Bound by Gravity

"Bound by Gravity" is a song by British progressive metal band Haken. It is the ninth song and closing track from the band's 2016 album Affinity.

Basis

NOTE: Some of the following may fall into the realm of fan speculation. The band has left much of the song's meaning unclear.

"Bound by Gravity" is the closing track of the album and the conclusion of the Affinity storyline. The song follows a now extinct humanity being reborn as collective energy following the Earth being swallowed by a rapidly expanding sun. Despite the story's rather bleak ending, the song takes a more uplifting tone, describing humanity coming together and embracing its new place in the Universe.

With humanity dead, all that is left is the Affinity satellite drifting off into space while broadcasting its message out into an empty galaxy.

Production

Little is known about the production of "Bound by Gravity."

Lyrics

"Bound by Gravity" lyrics [Click here]
Bless us with the gift of a morning
That lightens the day
Infecting us with hope
Like a flower that rose from the grave
There will be a shift in perspective
But nothing can change
Until the floodgates and the doors of perception
Have swung open wide

The stars align
Vermilion dawn
Gravity's bind
Embraces all

An ethereal force keeps the beat in all our hearts
And our feet on the ground
(Is this the life our days and nights will be undone?)

Here we are collating our thoughts
In a gathering of clouds
(If this is life will space and time bleed into one?)
If we dictate the cause and face no consequences
Would our worlds still intertwine?
(If this is love hearts beat as one and never stop)
Stop the clocks before they grow impatient
And conscious of time

In a dying sun
All will be undone
So our time has come
We are reborn as one

The stars align
Vermilion dawn
Gravity's bind
Embraces all

When the stars align
Within your bind
Our worlds will intertwine
All is love
Our souls collide
A swarm of minds reborn
Then we find euphoria

The storm subsides
Your will is done
A swarm of minds
Reborn as one

Personnel

Haken
  • Ross Jennings - vocals
  • Richard Henshall - guitars
  • Charlie Griffiths - guitars
  • Diego Tejeida - keyboards, sound design
  • Conner Green - bass
  • Raymond Hearne - drums
Additional Personnel
  • Pete Rinaldi - acoustic guitar

Trivia

  • The final section of "Bound by Gravity" reprises the rhythm from the chorus of "Initiate".
  • The final minute of the song reprises the morse code and electronic noises found in "Affinity.exe", making the album loop. This likely alludes to the motif of humanity being 'reborn'.
  • Despite being a fan-favourite song, "Bound by Gravity" was the only song on Affinity to not be performed live during the AffiniTour. The only live performances of the song were during two shows played in the United States in March of 2020 where Affinity was performed in full.
"Bound by Gravity"

"Bound by Gravity" Promotional Art
Song by Haken
Album Affinity
Genre Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock
Length 9:29
Live Plays 2 (#52)
Affinity
"The Endless Knot" << "Bound by Gravity"

"In a dying sun, all will be undone. So our time has come, we are reborn as one"

Bound by Gravity, from Affinity