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There's such a sad love deep in your eyes a kind of pale jewel open and close within your eyes I'll place the sky within your eyes |
� � � My favourite moment in the movie is the ball-scene, and my favourite song is As the world falls down but here's a question for you all, what does this mean *pale jewel* and what is the whole meaning of the song (I understand all the lyrics, but sometimes I don't understand the sense).
� � � Hmm, I sit here thinking about what exactly does this song mean. I think it's a song that states all the complexities of love. Most of the phrases evoke romantic imagery in the listener, even though, literally they may not make much sense.
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There's such a sad love deep in your eyes a kind of pale jewel open and close within your eyes I'll place the sky within your eyes |
� � � Sarah wants to love but perhaps doesn't know how or, more likely, who to love at her young age. The sadness in her eyes is her loneliness, a pale and cold jewel without a setting, like a diamond that has yet to be set into a ring. She is something not yet complete. Her loneliness, however, may not always be a burden to her. The fourth line suggests the feeling of loneliness may come and go from time to time. The final line is Jareth's offering to fill the emptiness inside her, by giving her the limitless possibilities which the sky represents. His use of direct address, as though he were talking directly to her, is significant, especially because at this point in the scene, he has not yet had direct contact with her. They are only looking at one another across the ball room until Jareth turns and departs.
� � � Sarah has perhaps lied to herself and has thereby fooled her heart into believing that she is not lonely and that she does not need Jareth or anyone else. Yet, she is excited by what he has offered her. She may realize that she has been missing something and that Jareth can provide her with what she desires. Her heart races as she is tempted by his offer. She is beginning to realize that she may be ready to enter a new stage of her life, to reach for new dreams. She is maturing. The moon is symbolic of emotions and is a very romantic image. It, too, becomes a part of Jareth's offer.
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As the pain sweeps through makes no sense for you every thrill has gone wasn't too much fun at all but I'll be there for you as the world falls down | 
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� � � As Sarah faces the pain from the loneliness she feels, Jareth will comfort her. The imagery in these lines could be a reflection of what Jareth has experienced, and they could also be a plea for Sarah to comfort him.
� � � Jareth again uses romantic imagery to woo Sarah. Gold is the essential element in the symbolism of the hidden or elusive treasure, according to A Dictionary of Symbols. Furthermore, in Christian mythology, gold is symbolic of the highest of virtues - love. It is a common notion that gold is the earth's most intimate and most sacred secret (The Element Encyclopedia of Symbols). Certainly, Sarah is such an elusive and sacred treasure.
� � � The valentine reference obviously echoes and reinforces the romantic imagery woven throughout this song. Mornings and evenings are opposites, as male and female are. A day, like a couple, is not complete if one principal is missing. Although Sarah and Jareth are adversaries, they may only be rivals due to their present circumstances. Once the dispute is resolved, they may begin to understand each other at a new level.
� � � It is at this point in the movie that they begin to dance with one another, on a path between the stars. Stars themselves represent spiritual light piercing through the darkness. The movement of the stars in regular paths symbolizes the harmonious cooperation of divine powers (Element Encyclopedia of Symbols). More simply, Sarah and Jareth's path together may lead them towards heaven and heavenly bliss, once their dispute is resolved.
� � � Jareth announces that he will lay his love between the stars, indicating that he is revealing his love for her to all the world - the masqued ball is in her honor. His love will no longer be a secret, as it was when the film opened, and Sarah claimed, "But what no one knew, was that the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl..."
� � � With the fourth line, we see a hint on screen that Jareth is finally singing to Sarah personally.
� � � It is only with these last two lines of the chorus that it has become clearly evident that Jareth has begun to serenade Sarah.
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falling...falling...falling falling in love
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� � � The scene in the film fades from the song to the sounds of the party and Sarah escaping from the ballroom bubble. The soundtrack, however, continues to play out the last of the song...
� � � Whether Jareth is pointing out to Sarah the unpredictability of love, or is reminding himself of the dangers of falling in love, remains unclear.
� � � The song repeats this line, perhaps as an omen to Jareth, whose world is about to crumble. He loses Sarah, and so it seems with the breakup of the Escher room, his kingdom. Sarah defeats him in the end and rejects him when he frankly confess his love and pleads for her to remain with him. He is clearly devastated.
� � � Is it a coincidence that the melody for "As the World Falls Down" is repeated in the instrumental song "Home At Last"? This melody strikes poignant chord in the scene in which Sir Didymus and Hoggle bid their farewells and say, "Should you need us..." Sarah's reply is, "I need you, all of you."
� � � And "all" includes, of course, the Goblin King.
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Go back to the previous analysis regarding a pagan interpretation of Labyrinth. �
Go on to the next analysis further examining "As the World Falls Down". �
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