our nature is a force
so, cut it at the source
and go
a life without remorse
though i am afraid
of what it is to be alone
awake
and happiest at play
confident and wild
wired with every instrument
control
and careless all the while
everything and all
is wrong
panic is a slow
dissolve
a terror quiet calm
this is my interpretation. any help on the missing pieces?
this one's difficult. her voice is so obscured. these are very loose ideas.
this one's difficult. her voice is so obscured. these are very loose ideas.
i thought she might be saying "a light without a MOTH"
i thought she might be saying "a light without a MOTH"
i'll obey though i am afraid OF WHAT IT IS TO BE ALONE
i'll obey though i am afraid OF WHAT IT IS TO BE ALONE
it sounds like she might be saying "AND happier at play," rather than "BE happier at play."
it sounds like she might be saying "AND happier at play," rather than "BE happier at play."
and _____ the song as one this i'm really not sure of at all... maybe "and can be sung as one/out loud"
and _____ the song as one this i'm really not sure of at all... maybe "and can be sung as one/out loud"
instead of "to every heart," i hear "til i recall"
instead of "to every heart," i hear "til i recall"
again not...
again not at all sure, but i used to think "and it gives us our" was "and it gives us hope"
together we will do this! haha
together we will do this! haha
i'm loving the "of what it is to be alone", i think that's totally right
i'm loving the "of what it is to be alone", i think that's totally right
it's definitely "AND..." not "be..." and i'm thinking it might be something like "and have _____ at play"... thoughts?
it's definitely "AND..." not "be..." and i'm thinking it might be something like "and have _____ at play"... thoughts?
it almost sounds like she's saying "every instrument controls/contrived and ____ the sun out wide" does that do anything for you?
it almost sounds like she's saying "every instrument controls/contrived and ____ the sun out wide" does that do anything for you?
and i think you're right about "and it gives us hope" which leads me to believe she's listing things here: "hope, desire, _____" and some other stuff. probably not...
and i think you're right about "and it gives us hope" which leads me to believe she's listing things here: "hope, desire, _____" and some other stuff. probably not "quiet car" but that's the best i can sound out.
this one's gonna remain quite the mystery. i'm still lost on much here :)
this one's gonna remain quite the mystery. i'm still lost on much here :)
it sounds like it could work, but it still sounds more like "happier at play" probably.
it sounds like it could work, but it still sounds more like "happier at play" probably.
sometimes i think, instead of "like if every instrument," it might be something like "and why if every instrument..."
sometimes i think, instead of "like if every instrument," it might be something like "and why if every instrument..."
AS FOR THIS PART:
AS FOR THIS PART:
'til i recall everything and all is ours (i'm not sure about this... also sounds maybe something like "is all/as long," neither of which really makes sense, i know) and it gives us hope, desire, (how do you feel about "dissolve"?) ___ quiet car (still don't know,...
'til i recall everything and all is ours (i'm not sure about this... also sounds maybe something like "is all/as long," neither of which really makes sense, i know) and it gives us hope, desire, (how do you feel about "dissolve"?) ___ quiet car (still don't know, but i hear things like "a terrified call" or just the word "terror" in there. also maybe "... quiet call")
updated...
official lyrics above as per email correspondence with Wye Oak.
This song to me is about having power over ones own destiny and mind. Its a message to ones own fears and uncertainty. Its an Embracing song. Embrace everything no matter what. Its a beautiful song. I love every part of it. Its beauty and genius.
This song is about a person who is contemplating marriage. On the one hand, the narrator is happiest being single and playing the field, so to speak. They like that freedom. But on the other hand, they are also terrified of being alone, and they know that the older they get the more difficult it's going to be to find that special person. Thus, the title is a pun. The altar spelled with an 'a' is the precise spot where one gets married, of course, but alter with an 'e' (as in the title) means "other" and thus the narrator is of two minds about getting married. Their one self wants to do it, but their other (alter) self does not. Quite the conundrum, eh?