Sojourner
"Sojourner" is the first song from Act III of the The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM.
Written on a piano, Billy Corgan said he was especially content with how the song came out with respect to his vision, saying it is one of his favorite songs on the album "from a prideful, personal level."[1]
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
(performed successively by June, Osirah, then Ruby, and in chorus with The Seraphim)
After learning of Shiny's impending return to Earth, the X+I decide to welcome him back instead of retaliating with violence. They set up a grand show of lights before he lands with many of the general public in attendance. This song is told from three perspectives while Shiny's ship comes to Earth: one being June; singing as she floats ever closer to the sun and her inevitable death. Ruby and her quest to save Shiny. And Osirah who is in attendance for Shiny's return. Shiny's ship finally lands and we find that he has not aged a day despite being in exile for many years; and he is very confused about what is happening. He sees numerous X+I members on the stage with him in ceremonial robes and they gesture to a microphone. Shiny takes the microphone and says a very vague, open-ended statement. Something along the lines of "I look forward to the future".[1]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
there's but one faun in the sky
who brooks like you and i
who sings his lullabies off key
who's mystified you
nay, reminds you
of how life used to seem
but now, we're together now
yet somewhere i must somewhere find
that somewhere i should be
and given eyes to lead
it's i, sojourner, i
i, sojourner, lead
i know such tears are admirable
brought out of year and sensible
but all you'll sight is not your kind
he's setting up for nighty-night
palindrome, palindromes
so here you hear belief
and heaven's on the beam
where i, sojourner, i
i, sojourner flee
in lieu of frozen flame
in step of temporal rage
as crucifixus i've played right thru this
this waning spell of strange
yet somewhere i must somewhere find
that somewhere i should be
and given eyes to lead
it's i, sojourner, i
i, sojourner, i
deus ex, unknown
deus ex machine atoned
‘twas briar ‘round the maypole
sour milk disgraceful
and shot on the late-late show
yet then they rose
and like the rue he hath bloomed
love each other
love done true
i'm here with you
at home with you
if i'm younger
it's you that's moved
this wizened man
into the child
7's i can learn
of heavens i can offer
a resurrection won off forever
as free as you can free
is free as i'll consider
on slivers of the gray
we're forever
forever
Availability
| Title | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ATUM | Act III | Studio |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Corgan, Billy. "Sojourner (with Corrine Luxon)". Thirty-Three (Podcast). Retrieved May 3, 2023.
External links[edit | edit source]
- "Sojourner" at SPFC