Fractals features: Bruce Hornsby (piano, violin, percussion. vocals); J.V. Collier (bass); Blake Mills (bass); Chad Wright (drums).
Per Bruce’s Facebook bio: Bruce compares a relationship with that “rough and fragmented geometrical shape,” as he puts it, “that can be subdivided into parts.”
Fractals meaning
Bruce Hornsby’s song Fractals uses the concept of fractals as a metaphor for a complex, multifaceted relationship. Fractals are intricate geometric shapes that can be subdivided into smaller parts, each of which is a reduced-scale copy of the whole. This recursive nature of fractals mirrors the way a relationship can have both unity and division, with each part of it reflecting the larger, overall pattern. The song reflects the ups and downs, irregularities, and beauty that arise within a relationship over time.
Fractals as a metaphor for love
Bruce compares love to a fractal because of its unpredictable and complex nature. A fractal is both intricate and chaotic, but it also contains an underlying order and beauty. In the song, this idea is applied to relationships, where the participants are not always perfect or harmonious, yet their connection forms a greater, more complex whole.
The line “Our love is a fractal, curves and shapes irregular” directly compares the nature of their relationship to a fractal’s uneven but beautiful pattern. This suggests that although the relationship may have rough edges and irregular moments, it is still beautiful and full of meaning. Bruce is expressing the idea that love does not need to follow a straight, predictable path; it can be chaotic and still valuable.
Symmetry and reflection
In the opening lines, Bruce sings:
“Pour you and me onto paper
Fold us together and press tight
Open it up to reveal and display
A pattern of symmetry and light”
This imagery evokes the idea of folding paper, similar to the way symmetrical patterns form in fractals or through techniques like origami. The concept of symmetry here might represent how, despite the irregularity and differences between partners, there is a sense of balance and harmony when they come together. The phrase *“a pattern of symmetry and light”* suggests that, at the core of their relationship, there is something ordered and illuminating, even if it is surrounded by complexity.
Snowflakes and ice crystals
The line “You are often a beautiful snowflake, I can be an ice crystal” contrasts the two partners’ personalities. Snowflakes are often used as metaphors for uniqueness and beauty, while ice crystals can be sharp, cold, and more rigid. This reflects how each partner in the relationship can have different qualities—one soft and intricate, the other harsh and angular. Yet, just like in nature, both forms are connected and can coexist within the larger fractal pattern.
The snowflake and ice crystal metaphor reinforces the theme that love contains both beauty and jagged edges. The differences between the two partners may create challenges, but they are still part of the same overall pattern, contributing to the complexity of the relationship.
Kaleidoscopic landscapes and reflection
Bruce continues this theme with the lines:
“You reside in kaleidoscopic landscapes
Surely, purely a wonder
I’ve got multiple reflections
Like those found in nature”
The kaleidoscope imagery suggests a constantly shifting, colourful, and intricate world, much like the dynamic nature of a relationship. A kaleidoscope is full of patterns that change with each turn, symbolising the ever-evolving nature of the emotional landscape. The phrase “multiple reflections” could refer to the ways that both partners reflect on each other and on their own roles in the relationship, much like a fractal reflects itself at multiple scales.
Bruce’s use of nature-based imagery here reinforces the fractal metaphor, as fractals are often found in natural phenomena, such as trees, rivers, and coastlines. The line “Like those found in nature” ties the complexities of the relationship to the inherent patterns found in the natural world, suggesting that these difficulties and wonders are a normal part of life.
Fractals going on forever
The final line of the chorus, “And fractals go on forever”, speaks to the enduring nature of the relationship, despite its imperfections. Fractals are mathematically infinite; they repeat their patterns endlessly, no matter how closely you examine them. In this way, Bruce suggests that their love is eternal, continuing to evolve and reveal new aspects of itself over time.
This could also be interpreted as a statement about the timelessness of love itself. Even though relationships may have ups and downs, they contain an enduring quality, just as fractals never cease to exist within their intricate designs.
In Fractals, Bruce uses the metaphor of fractals to explore the complexity of relationships. The song suggests that love, like a fractal, is filled with irregularities, unexpected turns, and multifaceted reflections. However, these irregularities are part of what makes the relationship meaningful and enduring. By referencing fractals, snowflakes, and kaleidoscopic landscapes, Bruce portrays love as a dynamic, ever-changing entity that is both chaotic and beautiful.