like liquid love
is rushing to my brain
Analysis
According to the lyrics on the CD booklet, this song has been split into three ‘chapters’. The song begins with a whimsical eponymous section, describing the joy of Aquarius’ life as she lives among marine animals, feeling at home. The chorus of Streams describes the rush she feels swimming in the open water, the blood in her veins mirroring the stream flowing through the land.
One of the verses hints towards her having already gone through a life of exploring the water, and based off of Ross’ interview from earlier, I’m thinking that she is possibly one of many reincarnations before her. It’s possible that there have been many before her, and with each passing of her life she is reborn again until something breaks the cycle. I’m thinking she is meant to represent the flow of water, and it’s cycle through the land, water, and sky, restarting repeatedly, as well as nature as a whole and the humans' treatment towards it. ‘Cold water rushing to my brain is thicker than the blood that’s flowing through my veins’- She feels her connection to her environment is stronger than her blood, which makes sense, as she was given to the sea as a small child.
The second section of this song gets abruptly darker, transitioning into synths, organs, and growls. Veins’ lyrical content matches, describing an intense pain that she feels, struck by surprise.
This is where the story gets hard for me to interpret. Pretty early on, I know, but hey this album isn’t straightforward. I believe that at this point she realizes that she isn’t just part of the sea. There’s more to her identity that she is unaware of. It’s an anxious thought that induces vertigo, and it pulls at her conscience.
The final section of the song, Digression, is an extension to the introspective moment for Aquarius. Now closer to the surface, she sees the water levels have risen. She knows that the humans, her blood, live above and can’t survive in the depths with her. She now realizes that although she feels little attachment to her parents, her blood ties to the humans does have an effect on her conscience.
She is becoming more aware of her surroundings and the situation that everyone will soon have to face. Humans will either need to learn from their mistakes, and create peace with nature to repair the damage they’ve caused, or accept their fate as the bane of their one home.
What no one is aware of at this point, is that Aquarius plays a large part in their decision.
Aquarium
Lyrics
Just another day sitting by the river
as February fades
I was fishing for my dinner
when something caught my eye
in my peripheral vision
Have I lost my mind
if I believe in what I'm seeing?Eyes from around the world
stare through the glass
of my aquarium
Line up to see the girl,
blessed by the curse
of the aquariusFreak of nature, pay to see her
Eyes surround her like a fever
Free me master, see me shiver,
put me back into the riverI won't tell a soul,
but I could make a fortune,
all those empty years of staring into my reflection
I could bide my time, but I can't keep a secret:
she's the great discovery of the 22nd centuryEyes from around the world
stare through the glass
of my aquarium
Line up to see the girl,
blessed by the curse
of the aquariusFortune and fame,
she's the freak of the day
Only you made a name for yourself,
then fell in loveAfter all that he's done
to her plan that is destined to failOooh, they hit it right off
(She freaked you out)
Eyes from around the world
stare through the glass
of my aquarium
I've seen the girl
blessed by the curse
of the AquariusFreak of nature, pay to see her
Eyes surround her like a fever
Free me master, see me shiver,
put me back into the river
Eyes surround me like a prison,
heart is beating, you have listened
Free me master, see me shiver,
put me back into the river
Analysis
A lone man patiently waits, fishing in the late winter for a meal. Not a man of wealth, he is forced to spend his time by the river, searching for food yet again. When suddenly, he notices something in the water. He questions his sanity, as he catches a glimpse of our mermaid near the surface. He further questions the implication of such a discovery. He isn’t the kind to exploit a living creature, but imagine what he could do with a mermaid! He could be rich, never having to bide near the river for a meal again. He thinks of what he could have, gaining back time to spend in his life. This gets the better of him, and he entices/catches the mermaid from the water.
Aquarius, not fond of being away from her home in the stream, begs the man to return her to the water. But the man has made his decision, and exposes his fated partner to the public, where he gains riches from his exhibit. Everyone has now paid to witness the exotic harbinger, with little regard for her own wishes.
Although the dynamic between master and captive seems abusive, over time they begin to form a different relationship. The man begins to realize how special Aquarius is to him, and starts to see her for her inner beauty. Aquarius in turn sees the man underneath, the side of him who wanted to do the right thing and hide her from the world. Granted, the relationship is still definitely abusive in various way emotionally, but neither of them truly wants to part from the other now.
This plays on for some time, as both of them warm up to each other. The pair is famous for their sheer existence, but neither of them can truly be happy. The land and sea cannot be together without one damaging the other. Man has the moral capacity and physical ability to take care of nature, and can appreciate the wealth that it provides. Man can stare in awe at its beauty and unique landscapes, and will still choose to turn its collective head the other way, giving in to individual greed. Only after its too late, will we realize the damage our actions have caused.
Into the Concept: Aquarius will be continued in a future post. If you enjoyed this, please consider subscribing in the footer of the website to get updates whenever I upload a new entry. Thank you for reading and feel free to send feedback to nickweber@truenamemusic.com!
