Fermata
A song about the luxury of being able to pause a movie and come back to it later. 'Andrew' is the android played by Robin Williams in 'Bicentennial Man'.
Summary
The song uses a repeated fermata structure to explore the luxury of pausing a movie, symbolizing the freedom and intimacy of delayed return. It builds tension with a narrative of waiting and the eventual return, emphasizing that the pause button is a small, sacred god. The song’s central claim is that the pause is not just a technical stop but a form of freedom, allowing for a new life and a new understanding of the story.
Lyrics
(mmm... hmm...)
[Verse 1]
Andrew's on the beach, he's drawing a house
He just bought his freedom, I paused him there
One hour, twenty-five minutes, thirty-two
I don't know when I'll press play again
Could be Tuesday
Could be March
[Chorus]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
The movie isn't going anywhere
No one is waiting on the other side of play
[Verse 2]
I have a shelf of paused men and women
Frozen mid-sentence, frozen mid-turn
A whole collection of almost-endings
Each one a door I left ajar
I'll be back, I told them
[spoken, aside] eventually
[Pre-Chorus]
[whispered]
You can only do this alone
You can only do this alone
[Chorus]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
The movie isn't going anywhere
No one is waiting on the other side of play
[Bridge]
[half time, cello enters]
Couples watch a film as one transaction
Start to credits, a single verdict
I watch mine in seasons
I watch mine in weather
Tonight my train of thought
has somewhere else to be
And the pause button is a small domestic god
A household deity
for one
[Verse 3]
[tempo returns, brushed drums back]
Goodnight Andrew
I'll come back for you
Maybe when it rains
Maybe when I'm braver
Maybe never
And that's also allowed
That's the whole point
[Final Chorus]
[harmony enters]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
Freedom scored in pauses
Freedom scored in pauses
[Outro]
[sparse guitar only, pad fades]
One hour
Twenty-five
Thirty-two
[Fade Out]
Detail
Fermata Synopsis is a song that centers on the experience of pausing a movie, particularly one that has been paused by an android, Andrew, played by Robin Williams in Bicentennial Man. The lyrics are structured around a repetitive and meditative form, emphasizing the psychological and existential weight of being able to pause a narrative and return to it later. The song begins with a simple, almost inaudible phrase—“(mmm... hmm—)”—which sets a tone of internal, unspoken thought and the subtle, almost imperceptible rhythm of a moment that is being held. This moment of hesitation is not just physical but philosophical, as the song suggests that the pause is not just a technical action but a choice to reflect on the nature of time, memory, and identity.
The repetition of the word “fermata” in the chorus and bridge is central to the song’s thematic structure. The term “fermata” refers to a pause in a musical score, but here it is used metaphorically to suggest the suspension of a narrative, a moment that is not resolved but held in anticipation. This is not a pause in the movie, but a pause in the narrative of the story, and the song uses this pause as a way to explore the idea of identity and consciousness. The fact that the android, Andrew, is the one who has paused the movie, and that the narrator is the one who is returning to the pause, suggests a kind of internalized experience of being present in a moment that is not yet over. The repetition of the phrase “This is fermata” in the chorus and bridge creates a sense of ritual, as if the pause is a sacred moment, a moment that is not just about the movie but about the self.
The song's structure is built around the idea of the pause as a space where the narrative can be rethought and reinterpreted. The progression from the first verse to the final chorus is marked by a shift in tempo and mood, from the initial, almost dreamlike state of the pause to the more intense, almost meditative rhythm of the final chorus. The use of the word “I” in the second verse, “I'll be back, I told them,” is particularly significant. It suggests that the pause is not just a moment of reflection but a moment of responsibility, as if the narrator is the one who has the power to return to the pause and to the story. This is not just a pause in time, but a pause in the story, a moment when the narrative is not yet complete but is being redefined.
The song is deeply connected to broader themes of identity, consciousness, and the relationship between technology and human experience. The android, Andrew, is not just a machine but a being with a history, a story that is being paused and rethought. The fact that the narrator is the one who has paused the movie and is the one who is returning to it suggests that the pause is not just a moment of reflection but a moment of self-definition. The song’s use of the word “freedom” in the final chorus—“Freedom scored in pauses”—is particularly significant. It suggests that the pause is not just a moment of rest but a moment of liberation, a moment when the narrative is not just about the story but about the freedom to pause and to reframe the story. This is a freedom that is not just about the movie but about the self, the narrator, and the experience of being present in a moment that is not yet over. The song’s final, sparse guitar notes fade out with the numbers “One hour, twenty-five, thirty-two,” a final echo of the pause, a moment that is not over but is being redefined.
Cross-references
- Song of the Day (album)