Azure Ray is an American indie duo, consisting of musicians Maria Taylor an… Read Full Bio ↴Azure Ray is an American indie duo, consisting of musicians Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. Azure Ray started in Athens, Georgia, in 2001 and later relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, and joined the music scene there, leading to collaborations with Bright Eyes and Now It's Overhead, among others. Their sound is sparse and understated, with intimate lyrics, elements of alt-country and folk Americana, and occasional forays into minimalist electronica.

The duo took a brief hiatus beginning in 2004 while each member pursued solo projects. They reunited from 2008-2012 releasing two albums, before disbanding again until a reunion show in 2018 and announcement of a new EP, Waves.

How Will You Survive
Azure Ray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the angels had watched over you
As you crossed over the bridge
And your mother how she wept for you
On the day you turned your heart
And when your blood is gone
How will you survive

And your dreams they don't stay in your mind

They are hiding in the night
And you think that this will be alright
Because the lord he was here at one time

But when your blood is gone
How will you survive

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Azure Ray's How Will You Survive start with a haunting image of angels watching over someone as they cross a bridge, perhaps into the afterlife. The mention of the person's mother weeping for them suggests that they have died or are close to death. The next stanza talks about the person's dreams, which are described as "hiding in the night". It's unclear if the dreams represent hope or fear, but the person seems to find solace in the idea that "the lord he was here at one time". The repetition of the line "And when your blood is gone, how will you survive" adds to the sense of foreboding and inevitability.

The song suggests a theme of mortality and the fragility of life. The bridge and the angels can be interpreted as a metaphor for the transition from life to death. The contrast between the comforting presence of the lord and the uncertainty of survival without blood further emphasizes this sense of mortality. The haunting melody and sparse instrumentation add to the introspective mood of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

And the angels had watched over you
Divine beings had protected you

As you crossed over the bridge
When you had an important transition in life

And your mother how she wept for you
How your mother cried for you

On the day you turned your heart
When you had an emotional change of heart

And when your blood is gone
When you are completely drained of your vitality

How will you survive
How will you carry on living

And your dreams they don't stay in your mind
Your aspirations aren't always present in your thoughts

They are hiding in the night
They can only be found when all is silent

And you think that this will be alright
You believe everything will be okay

Because the lord he was here at one time
God had previously intervened in your life

But when your blood is gone
Once you've lost all strength