The lyrics of Hippo Campus's song Close to Gold are abstract and open to interpretation, but they touch on themes such as religion, violence, and the search for meaning in life. The song begins with references to biblical figures and imagery, with the "prophet spit fire" evoking the power of religious zeal and the possibility of miracles ("walking on water"). The narrator suggests that if Jesus had brothers like the people he knows, they too would possess this power. The second half of the song describes violent acts ("I kill a man, with fists, so he knew me well") but also suggests a redemptive quality to them. The line "You baptized my grief with a kiss of grace" suggests that the violence is a form of release or purging, and that even though there is pain, there is also a sense of cleansing and renewal. Throughout the song, there is a sense of seeking and questioning - the repeated refrain of "It's like home" suggests a desire for a sense of belonging and understanding, while the references to gold and poetry suggest a search for something deeper or more profound. Overall, Close to Gold is a complex and poetic exploration of the human experience, with a mixture of light and dark themes and imagery that leaves the interpretation up to the listener.
