Hopesfall: "Icarus"

One of the great mythological stories of the past is of Icarus, about the boy who flew to close to the sun and burned his wax wings eventually crashing into the ocean and drowning. The story, since it's inception, has brought about arguments about ambition, desire, and early death. In the song "Icarus" by former band Hopesfall, the lyrics suggest the same principles while at the same time presenting may Freudian ideas, including segments that can be attributed to the id, ego, and super-ego.

Early in the song are the lyrics, "Youth spent but still so young...if you could have her, where would you be tonight?" which tie into the idea of the Oedipus complex as well as the helpless state of the child. The first part of the line suggests that the early development years, which in the story of Icarus were used being trapped inside a maze with only his father, Daedalus, show that his helplessness was also tied into the fact that the child had no means of freedom, which in turn represent the causes for his journey towards the sun; it was as if Icarus was trying to fill a void in his life caused by the lack of youth as a child. The second part of the lyric invites the idea of "her", which could symbolize the mother of the child and in turn suggest as Oedipus complex further. The fact that the child "can have her" symbolizes possession of the "her" away from his father, which causes the super-ego, which is constantly analyzing and in pursuit of perfection, to allow Icarus to fly so high towards the sun without any regard for the ego (reality) which causes him to burn and drown.

One of the lines in the song showcases the true nature of Icarus and a perfect example of the super-ego. Despite being "put back in his place" the narrative of the song implies a desire for something more. The line, "eyes full of stars" not only describes Icarus' drive and desire to satisfy the super-ego, but also the id - his basic functions. Because the child had been trapped for so long and was without a mother, a proper upbringing, and constant attention his basic drives no longer exist. The only drive he showcases is a desire to go as high up as possible and escape the id, and all of reality. In the end, the song shows us that a desire for more without any regard for reality will ultimately cause one to die. But did Icarus die unhappy? I believe that when he came crashing back down to earth, noting could erase the smile on his face.


- Hopesfall Lyrics