Released: 2012
“Genesis” by Grimes is an exploration of the unseen facets and stages of love. The lyrics portray an oscillating dance between unknowingness and revelation, marked by the tumble from ignorance to wisdom and back again. It harbors an intricate discourse on the labyrinth that is the human heart, unperturbed by its paradoxes and complexities.
The constant repetition of “I never be, I never see, I never know” is indicative of an ongoing struggle – an internal wrestling with the unfamiliarity of one’s emotions. It’s as if our songstress, Grimes herself, is describing a state of unenlightenment – a perspective that hasn’t yet grasped the gravity and magnitude of her feelings. This phraseology is indicative of an emotional naiveté.
Cue the next line. “Oh, heart, and then it falls, and then I fall, and then I know”. It’s a melancholic serenade to the heart’s fallibility, and a reflection on how emotional vulnerability can birth knowledge. The “fall” could imply the unforeseen, and often cataclysmic, descent into love or heartbreak. Following the fall, the “knowing” phase signals an understanding, sapience birthed from experience – a classic ride-or-die scenario in the rawest depths of love.
Then there’s this curious phrase, “Playing the deck above”, which to me, is a nod to the element of chance inherent in relationships. You’re essentially playing with the hand you’re dealt, navigating the high-stakes poker game of love, which is “always different”. It’s a gentle, yet pointed, assertion of love’s unpredictability and the role of fortune in determining its course.
And let’s not forget the repetitive refrain, “I’m the one in love”. This line is the banner that underpins the song, a self-affirmation and a public declaration of being enamoured. It’s as if despite the uncertainty, the wild card that love is, there’s one thing Grimes is absolutely certain of – that she’s the one who’s fallen, that she’s the one in love.
In conclusion, “Genesis” is a melodic journey – an aural interrogation into the dialectic nature of love and knowledge. The lyrical progression is suggestive of emotional growth, a journey that begins in the dark but proceeds towards a gradual understanding of the self and the enigmatic intricacies of love.
