| This article is about the song. To see alternate articles, check out the album. |
Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land is a single by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA'. Appearing on her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land, it is the 1st track on the album, and 3rd single off the album.
The song was written alone, and co-produced by Marina, with James Flannigan credited as the main producer.
Background[]
On April 14, 2021, the song was first mentioned with the reveal of the tracklist.[1]
On May 1, the music video was teased with a lyric snippet on Marina's Instagram.[2] On the 11th, Marina posted a snippet from the song.[3] This snippet has different instrumental production of verse 2 from the final song, which means it was either a demo or the remix. The day after, Marina officially announced the release of the single and revealed its artwork.[4] Then on the 17th, Marina posted a video snippet from the song along with other lyrics.[5]
Upon its release, Marina held a livestream Q&A on her YouTube channel,[6] during which she announced a livestream concert to accompany the album release.
On June 12, during the afterparty of Ancient Dreams: Live from the Desert, Marina shared a snippet of the song's songwriting demo.[7][8]
On January 7, 2022, the "songwriting" demo played during the afterparty was released on the deluxe edition of the album.
Trivia[]
- This is the only song on the album to be in 12/8 time signature.
- This was probably the fourth track written for the album.[9]
Artwork[]
 Credits
Photographer
COUGHS
Designer
Unknown
|
Photoshoot _3-001.jpg "COUGHS (31 Mar 2021) 3-001.jpg (7.56 MB)") _3-001_(edited).png "COUGHS (31 Mar 2021) 3-001 (edited).png (4.42 MB)") Alt. edit, LQ Media _artwork.jpg "Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (song) artwork.jpg (868 KB)") Single artwork  Cover text  Cover logo |
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land | |
| Premiere | 19 May 2021 | |
| Length | 3:23 | |
| Filmed | 31 Mar 2021 | |
| Director | Brendan Walter | |
| Producer | Brendan Walter | |
Background
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Single/Album [Inst.]
|
Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land | Single: 19 May 2021 | 3:26 |
| ▶ | Video version (With some alternate percussion) | Music video | 19 May 2021 | 3:23 |
| Demos | ||||
| ▶ | Demo | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (Deluxe) | 07 Jan 2022 | 3:21 |
| Songwriting Demo (Snippet) | N/A - Live from the Desert Afterparty | 12 Jun 2021 | 0:35 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Our ancestors had to fight to survive
Just so we could have a chance of a life
We're not here so we can blow it all
We could bear witness to the rise and the fall
[Refrain]
Ancient dreams in a modern land
I'm trying to get back as fast I can
Back to a time before I had form
Back to a time before I was born
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I live in the space between the stars and the sky
[Verse 2]
What's your purpose? Why were you put on Earth?
You could be lost but you belong to the world
We're now living in a seminal age
The walls are being broken and we're ready for change
[Refrain]
Ancient dreams in a modern land
I'm trying to get back as fast I can
Back to a time before I had form
Back to a time before I was born
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I live in the space between the stars and the sky
[Bridge]
From the heart of Malaysia
To the dark Himalayas
From the day you were born
You are not here to conform
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I live in the space between the stars and the sky
[Verse 1]
Our ancestors had to fight to survive
Just so we could have a chance of a life
We're not here so we can blow it all
We could bear witness to the rise and the fall
[Refrain]
Ancient dreams in a modern land
I'm trying to get back as fast I can
Back to a time before I had form
Back to a time before I was born
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I live in the space between the stars and the sky
[Verse 2]
What's your purpose? Why were you put on Earth?
You could be lost but you belong to the world
We're now living in a seminal age
The walls are being broken and we're ready for change
[Refrain]
Ancient dreams in a modern land
I'm trying to get back as fast I can
Back to a time before I had form
Back to a time before I was born
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I live in the space between the stars and the sky
[Bridge]
From the heart of Malaysia
To the dark Himalayas
From the day you were born
You are not here to conform
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to be like everybody else
You don't have to fit into the norm
You are not here to conform
I am here to take a look inside myself
Recognise that I could be the eye
The eye of the storm
[Chorus]
I am not my body, not my mind or my brain (Ha!)
Not my thoughts or feelings, I am not my DNA
I am the observer, I'm a witness of life (Hey!)
I am made of God, I'm Holy Christ, I'm alive
Lyrical difference[]
- On the demo version, the last line of the chorus on the last chorus is replaced with "I am made of God, I'm Holy Christ, I'm alive". The final single/album version does not have this line.
- In the songwriting demo, the third line in the pre-chorus is replaced with "I'm not here to conform" instead of "You are not here to conform".
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis - Vocals, backing vocals
- Alex Reeves - Drums
Technical[]
- Written by Marina Diamandis
- Produced by Marina Diamandis and James Flannigan
- Mixed by John O'Mahony
- Drums – Alex Reeves
- Engineer [Drums] Marco Pasquariello
- Instruments, Programmed By James Flannigan
- Mastered By – Greg Calbi
- Published By – Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CNpuul6jjx6/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/COV5cGKHkdC/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/COvrRjqDtQe/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/COyQiLqDPz7/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1394348041855901700
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni6BoQNejE8
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/574970
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/474f91
- ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/post/1572338901
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photography • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land |
| Tracklist | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • Venus Fly Trap • Man's World • Purge The Poison • Highly Emotional People • New America • Pandora's Box • I Love You But I Love Me More • Flowers • Goodbye • Happy Loner • Pink Convertible • Free Woman |
| Non-Album | |
| Unleaked | Cause I'm A Woman • Not Over You • The Painter |
| Misc | Stay All Night • Sway With Me |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |