Musically reminiscent at times of Bon Iver’s atmosphere heavy For Emma, Forever Ago or the Grateful Dead’s “Mountains of the Moon” from their 1969 release Aoxomoxoa, the sonic landscape of the band's album Seven Sisters is sparse but far from empty. On tracks like “Khima,” “Borderline” and “Brother, Sister,” the slow scrawl of the banjo melody floats through the song and surrounds you like birdsong, coming at you predictably but surprisingly from several directions at once. Each of the songs on this album stays with you, forming a soundtrack for and changing the shape of the rest of your day.
It’s appropriate that a debut album concern itself with creation and Seven Sisters is no exception. Whether it is the creation of love and a place for that love, as the narrative of the album suggests; or the creation of the universe, as the album’s title and repetition of astronomical and astrological imagery suggests; Beta Radio’s lyrics and music carve out a space in your head and find a way to fit into your own cosmology.
Lyrically, Seven Sisters explores religion, albeit from a couch rather than a pulpit. The religious allusions are subtle and unobtrusive, concerning themselves more with mysticism than proselytization, much like David Eugene Edwards’ 16 Horsepower and Wovenhand.
Line for line, the lyrics are beautiful and surprising. In “A Place for Me” the lines “I wanted not to fight / With my heart but I’ll fight with my fists all night” evoke the heartache of leaving, of lovers’ spats of loss and regret.
The album leaves you with a simple but urgent lyric refrain in “Return to Darden Road”– “Where do you go? / Come back to me / ‘Cause I love you so.” Review by deckfight
East of Tennessee
Beta Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm here under covers i'm under your trance
i saw the flair that shone in your eyes
but i have grown older from hearing your lies
an old photograph that you took from a plane
of the snow covered mountain in my mind remains
all snow left that mountain the following spring
like you left for all yonder on wings of angels
only i am here too far
a feast of misery but i just wash it away
only i am here too far
from you
gone is the widow from the window here
she married a martyr and contracts were cleared
but down in the water she's washing her kin
to show what's forgotten can be thought of again
an old photograph that on my wall still hangs
is the one that reminds of a past filled with pain
give it to another i want not to see
give it up to my mother because soon i'm leaving
east of tennessee always i'll be
only i am here too far
a feast of misery but i just wash it away
only i am here too far
spent all your life halfway outside
cursing the curtains that caused you to hide
who would've known i could've grown?
so i can finally say "i'm absolved"
of you
The song "East of Tennessee" by Beta Radio is a beautiful, yet melancholic piece of art that portrays the pain of losing someone and the slow process of healing that follows. The lyrics are deep, and the melody compliments the words to create an atmosphere of sadness and longing. The song starts with a question, and talks about the singer's struggles with trust and forgiveness. They talk about being in love with someone who lies, and how they have grown older from hearing those lies. The imagery portrayed in the song is powerful; an old photograph of a snow-covered mountain, which reminds the singer of the past and the pain associated with it. The snow on the mountain disappears, just like the loved one did, and the singer is left with nothing but memories.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the widow from the window who marries a martyr, and how she is washing her kin in the water. It is a metaphorical representation of how one's pain can be washed away with time. However, the old photograph from the past still hangs on the wall and serves as a reminder of the pain. The singer wishes to give it to their mother before leaving.
The song ends with an uplifting tone, where the singer talks about finally feeling absolved of the pain that once consumed them. They have grown and overcome their struggles, and now they are free. The line, "spent all your life halfway outside, cursing the curtains that caused you to hide, who would've known I could've grown," shows how even in the darkest of times, there is hope for growth and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
are you a meat eater forsaking the plant?
Are you willing to give up a perfectly good option (in this case, plant-based food) for something else (meat)?
i'm here under covers i'm under your trance
I am vulnerable and under your spell.
i saw the flair that shone in your eyes
I noticed the spark or glimmer that appeared in your eyes.
but i have grown older from hearing your lies
Your lies have aged me, either physically or emotionally.
an old photograph that you took from a plane
A snapshot taken from high up in the air.
of the snow covered mountain in my mind remains
I still have a mental image of a mountain blanketed in snow.
all snow left that mountain the following spring
When spring arrived, all the snow on the mountain melted.
like you left for all yonder on wings of angels
You left, perhaps suddenly or dramatically, as if carried away by angels' wings.
east of tennessee always i'll be
I will always be to the east of Tennessee, even if it's just in my mind.
only i am here too far
I am alone and too distant from everything and everyone else.
a feast of misery but I just wash it away
My life is like a banquet of sadness, but I try to cleanse it or make it better.
gone is the widow from the window here
The widow who used to look out from the window is no longer there.
she married a martyr and contracts were cleared
She wed someone who made great sacrifices, and all the arrangements were sorted out.
but down in the water she's washing her kin
She is down by the water, washing members of her family.
to show what's forgotten can be thought of again
She hopes to remind people that lost or neglected memories can resurface.
an old photograph that on my wall still hangs
I still have an old picture on display in my home.
is the one that reminds of a past filled with pain
This picture triggers memories of a time that was difficult or traumatic for me.
give it to another i want not to see
I don't want to see this image anymore, so I would prefer to pass it on to someone else.
give it up to my mother because soon i'm leaving
I plan to leave soon, so I'll give the picture to my mother to keep.
spent all your life halfway outside
You've lived your whole life with one foot out the door.
cursing the curtains that caused you to hide
You blame the curtains for keeping you hidden or trapped.
who would've known i could've grown?
It's surprising that I managed to mature, change or improve.
so i can finally say "i'm absolved"
I can now claim that I'm free from blame, guilt or responsibility.
of you
I'm absolved of you.
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MuntzDesigns
favorite new band...wake up people and start supporting Beta Radio!
@woodducknation844
This band is the best kept secret in music today. I cannot wait for the new album. Sevens Sisters is incredible. Ben and Brent are artists in the truest sense.
@curiouskid_222
I wonder why these people haven't gotten much views, they should be in line with Passenger and Sufjan Stevens
@amitanandnj
This gotta be the best band in the world!
@leerose8628
19,000+ views and only one dislike. Shows how amazing these guys are. Keep up the good work.
@charlesleeuwenburg9640
Great music and video! Drive on folks!
@MeBeJACC1
by far my favorite song. so glad I was introduced to your band. keep up the great music!
@Brettman802
Keep the excellent music coming gents. Loving it and loved seven sisters
@pastorauth
So stoked for the new album!
@kimwestrope7677
Another great song!