Pilgrimage
"Pilgrimage" is the ninth track on the Left disc of The Fragile. It is an instrumental track in a 3/4 time signature.
Contents
Interpretation
The song "Pilgrimage" presents a turn in the musical harmony of The Fragile. From the soft and melodic sounds of "Even Deeper" to the hardhitting riffs and lyrics of "No, You Don't" and the hollowness of "La Mer" and "The Great Below," "Pilgrimage" represents a battle, a turning of the tides. Whereas the album starts with the protagonist in the depths of a depression, whether it be emotional, physical, or both, leading up to this point the lyrical content and general mood of the songs is dark, reflective and introspective, leading into "Pilgrimage" representing his will to battle the fears and pains inside him, and continuing on through "No, You Don't." The mood then changes again from proactive to passive with the songs "La Mer" and "The Great Below," almost seeming to state that he tried to battle his demons, but then fell back into the pit he started in. On the Right side of The Fragile, this momentum repeats itself, starting with the pains of emptiness and then gradually building to self confidence, only to slump back to where he originally started with "Ripe."
Song Credits
- Additional Marching Percussion: Steve Duda
- Chanting: The Buddha Boys Choir
- Trumpet: Cherry Holly
Appearances
Versions
Pilgrimage
This is the only known version. Its abrasive guitar riff fades in from the end of "Even Deeper," joined at each repetition by new layers of mechanical synthesizers and percussion layers. These layers are soon subsumed by the main theme, played on synthesizers. After its repetition, the layers halt to simply a distorted guitar playing the same riff, which is then joined by drums, bass synth, and wordless vocal melodies. These layers soon crossfade with a return of the main melody, played this time on brass instruments accompanied by marching drums that fade in. Eventually, the horn and synth layers stop, leaving only the marching drums to repeat and stop suddenly, leading into the opening ambient pad of "No, You Don't." On the vinyl version, the song does not fade in at the start, rather beginning with the guitar riff and building at its natural mix volume.
Live
"Pilgrimage" has been used live an an introduction song on the Live: With Teeth Summer Amphitheater Tour and the Performance 2007 tour.
|