Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Swans
Swans
Swans sing songs
All night long
Who knew how warm the islands were
While the frogs look on
It's what the birds prefer
And it's still warm after the sun has gone
I woke up thirsty the day I died
And the tide was swirling
My mouth is so dry
And all I see is sea to shining seas
Swans
Swans
Swans sing songs
All night long
Who knew how warm the islands would be
And who knew just how much
The sky covers me
It makes you forget what it means to be free
I climbed into the blowhole
In the ribs, I found you
With a wick we lit a flame
Now look at the smoke that it blew
The mouth is so wide
Yet all I see is sea
And azure sky
A little wave and ebb tide
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Swans
Swans
Swans sung songs
'Til the morning dawned on us
And the sun-smudged peach moon still hung loose
Bones
Bones
Bones
Groan
The sparrows in the trees we leave them for
They love the marrow
I'm thankful for my life
I'm thankful for my life
Swans
Swans sing songs
All night long
Who knew how warm the islands were
While the frogs look on
It's what the birds prefer
And it's still warm after the sun has gone
I woke up thirsty the day I died
And the tide was swirling
My mouth is so dry
And all I see is sea to shining seas
Swans
Swans
Swans sing songs
All night long
Who knew how warm the islands would be
And who knew just how much
The sky covers me
It makes you forget what it means to be free
I climbed into the blowhole
In the ribs, I found you
With a wick we lit a flame
Now look at the smoke that it blew
The mouth is so wide
Yet all I see is sea
And azure sky
A little wave and ebb tide
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Rivers leak
Salt seeps in
Heals wounds
Winds pry apart
Swans
Swans
Swans sung songs
'Til the morning dawned on us
And the sun-smudged peach moon still hung loose
Bones
Bones
Bones
Groan
The sparrows in the trees we leave them for
They love the marrow
I'm thankful for my life
I'm thankful for my life
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Ok my theory on Swans / the album as a whole:
Swans is the overture. A person (nick) wakes up on an island the day he was supposed to die (see: who will cut our hair when we're gone?) It covers all the action of the album (waking up, going into a whale, cannibalism etc..)
Humans: they're running out of food, resort to cannibalism
don't call me whitney, bobby: after the cannibalism, he's regretful and talks to the skeleton as his only friend on the tropical island
Rough Gem: doesn't really fit in except the "who lives in those lights.." verse. That verse can be thought of as "wow look there are lights.. we should go there because it's people"
Tsuxiit: traveling music
Where there's...: Get into a whale.. hanging out in a whale.. traveling in a whale.. fun times
Jogging Gorgeous Summer: Having met people inside the whale and eaten a few, the hero falls in love.
Volcanoes: Their island is a volcano. Lots of people die because they think they angered the gods. Alaska melts.
If: getting tired of the person that the hero is with, he threatens that if they're not sweet to him, he'll "salt you to make you savory", implying he'd eat them, too
Ones: depressed about the whole thing, the hero retreats into his mind.
please note that half of this is sarcastic, the other half i believe.
Awesome!
@yanquiUXO Awesome username just fyi and also I believe you're right about a lot but I think the fictional Island just represents Earth, which makes it an even more real place to think about through the album.
this song is just fantastic. it's amazing that they open their album with a nine-and-a-half minute track.
interesting thoughts! I don't really have any ideas as to what it could mean, but goodness gracious is this song amazing. I love it. and I can't wait to see them on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Well, there seem to be several Unicorns references in here.. I'm sure Islands are tired of hearing about the Unicorns, but regardless:
The intro- the guitar here is in a Unicorns song, "Thunder and Lightning" "I woke up thirsty the day I died"- Similar to a line in "Ready to Die" "sun-smudged peach moon"- line from "Peach Moon"
So, similar to what yanquiUXO said, WWCOHWWG had a lot of death themes, and Nick, as a Unicorn was supposed to die... but he didn't, and now he's moving on..? I guess someone who knows more about Islands and the Unicorns would be able to go further with this/prove me completely wrong.
Corrections from liner notes:
a. and all i see is sea two shining seas*
b. and who knew how much the sky'd cover me?
c. bones bones bones grown homes with the sparrows in the trees we leave them for they love the marrow
I knew I recognized that guitar sound from a Unicorns song. The first time I heard it was live and I thought for a minute that they were playing a Unicorns song. Thank you for pointing that out soupcans.
I think this is my favorite song on the album. I think of it as being about dieing and waking up in a strange, surreal afterlife. I love the part about climbing into a whale and lighting a fire while looking out of it's mouth.
i love it when he tthey sing this line "And the sun-smudged peach moon still hung loose"
unicorns all over!
It's a well known myth that swans don't sing until the day they die, at which point they sing a beautiful song.
The silver Swan, who living had no Note, when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat. Leaning her breast upon the reedy shore, thus sang her first and last, and sang no more: "Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes! "More Geese than Swans now live, more Fools than Wise." -Orlando Gibbons
Just thought I'd point that out.
This song is just a group of unicorns refrences
I woke up thirsty the day I died And the tide was swirling My mouth is so dry And all I see is sea Two shining seas
Ready to die
The mouth is so wide Yet all I see is sea And azure sky A little wave and ebb tide
Ebb Tide, Azure Sky
Swans Swans Swans sung songs Till the morning dawned on us And the sun-smudged peach moon still hung loose
Peach moon.
And I am sure there are many others that aren't as obvious.