Beach Fossils is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, forme… Read Full Bio ↴Beach Fossils is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2009. The group currently includes Dustin Payseur, Tommy Gardner, Jack Doyle Smith and Tommy Davidson. They are known for their lo-fi, atmospheric sound and Payseur's vocal style.

Formed in 2009, the act was originally a means to expand the solo project of Dustin Payseur. That same year bassist John Peña and guitarist Christopher Burke were recruited as the lineup for their initial tour. Their debut single, Daydream / Desert Sand was released in February 2010 on Captured Tracks. In May 2010, their debut album Beach Fossilswas released and met with favorable reviews.

The following years saw a number of changes to their lineup, including when John Peña left the band in 2011 to form Heavenly Beat, and guitarist Cole Smith, who left for his solo project, DIIV. In 2012, Tommy Gardner stepped in as the drummer to form their current lineup.
Clash the Truth was released in early 2013, peaking at number 40 on the Independent Albums chart. Paysuer described it as being an album about what happens after you've solved the immediate problems that come with moving away from home - "something that just doesn't feel like it makes sense yet".

In 2017, after a long break, the third album Somersault was released

Distance
Beach Fossils Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I had known
That I'd be fine
I would have taken some more time

Just the distance of our lives
Every day I know it pulls so tight

Look out so far

But feel so close
Everything we lose becomes the most

But no
I ain't lying
Oh no
I tell you all the time
That when I
Think of you
It tears my heart
And pushes me
Back to the start

I'm fine
Tonight

Overall Meaning

"Distance" is a contemplative song about the impact of time and distance on a relationship. The lyrics start with a line that points towards regret and highlights the idea of second-guessing past choices. Had the singer known that everything would be okay, they would have taken more time. This shows how time can be a critical factor in relationships, and if one is not given enough time, they may not survive.

The verses are reminiscent of how much time has passed and how much distance has been between two people. Despite the separation, there's still a sense of closeness that's needed. The last line of the verse 'everything we lose becomes the most' is a powerful reminder of the fact that when something is taken away, we start longing for it more. As time passes, the memories we shared become more important and significant.

The chorus of the song is hauntingly beautiful and emotional. The lyrics suggest the singer is in denial, saying they are okay, but it's not entirely true. The line 'Think of you, it tears my heart and pushes me back to the start' is sad, and it shows the struggle of the singer. Although they're trying to move on, they find themselves drawn back to where everything began. They are trapped in a time and place where things were better than they are now.

Overall, "Distance" by Beach Fossils is a touching song with a strong message. It encapsulates the feeling of longing and hopelessness that often accompanies long-distance relationships. The song reminds us of the importance of time and closeness and how the memories we make are treasured forever.

Line by Line Meaning

If I had known
If I had known that everything will be okay

That I'd be fine
That things will turn out well for me

I would have taken some more time
I would have given more time to myself

Just the distance of our lives
We are separated by the distance between our lives

Every day I know it pulls so tight
Every day I feel the pull of the distance between us

Look out so far
I see you from a distance

But feel so close
But it feels like you're close to me

Everything we lose becomes the most
Everything we lose becomes the most precious

But no
But no, that's not the case

I ain't lying
I'm not lying

Oh no
No, I'm not