The song 'Bermuda' by Aesop Rock, featuring Lealani, juxtaposes the harsh realities and violence of life ('blood stains, ingrained, of pain') with the healing and restorative power of nature, particularly through an extensive assortment of floral and plant imagery. Aesop Rock navigates themes of peace, conflict, and personal growth, suggesting a transformative process where aggression is quelled by the beauty and persistence of nature, as symbolized by the resilient Bermuda grass.
The emotional journey in 'Bermuda' begins with a sense of asserting harmony over discord as symbolized by the 'king of world peace'. Through the artist’s elaborate botanical lexicon, the listener is transported to a world where flora overtakes traditional symbols of conflict. Aesop Rock paints a picture of an idyllic kingdom brimming with life, from 'orchidaceae to fungal spore release', symbolizing a preference for growth and creation over destruction.
As the narrative unfolds, we witness the character's struggle to find serenity amidst chaos ('I’m beat up, chewed up, drained'), and the commitment to responding to violence with the poignancy and gentleness of flowers. It’s a markedly empathetic response to personal and collective strife, suggesting the act of 'sending flowers' as a form of peace offering or perhaps condolence—an acknowledgment of the struggle while still choosing to cultivate beauty.
Aesop Rock's vivid imagery continues to capture the listener, as he describes an environment where the natural world subdues the artificial ('vegetation is, dare I say it, disarming'). The journey intensifies with the reshaping of menacing scenarios into ones where nature takes center stage, creating a mood where even 'Ares,' the god of war, is taken aback by the unexpected transformation.
Toward the song’s conclusion, the chorus by Lealani reiterates the emotional ambivalence of 'Bermuda': the pain of being 'slayed' contrasts starkly with the delicate promise to 'send you flowers.' It's an anthem for resilience, echoing nature’s perpetual cycle of growth after destruction. 'I had to grow, I had to grow', as repeated by Lealani, serves as a mantra for personal evolution and the inherent necessity of proceeding through life’s adversities.
"I throw flowers at Satan on site"
Aesop Rock conveys his defiance against malevolent forces by turning an aggressive act into one that involves flowers, illustrating his commitment to peace and the subversion of traditional displays of confrontation.
"I just hope before its target it talks to a few samaras"
Referencing the samaras, or winged seeds, the line highlights the idea that even a speeding bullet could be persuaded by the beauty of nature to abandon its destructive path.
"Dog, wait'll they take in the morning glories"
This line suggests that the enchanting allure of flowers like morning glories has the capacity to halt those intent on destruction, imploring them to reconsider their actions.
"But god damn that vegetation is, dare I say it, disarming"
Aesop Rock uses the term 'disarming' in a literal and figurative sense, proposing that the splendor of plant life has the power to disarm both weapons and aggression.