Angus & Julia Stone are an Australian acoustic folk-pop duo consisting of s… Read Full Bio ↴Angus & Julia Stone are an Australian acoustic folk-pop duo consisting of siblings Julia Stone and Angus Stone from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Their decision to collaborate was taken at the beginning of 2006. Prior to that, both had performed as solo artists at open mic nights but utilised the other as a backing partner. Ultimately they came up with the same idea, “Why don’t we play together? It kind of made a lot of sense”. In terms of composing the material, they write on their own, then work together on structure and harmonies.
They have released three studio albums, A Book Like This (2007), which peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart; Down the Way (2010), reached No. 1; and their self-titled album (2014). At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 they won five awards from nine nominations: winning Album of the Year, Best Adult Alternative Album, Best Cover Art and Producer of the Year for Down the Way and Single of the Year for "Big Jet Plane".

Released in March 2010, their album “Down The Way” debuted at #1 on Australia’s ARIA Charts enjoying a remarkable 12 months inside the ARIA Top 20 albums chart. It went on to pick up Album Of The Year at the 2010 ARIA Awards and includes the platinum selling Single Of The Year ‘Big Jet Plane’; which was most notably voted No.1 on the 2011 annual Triple j Hottest 100. The album has hit triple platinum (210,000+) sales in the Stones’ home country, the only Australian artist album to reach this milestone on the current ARIA Top 50 albums chart.

European audiences have also fallen head over heels in love with “Down The Way”. Reaching platinum (100,000+) album status in France, supported by a hugely successful film sync with ‘Big Jet Plane’ for the movie, Les Émotifs Anonymes. Extended sold out tours are not limited to native Australia with the 2011 French tour including 5 ‘Le Trianon’ Paris shows selling out 2 months before the tour commenced. The UK, Germany, Austria, Spain & Portugal are all just a taste of the frequent European tour destinations with sell out shows. In the US, their dramatic and lush soundscapes have found homes on prime time dramas; Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice and key slots at iconic US festivals Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo and Coachella.

Travelling has been an integral part of the Stone’s musical story, so it’s not surprising they opted to record “Down The Way” in a number of diverse locations around the globe; an old sawmill on the river banks of Fowey in Cornwall, a studio in Brooklyn, a water tank in Coolangatta, London - and Queens in New York.

“Down The Way” marked their debut as producers, taking full control of their sound without losing the spirit of what made the first record ‘A Book Like This’ so special. There has been a subtle shift of gear, represented by a growing confidence in their abilities as artists and the music follows suit as it flows easily through sparse and rich textured arrangements without losing any of its etherealness and charm.

With an incredible response to “Down The Way” from all corners of the globe, Angus and Julia Stone will take some well-deserved time off and prepare for their next step along a remarkable musical journey.

“Simple yet inspired tunes, a heart-felt soundtrack to their folk adventures and lessons learnt along the way”
Rolling Stone Australia ***

“Aussie siblings continue to enchant’. ‘Sweet and savoury blend to warm the soul.. innocently Joyous”
MOJO UK ****

”The pair melt in to one another to create a spectral and lush backdrop”
Clash Magazine UK

“If A Book Like This compounded their future, consider Down The Way the fulfilling realization of all”
FILTER USA

Website: www.angusandjuliastone.com
www.myspace.com/angusandjuliastone
www.youtube.com/angusandjuliastone

Private Lawns
Angus & Julia Stone Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I just flew in
From the windy city
The windy city is mighty pretty
But they ain't got what we got
No sir'ree
They've got private lawns and public parks
Well they've got those menstrual shows
Pretty ladies with the big shot bows

They've got private lawns and private parks

I just flew in
From the the windy city
The windy city is mighty pretty
But they ain't got what we got
No sir'ree
They've got private lawns and public parks

They've got private lawns and public parks
They've got private lawns and public parks

Overall Meaning

The song "Private Lawns" by Angus and Julia Stone is a commentary on the contrast between the opulent lifestyle of those living in wealthy areas versus those in less affluent neighborhoods. The lyrics describe a person arriving in a city from somewhere else, the "windy city" referring to Chicago. The songwriter notes that while the city might be pretty, it lacks the same sense of community and simplicity found in other areas. In particular, the song contrasts the luxuries found in private lawns and parks, which are only accessible to a select few, to the public parks, which are much more humble and open to everyone.

The second verse further emphasizes this point by mentioning "menstrual shows," which were a type of theatrical production that often featured racially-charged performances. By contrasting this with the "pretty ladies with the big shot bows," the songwriter seems to be highlighting the fact that even within the wealthy and exclusive areas of the city, there is still inequality and discrimination. Ultimately, the song seems to be a critique of the culture of wealth and exclusivity that exists in some areas of society, while also celebrating the simpler things in life that can be found in more humble neighborhoods.

Line by Line Meaning

I just flew in
The singer has just arrived in a new place

From the windy city
The place the singer flew in from is Chicago (also known as the Windy City)

The windy city is mighty pretty
Chicago is a beautiful city

But they ain't got what we got
Despite its beauty, Chicago doesn't have something that the artist has in their hometown

No sir'ree
This phrase is used to strongly emphasize the previous statement

They've got private lawns and public parks
Chicago has both private and public outdoor spaces

Well they've got those menstrual shows
Chicago has entertainment that the singer does not appreciate or understand

Pretty ladies with the big shot bows
This is a specific example of the type of entertainment Chicago has that the artist does not like

They've got private lawns and private parks
Not only does Chicago have both private and public outdoor spaces, they also have private parks the artist does not have in their hometown

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANGUS STONE, JULIA STONE, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER, SAMMY FAIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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