Beyond The Vale
"Beyond The Vale" is the ninth song from Act I of The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM. The song was named in honor of Billy Corgan's close friend, Lisa Vale.[1]
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
(performed by 'The X+I')
We are now back on Earth where Osirah and her friend Nighthawk have the geographic coordinates to a treasure chest that was given to them by June. They do not know the coordinates and message came from space. They think it has something to do with Shiny, but generally speaking they don't fully understand what they're doing and think it's all some sort of internet game.
Osirah and Nighthawk drive to an abandoned warehouse to find the chest to find they are being followed by "the government authority that oversees all dissonant activity", known as the X+I (pronounced "X and I"). The agency is seeking to intercept them and kill them both, as they aren't supposed to have what's in the chest, and whatever it may be is very dangerous to the government authority. Osirah and Nighthawk get out of their car when the X+I fires laser guns at them. They're able to evade the shooting by running into the warehouse. They narrowly escape with both the chest and their lives.
"Beyond The Vale" is sung from the perspective of the X+I. The agency all wear the same clothes and look very similar, without an apparent leader. When they speak, they all speak together as one. Corgan referred to them as the "gray area of authority."[1]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
i will fight this space and time
that jumps through you
our affairs were never fair
where love stood as cruel
vagabonds your feast is love
vagabonds your feast is love
i used to mind their fake rebellions
i used to mind their sin
now i'm the one let in
la-la-love our way
love our way in you
la-la-love our ways
love our ways in you
darkness scares and unawares
is us selling you
behind these walls and in your faults
gains trust as sinew
vagabonds your feast is love
vagabonds your feast is love
i used to mind their fake rebellions
i used to mind their sin
now i'm the one let in
la-la-love our way
love our way in you
la-la-love our ways
love our ways in you
Availability
| Title | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ATUM | Act I | Studio |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Corgan, Billy. "Beyond the Vale (with Lisa Vale)". Thirty-Three (Podcast). Retrieved December 14, 2022.