| Ben Howard – Rookery Lyrics | 4 years ago |
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ly,My interpretation of this song is a commentary of a self-reflection of human's estranged place in what we humans have termed and socially constructed, 'nature'. It seems that the subject of the song, possibly Ben as he uses first person, goes through this journey of trying to identify their relationship to nature, consciously or subconsciously. The first few lines, the subject suggests that the birch tree is sentient only to be shot down by someone else: Birch tree lost its branch one day in violent winter I said, "It was grieving," you said, "It don't feel nothing" The the subject seems to reflect on the perniciousness of this (anthropocentric) myth / world order that plants and animals can't feel: 'I bet you think everything's in its rightful place That sentiment is man's disgrace' In the second verse, my opinion is that a shift occurs and that the subject of the song moves away from their earlier perspective on sentience in non humans and becomes convinced to shoot at the rooks (presumably in the birch tree). In the third verse, the subject is actively shooting at the rookery, but seems to have some level of awareness/internal conflict - acknowledging the age of the rookery (100 years) and the futility of the act. In the final verse, the subject seems to go back to their civilized/comfortable/ignorant ways - "So I'll go back to working through the gentle hours of the evening. Where the weather and the wine and the company treat me easily." Then, profoundly, the subject hints at how close they were to tapping into an essential truth about the natural world and humans' connection to it, in this case referencing the 'wind' as the deeper truth: Unknowing am I of the wind that took my eye Unknowing am I of the wind. Anyway, that's my take. Another beautiful provoking sony by Ben. |
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| Ben Howard – Nica Libres at Dusk Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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So can we all say it again - another incredible, poetic, and perhaps esoteric song from Ben. So good. My general interpretation of this song, is that Ben is commenting on the inaction of society as problems ravage the world, and the desire to escape and self indulge. The protagonists of his song seem to be a couple in declining health (“my health receding”) and perhaps mental state and seemingly isolated and wanting to escape (“Door is locked”, “reading the evacauation procedures”, “dreaming of Caribbean”. Then comes in what my opinion is the real power of the song in the chorus. “While the faithful dispose of a generation And all of the mountains mumble/whisper knowingly” This is a beautiful line which to me is saying that the people we put faith in (politicians, role models, celebrities) are harming the world for the next generation and the mountains (aka the wise natural world) is unsurprised knowing humanity’s mistake-ridden track record over the years. Further, the protagonist is passive (“I order a colata, sit and count my dollars”). Then Ben ends the chorus with an evocative “Perpetually” which to me means that this apathy and inaction is ongoing. Such a cool song. |
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