After the release of "The Ghost of Things" EP, aspidistrafly released their first full-length album "i hold a wish for you" (Kitchen. Label) in 2008. The album was launched and supported by Apple Inc. in Singapore. In addition, aspidistrafly completed a release tour around Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand & Malaysia which culminated in a headline show at SuperDeluxe (Tokyo). aspidistrafly has also contributed materials for media art performances, most notably in "Drift Net" curated by international theatre company TheatreWorks, collaborating with Daito Manabe and Takayuki Fujimoto (dumbtype). In 2010, aspidistrafly's music was documented in two anthology compilations of experimental and independent music in Singapore.
Up to this time, aspidistrafly remains active in Japan. April has provided vocals and collaborated with haruka nakamura, Akira Kosemura and kadan. Also an accomplished artist, April does all artworks and films for aspidistrafly and is the art director of Kitchen. Label. As the producer of Kitchen. Label, Ricks is involved in the production of all its releases. He has improvised with Chihei Hatakeyama, Tomoyoshi Date, Yuen Cheewai (FEN) amongst others.
aspidistrafly is now recording their 2nd album to be released in 2011 and further international tour dates are to be announced.
red toe nails
Aspidistrafly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the roof
Her wings soared away
Weapons of our youth
Being rusted away
Ana, Ana
The birds wouldn't return
Ana, Ana
Don't stop to wonder what's now
Light surrounds her
As she waited for her love
Drowning in another's dust
That cannot surface past us
Ana, Ana
The birds wouldn't return
To listen and tell
Ana, Ana
Don't stop to wonder what's now
Ana, Ana
The birds wouldn't return
To listen and tell
Ana, Ana
Don't stop to wonder what's now
Ana, Ana
The birds wouldn't return
To listen and tell
Ana, Ana
Don't stop to wonder what's now
The lyrics of Aspidistrafly's song "Red Toe Nails" convey a sense of sorrowful reflection and a longing for a lost time or relationship. The opening lines paint a picture of a desolate rooftop, where hollow pigeons reside. These pigeons, once symbols of freedom and youthful rebellion, are now rusting away, losing their vitality and spirit. The refrain of “Ana, Ana” appears to be a call-out to someone, perhaps a lost love or lost self.
The song's protagonist, Ana, appears to be left behind as her wings soar away. She is left alone on the rooftop, waiting for her love, while surrounded by a sense of despondency and isolation. In a sense, Ana feels trapped and unable to escape the weight of her emotions that she carries. The line "drowning in another's dust that cannot surface past us" suggests that Ana is weighed down by something or someone that is preventing her from moving on.
The song's repetition of the refrain "The birds wouldn't return to listen and tell" is poignant and bittersweet. It conveys a sense of regret that something precious has been lost and can never be recaptured. The ending plea of "Don't stop to wonder what's now" is a reminder to keep moving forward, even when it's difficult and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollow pigeons
Emptied birds
On the roof
Perched atop
Her wings soared away
Her wings lifted her up and away
Weapons of our youth
Items of our past used to fight
Being rusted away
Being corroded and forgotten
Ana, Ana
A name repeated for emphasis
The birds wouldn't return
The birds refused to come back
To listen and tell
To hear and share stories
Don't stop to wonder what's now
Don't pause to think about the current situation
Light surrounds her
Brightness encompassing her
As she waited for her love
While she anticipated her lover's arrival
Drowning in another's dust
Being overwhelmed by someone else's remains
That cannot surface past us
That cannot rise above our present
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.