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.

Signs in the Leaves
Azure Ray Lyrics

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I'm a little worried
That I killed something inside of me
When I let you go

Days were dark
With you in my mind
I thought it best to be free

And now the birds don't sing
And the trees don't speak
And I don't see signs in the leaves anymore

I'm a little worried
That I killed something inside of me
When I let you go

It's a stranger's eyes that won't meet mine.
There's nothing left there to divide

'Cause the birds don't sing
And the trees don't speak to me
And I don't see signs in the leaves anymore

I'm a little worried
I'm a little worried
That I killed something inside of me
When I let you go

When I let you go
When I let you go

Overall Meaning

The song Signs in the Leaves by Azure Ray explores the aftermath of a breakup and the feeling of emptiness that comes with it. The singer is worried that they have "killed something inside" of themselves when they let their partner go. They describe their days as being dark when they used to think of their partner, and they thought it was best to break free.

The imagery used in the song portrays a sense of loss and absence. The birds don't sing and the trees don't speak to the singer anymore, and they don't see signs in the leaves like they used to. These signs may represent the hope and promise the singer held onto when they were in love, but now they can't see them anymore, which suggests that their outlook on life has changed.

The last stanza repeats the singer's worry about killing something inside of themselves and letting go of their partner. They describe looking into a stranger's eyes that won't meet theirs, which could represent a sense of loneliness and detachment. The refrain of "when I let you go" reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling to move on and may feel regret about their decision.

Overall, Signs in the Leaves is a haunting and introspective song that captures the complexities of loss and how it can change a person's perception of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a little worried
The singer feels uneasy about something

That I killed something inside of me
The singer thinks that their decision to end a relationship has had a negative impact on them

When I let you go
The singer is referring to the end of a relationship

Days were dark
The artist felt unhappy when they were in the relationship

With you in my mind
The artist was preoccupied with thoughts of their partner

I thought it best to be free
The singer believed that breaking up was the right choice

And now the birds don't sing
The world seems less vibrant and beautiful without the singer's former partner

And the trees don't speak
The artist feels disconnected from nature

And I don't see signs in the leaves anymore
The artist used to find meaning and signs in the natural world, but that has changed since the breakup

It's a stranger's eyes that won't meet mine.
The artist feels isolated and that people are avoiding them

There's nothing left there to divide
There is no longer a relationship to keep the singer and their partner apart