Old Pine
Ben Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've come to know that memories
Were the best things you ever had
The summer shone, beat down on bony backs
So far from home, where the ocean stood
Down dust and pine cone tracks
Oh, we slept like dogs down by the fire side
Awoke to the fog where all around us
The boom of summertime, yeah
We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning
Oh, hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags
I've come to know the friends around you
Are all you'll always have
Smoke in my lungs, or the echoed stone
Careless and young, free as the birds that fly
With weightless souls now
We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning
We grow, grow, steady as the morning, yeah
We grow, grow, older still
How we grow, grow, happy as a new dawn
We grow, grow, older still
How we grow, grow, steady as the flowers
We grow, grow, older still
How we grow, grow, happy as a new dawn
We grow, grow, older still
Ooh, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Ooh, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
"Old Pine" is a beautiful song by Ben Howard that appears to be about a nostalgic trip to the beach with friends. The opening lines about hot sand and cold sand, and memories being the best things you'll ever have paint a picture of a summer retreat. The lyrics show the joyous times Howard and his friends had, spending their days sleeping by the sea and wandering through the forest of dust and pine cone tracks. Howard reminisces about the booms of summertime, the beautiful stars in the sky and the weightlessness of being young and free. The chorus speaks of the groups' enduring love and connection with one another, as they stand "steady as the stars in the woods" and the warmth of the moment rang true inside their bones.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reflect the passing of time and growing older. The group transitioned from carefree youth to smoking while sitting on the echoed stones and becoming carefree in a different way. Nevertheless, they remained bound together with memories and new dawns making them happy, hence making them stand tall like steady flowers growing amidst the ever-changing world. The final part of the song finds the singer embracing the inevitability of change and growing older. They continue to "grow, grow" older still, but are comforted by the memories of the old pine falling as they sang to bless the morning, and the enduring friendship that sustains them through the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags
The various sensations of the summer season, such as the warmth of the sun and the coolness of sand, are worth treasuring in your memories.
I've come to know that memories
Memories are the most valuable possessions you can have.
Were the best things you ever had
Memories can bring immense joy and happiness to your life.
The summer shone, beat down on bony backs
The warm sunlight of summer can be terribly harsh on the exposed, thin frames of a person.
So far from home, where the ocean stood
The sea where the singer was, is alien and far from the familiarity of his home
Down dust and pine cone tracks
The route through which the person moved was covered with dust and fir cones which made the path interesting.
Oh, we slept like dogs down by the fire side
People slept cosily, huddled together, close to the roaring fire.
Awoke to the fog where all around us
Woke up to the thick, white fog which engulfed everything around.
The boom of summertime, yeah
The summer season was resounding with boisterous activities and noise.
We stood
The group stood united under the universe studded with stars.
Steady as the stars in the woods
The group stood rock-solid, like the stars twinkling in the forest.
So happy-hearted
The group was full of joy and happiness.
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
It brought a warm sensation radiating from the hearts to the bones of those people
As the old pine fell we sang
The group sang joyfully as the old pine tree fell, symbolizing new beginnings.
Just to bless the morning
The group was grateful for a bright and promising new day, and they prayed for its prosperity.
I've come to know the friends around you
The most important thing you can have is friends around you.
Are all you'll always have
Friends are precious and lifelong companions; you only need them to navigate through the journey of life.
Smoke in my lungs, or the echoed stone
The singer cherishes smoking and the reverberating sound of the stones
Careless and young, free as the birds that fly
Innocent and young people are free in spirit, capable of soaring high as birds without the worries of the world.
With weightless souls now
People had the most serene moment; they were free, light-hearted, and completely at ease.
We grow, grow, steady as the morning, yeah
People continue to grow unceasingly, much like the rising sun that comes with each new day.
We grow, grow, older still
People age, but they never stop growing, emotionally and psychologically.
How we grow, grow, happy as a new dawn
Growing is a joyful process, just like the feeling of a fresh new dawn.
We grow, grow, steady as the flowers
People grow like flowers; they bloom steadily, blossom, and flourish with time.
Ooh, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
These words are part of the song's melody and don't have a specific meaning.
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
These words are part of the song's melody and don't have a specific meaning.
Ooh, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
These words are part of the song's melody and don't have a specific meaning.
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
These words are part of the song's melody and don't have a specific meaning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind