Since forming in Brighton in 2008, Esben and the Witch have had just a few releases behind them including "Lucia, at the Precipice" from February 2010 - and have had positive press support from NME, Pitchfork Media and The Guardian, plus experience of concerts alongside Warpaint, The xx, Wild Beasts, Foals and The Big Pink.
In May 2010 the band contributed to the London edition of The Creators Project, warping one of 33's tracks, "Corridors", into an eighteen-minute soundscape to soundtrack artist Karl Sadler's lit forest installation.
On October 19th 2010 it was revealed that the band were nominated for a Q Award as "next big thing", pipped to the post by Clare Maguire at the Awards on October 25. The following day Matador Records announced the band's debut album Violet Cries is to be released in January/February 2011.
The band were included in the BBC Sound of 2011 poll long-list, announced December 7th.
Marching Song
Esben and the Witch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Battling with your minds retorts
And walking on empty plains
Where deserts so calm
Even drowning rains
Soldier on
To this marching song
Head held high
With eyes fixed strong
Drum beat died
Cymbal crash down
The mud it is thick
With desires to drown
Your feet in earth
Your boots are sinking
Sink with the memories
Of long lost thinking
And armies of many
Are fighting their fight
Lost in the blackness
They're losing their sights
Your veins are my trenches
My gun is my own
The whispers fall heavy
With delicate moans
Arms and legs
Teeth and nail
Our fragile companions
Are destined to fail
For this battalion
Has been run through
Therefore captains and comrades
I bid you all adieu
The opening verses of Esben and the Witch's 'Marching Song' poetically convey the struggle of a person wandering through a place of mental unrest. The metaphorical use of a wilderness filled with foggy thoughts captures the confusion and disorientation one might feel when battling with their own psyche. The emptiness and calm of the surrounding desert, despite the presence of drowning rains, could signify the peace one hopes to attain in their mind. The chorus emphasizes the importance of persevering through these struggles and marching forward. The imagery of a soldier with their head held high and eyes fixed strong creates a powerful image of determination and resilience.
The second half of the song introduces the imagery of a battlefield, further solidifying the metaphorical comparison between the struggles within one's mind and the conflicts of the world. The line, "Your veins are my trenches, my gun is my own," invokes the idea of fellow soldiers fighting together, intertwined by blood and a shared goal. The delicate moans and whispers that fall heavy emphasize the weight of the emotional and mental battles one can face, and the fragility of the body and mind.
Line by Line Meaning
In a wilderness of foggy thoughts
Lost in a confusing and unclear mental state
Battling with your minds retorts
Fighting inner thoughts and doubts
And walking on empty plains
Feeling directionless and purposeless
Where deserts so calm
In a place that seems peaceful but is actually devoid of life
Even drowning rains
In a state of mind where even external factors cannot affect one's emotions
Soldier on
Keep going despite difficulties
To this marching song
Drawing inspiration and motivation from the music
Head held high
Refusing to give up or be defeated
With eyes fixed strong
Keeping focus and determination
Drum beat died
Feeling defeated and hopeless
Cymbal crash down
Experiencing an abrupt end to something once powerful
The mud it is thick
Feeling trapped in a difficult situation or emotion
With desires to drown
Feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts and emotions
Your feet in earth
Feeling grounded or stuck in the present moment
Your boots are sinking
Feeling like one is sinking deeper into difficulties
Sink with the memories
Lose oneself in nostalgia and regrets
Of long lost thinking
Thinking about past experiences that cannot be returned to
And armies of many
Other people experiencing similar difficulties
Are fighting their fight
Also struggling with their own battles
Lost in the blackness
Feeling lost in despair or difficult emotions
They're losing their sights
Becoming blind to the hope and beauty in life
Your veins are my trenches
Experiencing emotional and mental pain on a deep level
My gun is my own
Dealing with the struggles in one's own unique way
The whispers fall heavy
Negative thoughts and doubts are overwhelming
With delicate moans
Pain and suffering that is felt deeply
Arms and legs
Our physical bodies
Teeth and nail
Our primal instincts to fight and survive
Our fragile companions
Our human bodies that are vulnerable and easily broken
Are destined to fail
Will eventually succumb to the inevitable end of life
For this battalion
For all those struggling with difficulties
Has been run through
Have experienced great loss and pain
Therefore captains and comrades
Addressing all those who have fought alongside
I bid you all adieu
Saying goodbye to those who have passed or moved on
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing
Written by: DANIEL COPEMAN, RACHEL ANNA DAVIES, THOMAS JACK FISHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind