What is the meaning behind “Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- by imrk
- March 25, 2023
To be “caught in a landslide” is to be trapped within the settled rubble proceeding the natural disaster. Explicitly, landslides are great displacements of mass (e.g. soil, rock) on a mountain/cliff; thus representing burdensome and overwhelming experiences in the persona’s life. In being trapped, the persona is powerless and cannot change his situation. However, despite not being able to move (cannot “escape”), he can still look-up and appreciate the “skies”. This is not only representative of his passivity, whereby he is inclined to observe instead of influence (further strengthened by “easy come, easy go” ) but also regards the ways in which he copes in moments of adversity. “Look[ing] up to the skies” could refer to an innate appreciation of beauty and/or gratitude, a connection with nature, spiritual influence etc. that moderately alleviates his suffering. Via such mechanisms, he suggests that one can “open” their “eyes”; representing attainment of significant insight and perspective. Interestingly, the persona’s admiration of nature despite it also being the compromising force is a further nod to the persona’s outlook. Despite nature’s monstrous capabilities he prefers to appreciate the beauty within it.