Drawing from the raw grandeur of the 60’s, the melodicism of soft 70s pop and the sophisticated side of romantic 80s synth pop, Ablebody stand suspended between decades; students of the past but far from retro fetishists. Their musical prowess is evident but the songwriting remains tastefully direct at all times, with arrangements that bend and move in surprising ways but tastefully blanket the overarching sentiment of the songs in a way that we rarely hear in this decade.
The duo have recently taken their sound from the bedroom to the studio, working with Cole M. Grief-Neill (Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Nite Jewel, Julia Holter, The Samps) and Kenny Gilmore (Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti) to craft songs with a more visceral edge than they’ve explored in the past. Daniel Rosenbaum (Pomar) and Jordan Sabolick (Mt. Ossa) have joined the duo to help bring the songs to life and add new dimension to the live dynamic.
Their debut full length record ‘Adult Contemporaries’ will be released by Lolipop Records on October 14, 2016.
Heart Keep
Ablebody Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but i won't set you on the nightstand
and even out your pleated lines
you say that it's hard
but i can tell you just the opposite
just to get you off of it
what you were hoping for
you leave without your evil eye
i've seen that look before
oh and i got nowhere to go
new york city lights
will blind you from yourself
how wrong was i?
how long's the cycle?
heal yourself
oh, oh heal yourself
oh, oh heal yourself
you'll stay in my heart
but i can't tell you what you want from me
or how it ought to be
oh you're pounding at the door
gleaming like before
you leave without your hair done up
and nothing left to throw
oh and i got nowhere to go
new york city's nice but so is mexico
how wrong was i?
how long's the cycle?
heal yourself
oh, oh heal yourself
oh, oh heal yourself
The song "Heart Keep" by Ablebody is about a relationship that has come to an end but one person cannot completely let go of the other. The singer tells the person that they will always stay in their heart but they cannot place them on a nightstand and even out their pleated lines, meaning they cannot keep holding onto their past and try to make everything perfect again. The singer can see that the other person is finding it hard to move on, but they are telling them that it is not as hard as they think it is, and they are trying to make them understand that they should not hang onto something that cannot be fixed.
The lyrics also suggest that the other person is still holding onto some anger or grudges by referring to their "evil eye" that they leave behind. The singer has seen this side of them before, and it seems that their reaction to the end of the relationship is predictable. The singer also seems lost and unsure of their future, with the line "oh and I got nowhere to go, New York City lights will blind you from yourself." They are trying to heal themselves as well, and understand how wrong they were in the relationship and how long the cycle has been going on.
Overall, "Heart Keep" is a reflective song about a past relationship and the difficulty of moving on, but it encourages healing and letting go in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
you'll stay in my heart
You will always have a special place in my heart.
but i won't set you on the nightstand
I won't display you like a trophy or a keepsake on my nightstand.
and even out your pleated lines
I won't straighten out or fix your flaws or imperfections.
you say that it's hard
You claim that it's difficult.
but i can tell you just the opposite
However, I believe it to be a much simpler task than you think.
just to get you off of it
I only wish to help to ease your suffering and worries.
no your gleaming eyes don't show
Your happy façade doesn't hide what you're truly feeling.
what you were hoping for
What you truly desire or want from this situation.
you leave without your evil eye
You depart without any malice or resentment.
i've seen that look before
I'm familiar with that specific facial expression or demeanor from past experiences.
oh and i got nowhere to go
I don't have a specific destination or plan in mind.
new york city lights
The bright, vibrant city life of New York.
will blind you from yourself
The intensity of this city can make you lose sight of your true self.
how wrong was i?
How misguided or incorrect is/was my judgement or perception?
how long's the cycle?
How long will we continue this repetitive, unhealthy pattern or cycle?
heal yourself
You need to focus on your own emotional and mental healing.
oh, oh heal yourself
I implore you to prioritize your own well-being and inner peace.
you'll stay in my heart
I will always emotionally value and cherish you.
but i can't tell you what you want from me
I am unable to discern or understand what you want or need from me.
or how it ought to be
I'm unsure of how to properly handle or react to this situation or relationship.
oh you're pounding at the door
You are aggressively pushing and demanding to be let in or heard.
gleaming like before
Despite your attempts to hide it, your true, happy demeanor shines through.
you leave without your hair done up
You exit in a rush or without taking the time to properly present yourself.
and nothing left to throw
You have no anger or hurt left to vent or take out.
new york city's nice but so is mexico
There are other places and areas that can offer the same level of happiness and excitement as New York City.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.