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Auburn and Ivory Lyrics
Once when I saw her there
White light she stood so still
Warming her eyes to the sea
Hardly her way to be free
Auburn and ivory
Heartbreak and ponytails
Holding her bones by a fire
Writing the letter she sails
White page turns gold the lights
Wanting her one sacrifice
Auburn and ivory
Heartbreak and ponytails
Come to me
And I'll tell you what's wrong
She said, "I'll wait for you,
I'll wait for..."
Once when I saw her there
White light she stood so still
White page turns gold the lights
Hardly her one sacrifice
Auburn and ivory
Heartbreak and ponytails
White light she stood so still
Warming her eyes to the sea
Hardly her way to be free
Heartbreak and ponytails
Writing the letter she sails
White page turns gold the lights
Wanting her one sacrifice
Heartbreak and ponytails
And I'll tell you what's wrong
She said, "I'll wait for you,
I'll wait for..."
White light she stood so still
White page turns gold the lights
Hardly her one sacrifice
Heartbreak and ponytails
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I believe this could be wayyy far off but I just had the thought of it.
It could be interpreted as a woman looking back unto her old self as a girl. a girl who was very depressed and got her sadness out through writing(white page turns to gold in the lights) maybe because i struggled with a deep depression that was healed through things like art(among others) and it reminds me of this story.
since it never talks of death i think the reference is in 'auburn and ivory' reddish-brownish and white to put more simply. red is the blood, white is the skin or the paper. i come to this far out conclusion because of the way in which the song is set up around this auburn and ivory, is titled such, and the subtle way she hints at the character being subdued. she hints at this through "white light she stood so still" "holding her bones by the fire" to me those both in complex ways elicit thoughts of a subdued child. when are children still? when they are scared or not right. also who 'holds their bones by the fire' this alone elicits a sense of being far away from the body that requires warmth. even more so it gives a sense of not wanting to be there.
also all the use of white just screams innocence or purity. of course pages are white but she intentionally put that in there. also 'wanting her one sacrifice' also sounds like a possible death/suicide reference. all in all, this song, subtly, so so so subtly, sounds like a metaphorically journey through your old mind that was once terribly depressed. and it's not really your mind but you see one or two situations that had deep meaning to you. 'warming her eyes to the sea' 'writing a letter she sails'
anywho..
@classyassy Yout interpretation is spot on. Near tears here. As someone who has had major depression and struggles with suicidal ideation. I always felt a closeness to this song especially with out knowing why. Now I know. Thank you.
@classyassy Yout interpretation is spot on. Near tears here. As someone who has had major depression and struggles with suicidal ideation. I always felt a closeness to this song especially with out knowing why. Now I know. Thank you.
Is this about a ghost or spirit she can see or hear?
Kind of silly, but I imagine it's about a cheerleader in high school. The school colors are auburn and ivory, as is her uniform. She is a ponytail'd cheerleader as are all the others, but she's secretly a deep-as-fuck writer with immense, turbulent feelings.
One of my favorite things about beach house is they will surprise you, mid-song, with a heart-pinningly simple lyric along with a elevating chord switch. "Come to me, and I'll tell you what's wrong." Dear God.
Also the cheerleader is secretly a witch.
The "I'll wait for you" section is one of the most chilling and beautiful things i've ever heard.
i agree, eerie feeling. but it is beautiful.
Absolutely agreed. One of the most chillingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.