The opening track on Mastodon’s Emperor of Sand concept album.
The protagonist is given a curse by the sultan, who he later discovers to be the grim reaper. The song describes the effects the desert has on him as he suffers from heat exhaustion and begins to hallucinate.
The song won a Grammy Awar...
[Verse 1: Troy Sanders]
Tired and lost
No one to trust
Who is there to give the push?
All I have learned
Straighten the curve
Like a circle to return
[Chorus 1: Brent Hinds]
The long embrace
The smell of dirt and roses
Under the sun
No sign of bread or water
I fall asleep under blankets of stars
[Verse 2: Troy Sanders]
Ice hit you cold
Heat of surprise
Bending mind can't realize
Faith is in me
End I can see
Tears are strong as ten thousand tongues
[Chorus 2: Brent Hinds]
My sweet mirage
I bathe in sacred waters
I kiss the Sky
Floating in Sultans' daughters
Memories of loved ones are passing me by
Memories of loved ones are passing me by
[Pre-Bridge: Brann Dailor]
Oceans of sand and rust
Give way and yield my wake
Oceans of sand and rust
Give way and yield my wake
[Bridge: Brann Dailor]
They're waiting inside
They're waiting to wash your eyes out
Their hands are alive
Alive with a fervent anger
Your feet have been tied and your tongue in your hand
Death of a thousand ravens
You're down on your knees
You're blind as the Ancient Kingdom
[Guitar Solo]
[Outro: Troy Sanders]
Relive the ages of the moon
Reeling the water close to you
Sultan’s Curse was written by Brent Hinds & Brann Dailor & Bill Kelliher & Troy Sanders.
Sultan’s Curse was produced by Brendan O’Brien.
Mastodon released Sultan’s Curse on Thu Jan 26 2017.
It’s about going through cancer, going through chemotherapy and all the things associated with that. I didn’t want to be literal about it. But it’s all in there. You can read between the lines.“ – Brann Dailor, Mastodon’s drummer.