There’s a scene in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov where the main characters Ivan and Alyosha discuss the existence of God. Ivan, in particular, questions the idea of God. Alyosha, on the other hand, is a monk, a believer, some may say, a holy fool.
Talk of faith and exalted things is rare in indie rock today. Enter Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha. Throughout their second release, the five song Fathers Be Kind EP, the band chart their own course between divinity and disbelief.
“I left my family and my home/to fight the battle on my own
I stole a car and drove away/but in my hate St. Paul did say
‘Glorify the Lord above/with your drink and making love
Glorify the Lord my son, with your whisky and your gun.”
Ivan & Alyosha began as the solo outlet for Tim Wilson but in spring 2007 the band formed after Tim met Ryan Carbary through a former band mate and mutual friend. Ryan and Tim began playing and recording together and a trip to Los Angeles to work with Eli Thompson (Richard Swift, Delta Spirit) spawned the name Ivan & Alyosha. According to Tim, Thompson is a huge Dostoevsky fan and the name stuck. With that, Wilson and Carbary released The Verse, The Chorus, their debut EP on Cheap Lullaby Records (Joan as Police Woman, The Silver Seas, Teitur). The stand out track “Easy To Love” earned NPR Song of the Day honors as “a propulsive, sweetly booming ode to love as a feat of endurance.”
The name Ivan & Alyosha is apt for a band cutting its teeth. As Ivan in Brothers Karamazov moves through the novel with doubts, Ivan & Alyosha navigate the indie rock world contemplating their path as a band. Tim says he writes songs about what’s current in his life. He recently married and had a son. Songs like “Living for Someone” and “Fathers Be Kind,” reflect Ivan & Alyosha grappling with the idea of being in a band and trying to fashion a career. Not only to follow their dreams but to earn a livelihood and support their families; a feeling he expresses in the former song, “Expecting our first child / Amid the great recession”. Despite the uncertainty, Ivan & Alyosha’s soulful folk tunes suggest a band inspired, hopeful and longing; a band unafraid to probe their collective faith and doubts.
Plus, things are different this time around. Tim and Ryan are joined by two others – Tim Kim and Pete Wilson, Tim’s brother. The band built a studio in a barn at Ryan’s parent’s house in Snohomish, 45 minutes outside of Seattle. Snohomish provides an idyllic setting with a charming main street lined by bars and little distraction. Self-recording their upcoming EP allows the guys more time together to create and perfect the new songs. Recently the band spent a week in New York playing gigs at 92Y Tribeca, Maxwell’s in Hoboken and Brooklyn’s Littlefield. They also took a trip to NPR Headquarters in Washington DC to record an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and opened a run of shows for the Jayhawks’ Mark Olson.
In the Brothers Karamazov, when Ivan asks Alyosha to renounce his beliefs, Alyosha refuses. Rather, he kisses Ivan on the lips. Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha are not nihilist indie rockers but a new brand of tender dreamers. And non-believers be damned! God, or no God - these guys are no holy fools. They have their music to prove it.
Beautiful LIe
Ivan & Alyosha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’ll tell me anything at all
Those conversations
That we’ve had all summer long
As you walk away
Oh, what can I say?
And in the future
Our love will surely fade away
Or so they tell me
But we know better don't we
So I keep singing my song
Won't you sing along?
So tell me truth don’t tell me lies
I’ve seen the truth inside your eyes
Life is so short, everyone dies
So live a beautiful lie
Don't want your money
You give me all that I can spend
And no direction
You tell me where to go and when
Don't need any man to tell me who I am
So tell me truth don’t tell me lies
I’ve seen the truth inside your eyes
Life is so short, everyone dies
So live a beautiful lie
Communication
You're never making any sense
So much confusion
We're so afraid of everything
Won't be walking along
Keep singing my song
So tell me truth don’t tell me lies
I’ve seen the truth inside your eyes
Life is so short, everyone dies
So live a beautiful lie
"Beautiful Lie" by Ivan & Alyosha is a reflective love song with themes of insecurity and uncertainty, and a sense of determined perseverance. The song seems to be about a romantic relationship that is haunted by the prospect of a fading love in the future. The song's protagonist pleads with their partner to reveal their secrets, suggesting a desire for emotional honesty and a deeper connection, but is left with nothing more than conversational fodder. The singer admits their feelings of inadequacy, and the lyrics suggest a certain degree of distrust or miscommunication in the relationship. Despite this, the singer holds on to the belief that they have something special with their partner, something that will outlast inevitable demise.
The lyrics further paint a picture of a relationship where material possessions are not valued, and where the singer is happy to be led by their partner through life. Towards the end of the song, the singer seems to be grappling with the concept of mortality, recognizing that life is short and everyone dies. Despite this, they urge their partner and themselves to live a beautiful lie if they must, a message that could be interpreted as a bitter-sweet acceptance of their insecurities.
Overall, "Beautiful Lie" is a contemplative and emotional song that is tinged with melancholy, yet hopeful in its message. The lyrics could be seen as a metaphor for the fragility of romantic relationships, and the need for mutual honesty and openness.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me your secrets
Share with me the things you keep hidden from the world
You’ll tell me anything at all
You trust me with your deepest thoughts and feelings
Those conversations
The talks we've had have been significant
That we’ve had all summer long
Throughout the summer, we have spent a lot of time together
As you walk away
Leaving me behind
Oh, what can I say?
I am left speechless
And in the future
In the time ahead
Our love will surely fade away
The love we share will eventually diminish
Or so they tell me
Others suggest this is the case
But we know better don't we
However, we know the truth
So I keep singing my song
I continue to express myself through music
Won't you sing along?
Join me in my expression
So tell me truth don’t tell me lies
Be honest, don't deceive me
I’ve seen the truth inside your eyes
I can perceive what's really there
Life is so short, everyone dies
Time is fleeting, and death comes for all
So live a beautiful lie
Enjoy life despite the inevitability of its end
Don't want your money
I am not interested in your wealth
You give me all that I can spend
You provide me with everything I need
And no direction
I don't know where to go next
You tell me where to go and when
You guide me towards the right path
Don't need any man to tell me who I am
I know who I am without the validation of others
Communication
The exchange of ideas and thoughts
You're never making any sense
Your words don't add up
So much confusion
There is too much chaos
We're so afraid of everything
As humans, we tend to be afraid of everything
Won't be walking along
I will not walk beside you
Keep singing my song
I will continue to express myself through music
So tell me truth don’t tell me lies
Be sincere not dishonest
I’ve seen the truth inside your eyes
I recognize what is really there
Life is so short, everyone dies
Our time on earth is brief, we all will eventually pass
So live a beautiful lie
Experience life to the fullest, despite its impermanence
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.