Ayle… Read Full Bio ↴Barns Courtney (born Barnaby George Courtney on 17 November 1990 in
Aylesbury, England) is an English singer, songwriter and musician.
Courtney spent a large part of his childhood in Seattle,USA, before returning to home country UK as a 15-year-old. This change of scenery comes across as clearly in his eclectic mix of US blues-rock, hip-hop and grunge with British indie melodic sensibilities, as it does in his hybrid US-British twang.
Playing in various projects and bands growing up whilst developing his sound, Barns incarnation as a solo artist has been an unexpectedly fast paced one. At the end of 2015, his first track ‘Glitter & Gold’, with its rocking gospel-blues and Barns’ honey & sand delivery, soared to #1 on the UK Spotify Viral Chart, #2 on the iTunes Alternative Chart, was added to the BBC Introducing Playlist, clocked hundred of thousands of plays on YouTube, and was featured on the ITV Winter 2015 drama reel, all in the span of two months.
‘Goodbye John Smith’, a poignant piano ballad that channels ageless song-and-voice men such as Johnny Cash and Tom Waits, hit the radars of tastemakers online and further spread the word about Barns, earning him a spot as one of Channel 4’s Future Sounds artists that year.
Barns Courtney released his debut EP, ‘Hands’, a four-track collection, in 2016 on Virgin EMI.
Babylon
Barns Courtney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're paying for your sins
Over and then again
All within lurid lands
The gates are opening
You're melting in the sand
What planet are you on?
You're floating like a ghost
Out into the unknown
What planet are you on?
Cosmic phenomenon
Stars by the millions
Oh holy, golden sun
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
Dreaming and lost alone
Far from your mother's home
The madness in your bones
It's boiling in your blood
And endless sky above
These deserts that you roam
What planet are you on?
What constellation?
You're floating like a ghost
Out here in the unknown
What planet are you on?
Cosmic phenomenon
Stars by the millions
Oh holy, golden sun
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
(In the gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
(The gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
(In the gates of Babylon)
What planet are you on? (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
What constellation? (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
You're floating like a ghost (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
Out into the unknown (the gates of Babylon)
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
To the gates of Babylon
The song "Babylon" by Barns Courtney evokes an image of a person lost in a wasteland, struggling to find their way back home. The opening lines suggest a sense of despair and guilt as the singer contends with the consequences of their actions. The imagery of walls caving in and melting in the sand contribute to the feeling of being trapped and suffocated. The gates being opened and the singer melting into the sand represents a loss of control and a surrender to forces beyond their power.
The chorus then shifts to a question of the singer's whereabouts, asking what planet they are on and what constellation they're under. This emphasis on the stars and the unknown further reinforces the feeling of being lost in a vast expanse of space. The repeated line of "to the gates of Babylon" creates a feeling of a hopeless journey towards an unattainable goal.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a search for redemption and a struggle to find one's place in a seemingly endless universe. The combination of the desolate imagery with the questions about the singer's whereabouts creates a sense of mystery and wonder, making it a compelling and thought-provoking song.
Line by Line Meaning
These walls are caving in
The singer feels trapped and hopeless in their current situation.
You're paying for your sins
The singer is experiencing consequences for past actions.
Over and then again
The cycle of negative behavior and consequences repeats itself.
All within lurid lands
These negative experiences are happening in a dark and unpleasant environment.
The gates are opening
A new opportunity or experience is presenting itself.
You're melting in the sand
The singer is overwhelmed and powerless in this new situation.
What planet are you on?
The singer is questioning their surroundings and the reality of their situation.
What constellation?
The artist is searching for meaning and direction in their life.
You're floating like a ghost
The artist feels like they don't belong and are disconnected from their environment and others.
Out into the unknown
The artist is facing uncertainty and taking a risk by exploring new territory.
Cosmic phenomenon
The singer is in awe of the vastness and wonder of the universe.
Stars by the millions
The artist is surrounded by the beauty of the night sky.
Oh holy, golden sun
The singer is finding hope and reassurance in the warmth of the sun.
To the gates of Babylon
The singer is on a journey to a new place or experience.
Dreaming and lost alone
The singer is feeling disoriented and disconnected while sleeping or daydreaming.
Far from your mother's home
The artist is physically or emotionally distant from the comfort and support of their past.
The madness in your bones
The artist feels a sense of instability and chaos within themselves.
It's boiling in your blood
The singer is feeling intense emotions and is struggling to contain them.
And endless sky above
The singer is surrounded by endless possibility and potential.
These deserts that you roam
The artist is on a challenging journey, facing adversity and obstacles.
(In the gates of Babylon)
Repeating the idea of embarking on a new journey to a new place or experience.
What planet are you on? (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
Continuing the theme of questioning one's surroundings and reality while also acknowledging the journey to Babylon.
What constellation? (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
Continuing the search for meaning and direction while on the journey to Babylon.
You're floating like a ghost (the gates of Babylon, the gates of Babylon)
Continuing the sense of disconnection and not belonging while on the journey to Babylon.
Out into the unknown (the gates of Babylon)
Continuing the theme of taking a risk and facing uncertainty on the journey to Babylon.
To the gates of Babylon
Repeating the idea of embarking on a new journey to a new place or experience.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Barnaby Courtney, Sam Bartle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrew J. Casey
on Golden Dandelions
It's an upbeat song about death a loss.