#bluebera

Now, a big part of this song is the fact that it’s sung from Mario’s perspective. I’ve seen some speculations that it’s from Bowser’s perspective, but the circumstances (and the lyrics themselves) don’t really support that.

Remember that this song is heard during a time in which Bowser is being possessed by Mario. He is not conscious during this entire segment, so it makes far more sense that Mario is the one whose thoughts we are peeking into. And, it also makes sense that it would be Mario’s thoughts on Bowser since he’s the one being possessed at the moment.

Okay, I just had to get that out of the way first hfjshdj now let’s get into it!!

“Smash through the blocks that bar your way; No time for fear just let it all fall away (all fall away)”

Right off the bat, these lyrics are incredibly straightforward. We are literally smashing through blocks as we try to escape the Moon’s core, so this is more like a “you can do it” kinda thing. Just something to cheer Bowser on. (Even though Mario is the one controlling Bowser’s body to break through the rocks, it’s still Bowser’s body that’s doing it.) This could also be taken metaphorically, such as breaking through insecurities and all that. That interpretation also works with the next lyric coming up.

“Nobody believes in me and you, just look at the way they stare”

(I have to split this lyric in half cause both parts are very significant on their own)

This is the lyric that immediately caught my attention at first and made me realize the song was about Bowser. If this song was meant to be romantic (or really positive at all in any way), you would think it would be about Peach right? But why would it say “nobody believes in me and you”? Pretty much everyone believes in Mario and Peach and thinks they’re a couple. No one would stare at them weird if they were together in public.

You could argue it’s a stretch to say that just because it’s not about Peach it MUST be about Bowser, but again, I have to point to the circumstance here. Mario is literally possessing Bowser as this song is playing. It makes perfect sense that this song (from Mario’s perspective) is about Bowser. If it was anyone else, I’d say it was about them. It’s the fact that Bowser is the one Mario is with while this song plays that makes it clear to me that he’s the one it’s about.

“So what if we live in a walled garden, as long as I've got you then I don't care”

Now this line is interesting to me. “Walled garden” felt like such a specific thing to say that I looked it up back when I first heard this song to see if it meant anything. And it does!

A walled garden is a term in technology where basically a tech company makes it so that their consumers can only use their products. They control (and limit) whatever they want that their consumers use. Makes sense. Like how a literal walled garden is a controlled area for plants.

Thus, this line is the part in which Mario says that even if their lives are repetitive, it doesn’t matter to him as long as he can do it with Bowser. Yeah, their game of cat-and-mouse seems never-ending (almost as if they were nothing but characters in a simulation for the amusement of some higher beings…), but as long as he can count on Bowser being a part of it with him, he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Kick off the wall and take the plunge; Tripping through two dimensions”

This is another straightforward lyric. It refers to the 2d segment of the escape phase. Nothing special to note about it.

“Up on the moon we'll twirl and swoon; Just lead the way (and I’ll follow you)”

This lyric is incredibly important and probably the second biggest indicator that the song is from Mario’s perspective (other than the one coming up next). “Just lead the way and I’ll follow you.” This could only be about Bowser. Bowser is the one Mario follows. Whether it’s to his castle, around the world, or even to the center of the universe, Mario will follow Bowser anywhere and through anything. One could argue Mario is following Peach, but she isn’t leading the way. Bowser is taking her against her will. For Mario to say lead the way, he could only be saying that to Bowser.

This is the core of their relationship. Mario will literally follow him anywhere. I mean, it’s the title of the song for a reason.

“I'll throw my hat in the ring, 'cause you're the one; A miracle in three dimensions; Follow the brick path straight to my heart; And we'll grab the flag together the fireworks are gonna start”

I’m combining these two lyrics together cause they both serve the same purpose: to show that this is from Mario’s perspective. If I didn’t convince you of it before, this very well should. If “I’ll throw my hat” isn’t obvious enough, then the second half of this lyric literally describes the ending of a basic level in the linear games. It can’t get more straightforward than that; this song is 100% from Mario’s perspective.

[I feel like it’s worth mentioning that perhaps this instrumental segment here before the second half of the song starts represents a brief inclusion of Bowser’s subconscious mind (being that it’s a remix of his main theme from Super Mario 64)?]

“Shake off the chains, you're running free; You'll be amazed at all that there is to see (there is to see)”

This lyric has always been difficult for me to interpret. Over the years I’ve come up with different ideas for what it might mean, but none of them sit right with me. As of right now, my current idea is that it represents something sorta meta/4th wall break-y?? In that Odyssey having been released on Switch started a new era of Mario games with improvements and new ideas for the series as a whole??

Yeahhhhh I have no idea what this lyric means hfjshdjsj. One could argue it perhaps has to do with all there is to see in the world with Odyssey being a globe-trotting adventure, but like,, they’ve been to space,, jdhjdjsf nothing really tops that,,

“Together we're racing for the goal, and no one can stop us now; Maybe we don't know where we're going, but we're gonna get there somehow”

I believe this is another “the future may be uncertain but I’m content as long as I have you” lyric. And also perhaps a bit of “others may not understand us, but that doesn’t matter so long as we’ve got each other” mixed in there as well.

“Climb up the vine and land in the clouds; Maybe then we'll swap up for down”

Now, perhaps this is another straightforward lyric simply describing vines and bonus areas, but if you’ll allow me to go just a liiiiittle bit more insane here jdjsjdjsj I’d postulate that it could be metaphorical for Mario wondering if a more upside down or backwards world would be more accepting of him and Bowser being together,, Like, perhaps he wishes he could climb a vine and find a bonus area where people would accept them,,

“'cross the sea we're still you and me; I'll follow you (just lead the way)”

Again, another reference to the song’s title. Following and leading are pretty big elements throughout this song. And yet again, Mario and Bowser are the only ones who really fit those roles.

“You've got me over the moon, and that's no jest; We're miles above the rest”

This is yet another straightforward lyric, but also a lil pun! “Over the moon” is a saying for being extremely happy, and then of course they are literally on the Moon. Not really much to say here, just that hehe puns :)

“Look in your eyes and I know we'll be fine; So let's shoot for the stars and make this love really shine”

Okay, I reeeeeally have nothing to say here… unless you’ll let me go a biiiiiit more insane again hfjshdj

Now even I know this is a stretch, but like,, in both battles against Bowser in this game, there’s this little close up on his eyes right before the fight actually starts,, Now I’m not saying that means anything but like,, it could?? Jdhfjsh

(Nah, more than likely this is just a cutesy lyric to tie up the second section of the song with, but I’m already going insane with my hyper-analysis of this song anyway I may as well go all the way off the deep end right hfjshdj)