Their sound is a mix of indie rock and electronic music, most recently integrating organic sounds into their music. Friends since the age of fourteen, Athlete have wide-ranging influences that include Grandaddy and Flaming Lips.
In The Library
Athlete Lyrics
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We could be a grown up fairy tale
Swimming in a library
We're not going anywhere
She said I love it
Oh I love it when we touch
When we touch on something
Something on my own
In this ocean of words
These something on my own
Cover up the blankets
Cover up the blankets from the years
That our parents gave us
To keep out the cold
And the unknown
Something regrew
Into a forest of desire
Cut down some friends that I knew
Who were gonna start a forest fire
Something on my own
In this ocean of words
Something on my own.
Can't stop the spill.
Can't stop the spill.
Can't stop the spill.
She said I love it
I love it when we touch
When we touch on something
We can't find it any something
The song "In The Library" is a dreamy, introspective ballad about two lovers spending time together in a library. The first verse has the singer asking their partner to put a finger on their lips, creating a hushed, intimate moment. The idea of being in a grown-up fairy tale suggests a sense of magic and enchantment that the library provides. The partners are swimming in a library, which could refer to the vast amount of knowledge and information available in books. Despite not physically going anywhere, the singer asserts that they are content just being together in the library.
In the second verse, the female partner says she loves it when they touch and when they touch on something, they can't find it anytime soon. This could suggest a deeper emotional connection when they find something in common, perhaps a shared interest or passion. The singer then reflects on their own thoughts and feelings, noting that something on their own exists in an ocean of words. It could allude to feeling lost in the sea of information and needing to find their voice.
The last verse mentions covering up the blankets from their parents that were meant to keep them warm from the unknown. The singers are now grown, and it seems as though they are shedding their previous fears and anxieties in favor of new, passionate desires. The idea of cutting down some friends that were going to start a forest fire could suggest getting rid of negative influences to make way for positive change. Ultimately, the singer asserts their need for something of their own in the vast library, something unique that they can hold onto that's not just a sea of words.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your finger on my lips
I want you to silence me with your touch, let's be intimate
We could be a grown up fairy tale
Our love story is unique and fantastical and could inspire many
Swimming in a library
We're so deeply absorbed in each other that we're metaphorically swimming in a sea of books
We're not going anywhere
We're not interested in moving on, we want to stay within this moment
She said I love it
She expressed her love for me
Oh I love it when we touch
Physical touch between us is pure bliss
When we touch on something
When we connect deeply, be it physical or emotional
We can't find it any something
There isn't a specific thing we're searching for, just the feeling of being connected and in love
Something on my own
I want to find my own unique path in life
In this ocean of words
Amidst the vastness of life and its choices
Cover up the blankets
Let's bury the comfort of our childhood and embrace uncertainty
Cover up the blankets from the years
Let's cast aside the familiar and step into the unknown
That our parents gave us
Our parents provided comfort and stability, but it's time to be on our own
To keep out the cold
The blankets symbolize insulation from the harsh reality of life
And the unknown
But we can't let the fear of what's ahead keep us from moving forward
Something regrew
A new passion or desire has sprouted within me
Into a forest of desire
This new desire has grown into a vast and complex force within me
Cut down some friends that I knew
I've had to let go of some old relationships or habits that could have hindered my growth
Who were gonna start a forest fire
Those friends or habits could have been destructive, and it's better to eliminate them before they harm me or my relationship
Can't stop the spill
I can't help but let my true feelings or desires out, even if they're messy or overwhelming
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CAREY SUTHON WILLETTS, JOEL LASLETT POTT, STEVEN ALEXANDER ROBERTS, TIMOTHY JOHN WANSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind