Archeology is a Portland, OR based indie rock band. The band was started in… Read Full Bio ↴Archeology is a Portland, OR based indie rock band. The band was started in January of 2009 by Jason and Daniel as a side project but has since released three E.P.'s and toured extensively.

The group's name is derived from the two's love for ancient history and nerdish obsession with Archaeology.

The band originally spelled it's name ARCHAEOLOGY but dropped the the second "A" after discovering a experimental band out of Chicago had already taken that spelling.

white walls
Archeology Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We count these four white walls
we count them as our own
and if they crumble and fall
we'll still hold our own
We'll hold on

We count these four white walls
we count them as our own

and if they crumble and fall
we'll still hold our own
We'll hold on

Brick by brick away we drown on
down and down in our hospital gowns, oh
Brick by brick away we drown on
down and down in our hospital gowns

We lay low, we lay low
When it goes we'll lay low
We lay low, we lay low
When it goes we'll lay low
We lay low, we lay low
When it goes we'll lay low
We lay low, we lay low
When it goes we'll lay low

Brick by brick away we drown on
down and down in our hospital gowns, oh
Brick by brick away we drown on
down and down in our hospital gowns

We count these four white walls
we count them as our own
and if they crumble and fall
we'll still hold our own
We'll hold our...

Woah, woah...

Overall Meaning

The song White Walls by Archeology is a somber reflection on the loneliness and isolation that comes from being confined to four white walls in a hospital ward. The lyrics express a deep sense of ownership over these walls, as they become the only constant in the turbulent and uncertain existence of someone in a hospital. The repeated phrase "we'll hold our own" reinforces the idea that the only control patients have in this situation is their own willpower and determination to endure.

The infectious melody of the song makes it feel like an anthem of sorts, a rallying cry for those who find themselves trapped in a hospital, unable to escape the monotony and despair that can come with it. The use of hospital gowns as imagery is particularly effective, as it brings to mind the vulnerability and dehumanization that patients often experience when they are stripped of their personal belongings and clothing.

Overall, White Walls is a poignant reminder of the power of music to capture complex emotions and experiences, and to bring people together in moments of shared struggle.

Line by Line Meaning

We count these four white walls
These walls are our only possessions.

we count them as our own
We feel like we have control over them.

and if they crumble and fall
If they are destroyed, we won't lose our sense of ownership.

we'll still hold our own
We'll still have something to hold onto.

We'll hold on
We won't give up or lose hope.

Brick by brick away we drown on
We are slowly losing ourselves in this place.

down and down in our hospital gowns, oh
Our situation is getting worse by the minute.

We lay low, we lay low
We try to stay out of trouble.

When it goes we'll lay low
If the situation gets worse, we'll hide even more.

Woah, woah...
A cry of desperation for help.

Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.