"Cenotaph" is the sixth track from Act III of the The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM. A cenotaph is an empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. As Billy Corgan said, he was attracted to the idea of a cenotaph for this song because as it fit the narrative in the sense Ruby the robot is a cenotaph to Shiny's past.[1]

"Cenotaph"
Song by The Smashing Pumpkins
Released2023-03-21
Length3:04
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Billy Corgan

SynopsisEdit

(performed by Ruby/Zero to Shiny)

After being taken from the celebration, Shiny and Ruby are sitting across from each other in an empty apartment. Shiny's Pure Personality speaks to Shiny through Ruby and tells him of the events that took place while he was in exile.[1]

LyricsEdit

if from one comes one and only one
how is it i tick here so woebegone
and though i cannot feel i note my sums
two ohms from null
and though but half of you and a mess of fuse
i've witnessed searing love and sought refuge
and as you've come because i grew not used
but ever-fast
just close those lids and rest assure
as vigilant and the your in your's in arms
i'm glad
not sad, no

should i hope to be the light you'd deny
could i scratch the paint
to where you must shine
with tears that we might crush
and you might hide
should i hope to be the light in your life

should i hope to be the pie in your sky
a la mode with all that's sweet and divine
a path to a path to isles we'd benight
should i hope to be the light you'd deny
could i scratch the paint to where you must shine
with tears that we might crush and you might hide

Availability

TitleNotesType
ATUMAct IIIStudio

ReferencesEdit

  1. 1.0 1.1 Corgan, Billy. "Cenotaph (with Diana Dagaz)". Thirty-Three (Podcast). Retrieved May 8, 2023.

External linksEdit