Anathallo utilized a wide variety of instruments, including horns, guitars, drums, piano, bells, and even unconventional objects like chains, velcro strips, stomp boxes, and pipes. The band released several recordings through Selah Records, a vinyl release through Potential Getaway Driver, as well as completely independent releases. Their UK distributed release, Four: A Great Wind More Ash, was released by Big Scary Monster (BSM) in 2008
Members:
Matt Joynt - Vocals, Guitar, Auxiliary Percussion, Piano
Andrew Dost - Piano, Flugelhorn, Auxiliary Percussion, Vocals
Bret Wallin - Trombone, Auxiliary Percussion, Vocals
Danny Bracken - Guitar, Auxiliary Percussion, Vocals
Seth Walker - Bass, Vocals
Jeremiah Johnson- Drums, Vocals
Erica Froman - Vocals, Auxiliary Percussion, Clarinet, Autoharp
Joel Thiele - Drums, Percussion
Sleeping Torpor
Anathallo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We hummingbirds said, "Father don't,
you could do the right thing.
You could turn around."
He called our names and 1, 2, 3.
We slipped into the snow boots,
stood behind the coats hanging lowest
in the closet racks.
The hangers jangled.
Did he hear the metal clattering?
And had I given us away?
I'd given us away.
We waited side by side.
We could hear your soles squeak,
we could feel the ground shake.
We tightly closed our eyes.
You found us, you were right this time.
How did you know?
We were curled in sleeping torpor.
We dreamed of flying up where the exhausted die.
You found us, you were right this time.
How did you know?
Pinned behind the pantry with the vacuum.
Pancaked underneath the bed means dead.
Nestled between the ladle, with the pots and pans.
My heart beats and beats
and I can hear it like a drum in my head.
The lyrics of "Sleeping Torpor" by Anathallo are cryptic and metaphorical, painting a picture of a group of people, possibly children, hiding and waiting for someone to find them. The first stanza sets the scene: they're hiding in a closet and someone, presumably their father, is looking for them. They're afraid of being caught and the tension is palpable - the sound of their hangers clattering is enough to give them away.
The second stanza introduces a new character who has found them. They were "curled in sleeping torpor," meaning that they were dormant or hibernating in their hiding place, dreaming of flying away. The unknown character who has found them is "right this time," implying that they have been looking for them for a while and maybe have found them before.
The final stanza features more metaphors, with the group now "pinned behind the pantry with the vacuum" or "pancaked underneath the bed." Despite their precarious situation, their hearts are beating loud and strong like a drum. The meaning of these metaphors is open to interpretation, but they create a sense of claustrophobia and desperation.
Overall, the song seems to be about hiding from something, possibly a parent or an authority figure. The emotions are intense and the use of metaphors adds a layer of complexity to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
It did not happen in a day.
This event took a while to come about.
We hummingbirds said, "Father don't,
The singer and others, compared to hummingbirds, asked someone not to do something.
you could do the right thing.
There was a moral standard that should be met in this situation.
You could turn around."
The person was headed in a wrong direction and needed to change course.
He called our names and 1, 2, 3.
The person in charge counted off those involved in the situation.
We slipped into the snow boots,
The people put on their snow boots.
stood behind the coats hanging lowest
They positioned themselves behind the coats that were hanging lowest on the racks.
in the closet racks.
They were located in the closet where coats were hung up.
I moved and made a sound.
The artist unintentionally made a noise while hiding.
The hangers jangled.
The movements of the coats caused the hangers to make noise.
Did he hear the metal clattering?
The singer wondered if the person in charge heard the noise they made.
And had I given us away?
The artist feared that their noise would reveal their location.
I'd given us away.
The singer believed they gave away their position.
We waited side by side.
The people waited together in hiding.
We could hear your soles squeak,
They could hear the person's footsteps making noise.
we could feel the ground shake.
The person's footsteps were so loud that it caused vibrations on the ground.
You found us, you were right this time.
The person in charge successfully found them this time.
How did you know?
The singer was curious as to how the person found them.
We were curled in sleeping torpor.
They were in a state of sleep and unaware of their surroundings.
We dreamed of flying up where the exhausted die.
They were dreaming of a place where the tired go to rest.
You found us, you were right this time.
The person in charge successfully found them this time.
How did you know?
The artist was curious as to how the person found them.
Pinned behind the pantry with the vacuum.
They were stuck behind the pantry with the vacuum cleaner.
Pancaked underneath the bed means dead.
Being flattened under the bed could be fatal.
Nestled between the ladle, with the pots and pans.
They were concealed among the cooking utensils and pots and pans.
My heart beats and beats
The singer's heart was beating rapidly.
and I can hear it like a drum in my head.
The pounding of the singer's heart seemed very loud to them.
Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nojemifoo
One of the most beautiful songs in music history I guess
@erynlovely
I'm in love with this song!
@echosoblivion1
Don't forget it
@nick2654
I love this
@echosoblivion1
Chilling.
@hellonieman
@jonnydorko if you mean the portrait, i don't believe so. their vocalist, erica froman, is beautiful however.
@robsteries
Does anyone have a clue what this song is about, because it's not so good..