I read an interview with Vashti Bunyan where she talks about moving from the countryside to the Edinburgh after things ended with the father of her children, about the end of that era of 'diamond days', and starting a new phase of life in the city. I think this song is about that- she sees trees against the sky and the memory of a storm near the 'old house' in the country comes flooding back. The storm brought a tree down which they used as firewood. 'One of five against the sky' could just mean one of five trees but I think the number is significant as there were 5 in her family- one was brought down...maybe she's referring to herself, or to her ex, being 'surrendered' to the wind...which I think symbolises the way fate moves us this way or that.
Later, she observes a storm in the city and remembers that night. Rows of chimney pots don't wave like trees against the sky- there is a nostalgia and a sadness when she thinks of the past and how different her life is now. 'Another life's remembered' on first listen gave me that eerie feeling someone else mentioned, but I think it's about her remembering 'another life' meaning just another stage in her life that has now passed. The song has a surreal feel to it which reflects the way memories sometimes feel like dreams... yet the way she describes the hill behind the old house, the memory of that is so concrete in her mind, she can trace and draw it on paper.
'You were the main contender' I think refers to her new relationship- the man who she went to live with in the city. I am not sure what the last two lines mean, but I think of the blurring of yellow and blue with green between, is like the blurring of time....she feels 'in between' worlds, times...where does the present end and the past begin? It's about the way that memories are more than just that- they are like imprints on our souls, and continue to live on in our minds even when our lives and circumstances have transformed.
I read an interview with Vashti Bunyan where she talks about moving from the countryside to the Edinburgh after things ended with the father of her children, about the end of that era of 'diamond days', and starting a new phase of life in the city. I think this song is about that- she sees trees against the sky and the memory of a storm near the 'old house' in the country comes flooding back. The storm brought a tree down which they used as firewood. 'One of five against the sky' could just mean one of five trees but I think the number is significant as there were 5 in her family- one was brought down...maybe she's referring to herself, or to her ex, being 'surrendered' to the wind...which I think symbolises the way fate moves us this way or that. Later, she observes a storm in the city and remembers that night. Rows of chimney pots don't wave like trees against the sky- there is a nostalgia and a sadness when she thinks of the past and how different her life is now. 'Another life's remembered' on first listen gave me that eerie feeling someone else mentioned, but I think it's about her remembering 'another life' meaning just another stage in her life that has now passed. The song has a surreal feel to it which reflects the way memories sometimes feel like dreams... yet the way she describes the hill behind the old house, the memory of that is so concrete in her mind, she can trace and draw it on paper. 'You were the main contender' I think refers to her new relationship- the man who she went to live with in the city. I am not sure what the last two lines mean, but I think of the blurring of yellow and blue with green between, is like the blurring of time....she feels 'in between' worlds, times...where does the present end and the past begin? It's about the way that memories are more than just that- they are like imprints on our souls, and continue to live on in our minds even when our lives and circumstances have transformed.