A Silent Film is an alternative rock band which formed in Oxford, England i… Read Full Bio ↴A Silent Film is an alternative rock band which formed in Oxford, England in 2005. The band consists of Robert Stevenson (vocals, keyboards), Karl Bareham (guitar), Ali Hussain (bass) and Spencer Walker (drums). The band has released two albums, "The City That Sleeps" (2008) and "Sand & Snow" (2012).

“The first time we drove into New York we were all crammed in a tiny rental car. We came out of the Lincoln Tunnel and 'You Will Leave a Mark' was playing on the radio,” A Silent Film vocalist/pianist Robert Stevenson says, recalling hearing his group’s career-opening single scoring a powerful moment of its inaugural 2010 U.S. tour. The Oxford quartet had just released its debut of epic and ambiently anthemic indie rock, The City That Sleeps, on Bieler Bros. Records, a Florida-based indie with an incongruously niche heavy rock profile. Despite the curious association, A Silent Film had an impressive American welcome. The group became the longest charting band on Sirius XM’s Alt 18 Countdown, shifted 200K downloads as iTunes’ Discovery Download, and sold 75K digital singles.

“Never in my dreams could I imagine the songs I wrote in my bedroom as someone else's soundtrack to the skyline of New York City. It was only three and a half minutes but it opened my eyes to the greater possibilities of sharing our music,” Robert says. The American tour was a transformative experience for A Silent Film and the group decided to relocate to Arizona and record their sophomore album in the rustic environs of the West. The band’s latest, Sand & Snow, released June 5th, 2012 is a snapshot of the fevered creativity inspired by an impulsive tryst with Americana. “Jack Kerouac and Bob Dylan are massive inspirations to me. I felt like I always had a kinship with America; as soon as I could experience it, and I didn’t have to read it in a book anymore, I needed it for writing,” Robert says of the creative necessity of the move. “Previously I had written everything in Oxford, but as soon as I saw America, it changed my process; I wanted to live and breathe it.”

In addition to Robert Stevenson, A Silent Film is rounded out by Karl Bareham (guitar), Ali Hussain (bass) and Spencer Walker (drums). A Silent Film formed in 2005 and has garnered favorable comparisons to Coldplay, The Killers, and Snow Patrol. Its new offering is aligned with its formative poetic and expansive pop-rock aesthetic but there is a freshly confident depth and distinction evident in the writing. Sand & Snow is searchingly hopeful with emotive hooks and romantically purposeful lyrics.

Lamplight
A Silent Film Lyrics

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And I will always ask
And I will always wonder
And I don't need to hear the words
I don't need an answer from you

And I'll always be here
And I'll always want you to know
You are my lamplight

And you guide me where I go

All my hopes - and all my fears
Collide when you are near

I don't want it all
We all guard our mysteries with a grin
Or write them in a song
Just enough to let the light in

And I'll always be here
And I'll always want you to know
You are my lamplight
And you guide me where I go

All my hopes - and all my fears
Collide when you are near

All my hopes - and all my fears
Collide when you are near

Love is like a mast
That shivers at her mercy
These sails may be tattered and torn
But she's not sinking easy

All my hopes - and all my fears
Collide when you are near

Overall Meaning

The core of A Silent Film's Lamplight lies in the feelings of hope and fear that are awakened whenever the singer is around the subject of the song. Despite these feelings being mixed and complex, the singer doesn't need an answer from the subject of their feelings, maintaining the mysterious and unspoken nature of their connection. The lyrics express an intense connection between two people, with the singer admiring the subject's ability to guide and light up their path, highlighting their constant presence and the impact they have on the singer's life.

However, the song seems to go beyond a mere confession of love or desire. The line "We all guard our mysteries with a grin" suggests that there is more to the relationship than just romance. It may also imply that the subject has some sort of role as an inspiration, guide, or close confidant in the singer's life. By comparing love to a mast on a ship, the lyrics further emphasize the complexity of the feelings involved, showcasing their ability to both buoy and challenge one's emotional sea.

Overall, Lamplight is about the beauty, danger, and mysteriousness of human connections. It expresses the fear of losing someone or being hurt and the hope that this special someone can guide and light your path. The lyrics seem to capture the complexity and depth of relationships, highlighting the importance of the unspoken and mysterious elements that make them unique.

Line by Line Meaning

And I will always ask
I will always have questions and seek to understand.

And I will always wonder
I will always seek knowledge and be curious.

And I don't need to hear the words
I don't need verbal affirmation or confirmation.

I don't need an answer from you
I don't need a response or explanation from you.

And I'll always be here
I will always be present and reliable.

And I'll always want you to know
I will always desire for you to be aware.

You are my lamplight
You are my beacon of light and hope.

And you guide me where I go
You direct and lead me on my path.

All my hopes - and all my fears
All of my desires and apprehensions.

Collide when you are near
Come together or clash in your proximity.

I don't want it all
I am not in pursuit of everything.