Cooper's sophomore album, "Family Tree: The Roots" was released in October 2011. It is the first of the trilogy record called "The Family Tree" which follows the story of a fictional family from 1800 to 1950. Following "The Roots" will be "The Branches" and "The Relatives" respectively.
In between his first two Radical Face records Ben released two EP's to fill the gap. The first was "Touch The Sky". In the summer of 2011 "The Bastards Volume 1" EP was released. Other volumes will compliment the fore-coming Family Tree trilogy.
Under his 'Radical Face' moniker his music features acoustic guitar, "found-sound" percussion, and many multi-layered tracks. The sound is incredibly unique, not only because of Cooper's originality and raw talent, but also because most of the music has traditionally been recorded in the shed in his backyard.
Website: www.radicalface.com
Welcome Home
Radical Face Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
And the days blur into one
And the backs of my eyes hum with things I've never done
Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
Was never much but we made the most
Welcome home
Ships are launching from my chest
Some have names but most do not
If you find one, please let me know what piece I've lost
Peel the scars from off my back
I don't need them anymore
You can throw them out or keep them in your mason jars
I've come home
All my nightmares escaped my head
Bar the door, please don't let them in
You were never supposed to leave
Now my head's splitting at the seams
And I don't know if I can
Here, beneath my lungs, I feel your thumbs press into my skin again
The first verse of Radical Face's song "Welcome Home" paints a picture of a person who is unable to sleep and is left to ponder about the events that have transpired in their life. The days seem to blend together as they stare blankly at the sun, with the weight of regret and missed opportunities humming in the backs of their eyes. The use of the phrase "choke on sun" signifies that the person is suffocating from the light as it represents the harsh reality that they have to face. The emptiness they feel is demonstrated by the line "things I've never done," which implies that there are certain things they regret not having done, and this realization has left them feeling incomplete.
The next part of the song describes a scene of abandoned sheets swaying on an old clothesline, which is an illustration of a place that was once treasured and cherished but has now been left to rot. The metaphor of "captured ghosts over old dead grass" adds to the melancholic tone of the song, which accentuates the sadness associated with the loss of a once-beautiful place. However, the nostalgia and fond memories associated with the place are still vivid as the singer declares "we made the most." The chorus "Welcome Home" represents a yearning to return to a place of belonging, where the memories are tangible and the feelings of being seen and heard are valid, unlike the present where the person feels lost and unresolved emotionally as well as physically.
The second verse of the song accelerates the intensity of the emotions. It portrays a person who feels like they are carrying the weight of emotional baggage in their chest, which is figuratively represented as a ship. The ships launched from their chest allude to the fact that they are letting go of the negative emotions that were once stored in them. However, it is quite ironic as the speaker doesn't even know which part of this baggage he has let off. The phrase "peel the scars from off my back" demonstrates the idea that the speaker is ready to let go of the past and the things that have been holding them back. The statement "I don't need them anymore" is a symbolization of the readiness to let go of the pain and suffering, which in turn provides us with a sense of closure. The line "you can throw them out or keep them in your mason jars” suggests that the memories can either be discarded or be cherished, and it all depends on the person who remembers them.
The last verse then brings us back to the present as the speaker becomes overwhelmed by the idea of nightmares escaping from their head. They request for the door to bar the entry of these nightmares and for them to be left in the past. The line "you were never supposed to leave" implies that the person feels abandoned by someone they hold dear. The pain is personified in the image of their head splitting at the seams as they are unable to process the loss. Finally, the song ends with the person feeling the touch of another's skin beneath their lungs, symbolizing the feeling of being alive once again and the hope that things will eventually fall into place.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep don't visit, so I choke on sun
I have a hard time sleeping and the days seem endless.
And the days blur into one
The days all seem to blend together and feel the same.
And the backs of my eyes hum with things I've never done
I have a lot of regrets and things I wish I had done in my life.
Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
There are reminders of the past all around me.
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
The past haunts me and I can't escape it.
Was never much but we made the most
Even though we didn't have a lot, we still found ways to enjoy life.
Welcome home
I have returned to a place that was once familiar, but now feels foreign.
Ships are launching from my chest
I have a lot of emotions, some good and some bad, that I can't control.
Some have names but most do not
I can't always identify what I'm feeling or why I'm feeling it.
If you find one, please let me know what piece I've lost
If someone can help me understand my emotions, it would be greatly appreciated.
Peel the scars from off my back
I want to let go of my past and move on.
I don't need them anymore
My past experiences have made me who I am today, but I don't want to dwell on them anymore.
You can throw them out or keep them in your mason jars
You can either forget about my past or hold onto it if you want to.
I've come home
I've returned to a place that I once knew, but I'm not sure if I belong here anymore.
All my nightmares escaped my head
My fears and worries are constantly on my mind and I can't escape them.
Bar the door, please don't let them in
I want to keep my fears and worries out of my life and my mind.
You were never supposed to leave
Someone important to me has left me and it has had a big impact on my life.
Now my head's splitting at the seams
I'm feeling overwhelmed and can't seem to keep my thoughts together.
And I don't know if I can
I'm not sure if I will be able to handle everything that's going on.
Here, beneath my lungs, I feel your thumbs press into my skin again
Even though someone important has left me, I still feel their presence in my life and the impact they had on me.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Benjamin Cooper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EsotericMedic
Lyrics
Sleep don't visit, so I choke on sun
And the days blur into one
And the backs of my eyes hum with things I've never done
Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
Was never much but we made the most
Welcome home (ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome...)
Ships are launching from my chest
Some have names but most do not
If you find one, please let me know what piece I've lost
Heal the scars from off my back
I don't need them anymore
You can throw them out or keep them in your mason jars
I've come home (ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome...)
All my nightmares escaped my head
Bar the door, please don't let them in
You were never supposed to leave
Now my head's splitting at the seams
And I don't know if I can
Here, beneath my lungs, I feel your thumbs press into my skin again.
Sapphire
One of the verses sums up the vibe of this song nicely:
"Heal the scars from off my back,
I don't need them anymore.
You can throw them out or keep them in your jars.
I've come home"
Despite all the troubles the world may rest on our weary souls, there will come a time where we can look back at our journey, and through our wisdom, follow the path back to where it all began, where peace and harmony still roam, within the walls where we lived our golden days.
It's a very healing song. I think that's why most find it nostalgic and emotional. I cherish this masterpiece.
Green Eyes
Sleep don't visit
So I choke on sun
And the days blur into one
And the backs of my eyes
On things I've never done
Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
Is never much but we made the most
Welcome home (home, home, home)
(Home, home)
Ships are launching from my chest
Some have names but most do not
If you find one, please let me know what piece I've lost
Heal the scars from off my back
I don't need them anymore
You can throw them out or keep them in your mason jars
I've come home (home, home, home)
(Home, home)
All my nightmares escaped my head
Bar the door, please don't let them in
You were never supposed to leave
Now my head's splitting at the seams
And I don't know if I can
Here, beneath my lungs
I feel your thumbs press into my skin again
Lara Stanišić
let's all promise we will never forget this song.
vidya channel
I promise
Jeff Aubuchon
I'll see you in 10 years
Lara Stanišić
@Jeff Aubuchon i dont know if i will still have this profile but see ya
Pranathi
Promise..
Pietro Dekker
Pinky promise!❤
M. Ram
Found this masterpiece
Took me 8 years .
It was a Nikkon advertisement.
turtrooper
Exactly. I remember watching it on Cartoon Network when I was younger.
J T
Same
Yuary
Exactly that advertise yeah