Spektral Quartet & Julia Holter：Meaning of Midnight Bus Songmeaning

The song "Midnight Bus" by Spektral Quartet & Julia Holter narrates a nighttime journey taken by the protagonist, who leaves the bright lights of the city behind and ventures into the quiet darkness of the outer suburbs. It seems that the protagonist is on a mission to meet someone, as they describe arriving at a small white house where a threatening figure awaits them under a tree. As the night progresses, the protagonist realizes that they have stayed too late and need to catch the midnight bus. However, instead of a typical bus ride, they find themselves aboard a bus that stops at dying malls in the area. Throughout the journey, there are fifteen people on the bus, but no one gets on or off, creating a sense of mystery and detachment. The most intriguing aspect of the song comes when the protagonist looks at the other passengers on the bus. They notice that these individuals have faces that resemble aliens when seen out of the corner of their eye. This adds a surreal and otherworldly element to the story. Overall, the song "Midnight Bus" depicts a journey filled with unease, loneliness, and a sense of displacement. The abandonment of the city lights, the encounter with a threatening figure, the desolate bus ride, and the appearance of alien-like faces all contribute to the song's atmospheric and mysterious nature.