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
On the Frame
Beta Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
have you lost what you believe?
what's the matter what's the meaning
when nothing's as it seems?
sit down at the table now
there's reason there's reprieve
(though you never would know it)
even those who are yet to
because in a little while when all will be over
you're going to say goodbye go and get your closure
in a hundred years when you're just a haze on the water
and then when it clears it's another's turn to discover
but you know they'll have to let go like you
can you hear me caleb?
on the morning when you came
it was me who wrote onto
the wooden door your name
it'll last there longer than
in this body i can stay
(because we all will be moving)
if you ever return again
write another's on the frame
because in a little while when all will be over
you're going to say goodbye go and get your closure
in a hundred years when you're just a haze on the water
and then when it clears it's another's turn to discover
but you know they'll have to let go like you
The lyrics to Beta Radio's "On the Frame" talk about the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The song begins with a plea to Father John, questioning if he has lost his faith in light of the uncertainty and confusion that surrounds him. The lyricist then moves on to the larger theme of life's impermanence, emphasizing that nothing is as it seems, and encouraging Father John to find solace in the company of others who share his grief.
The chorus of the song solidifies its theme of the passage of time and the need for closure. The lyrics describe the inevitability of death, explaining that it awaits everyone, and in a hundred years, even a once significant figure like Father John will be nothing more than a haze on the water. The song highlights that the pain and the memories that a person leaves behind are another's burden, just as they once were his, and that the cycle of life continues with no end in sight.
One interpretation of the song is that it's an acknowledgement of the human condition and the uncertainty of life. It encourages people to embrace life while they can and to remember their legacy, as it will eventually become someone else's shared memory.
Line by Line Meaning
can you hear me father john?
The singer questions if Father John is really listening and if he has lost his faith.
have you lost what you believe?
The singer asks if Father John’s faith has faltered.
what's the matter what's the meaning
The singer feels confused and unsure about the situation.
when nothing's as it seems?
The singer is questioning the uncertainty around everything.
sit down at the table now
The singer urges Father John to take a moment to reflect and find some clarity.
there's reason there's reprieve
There is hope to be found through contemplation.
(though you never would know it)
Father John may not recognize it, but there is still hope.
even those who are yet to come are sharers in your grief
Future generations will also feel the weight of Father John’s sadness.
because in a little while when all will be over
The singer acknowledges that life is fleeting and temporary.
you're going to say goodbye go and get your closure
The singer encourages Father John to find a sense of closure before his time ends.
in a hundred years when you're just a haze on the water
In the grand scheme of things, Father John’s mark on the world will fade away.
and then when it clears it's another's turn to discover
Once Father John’s time has passed, it will be someone else's turn to take on the world.
but you know they'll have to let go like you
Everyone will eventually have to let go and move on, just like Father John.
can you hear me caleb?
The singer is reaching out to Caleb, but it's unclear whether or not he's listening.
on the morning when you came
The singer is referring to Caleb’s birth.
it was me who wrote onto
The singer was the one who wrote Caleb’s name on the wooden door.
the wooden door your name
Caleb's name was written on the wooden door frame.
it'll last there longer than in this body i can stay
The name will last longer than the singer's life.
(because we all will be moving)
Just like Father John, everyone has to let go and keep moving.
if you ever return again
If Caleb comes back to the same place, his name will still be there.
write another's on the frame
If Caleb doesn't come back, someone else’s name will take his place.
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jansentify
after all those years this is still one of my all time favourite songs!!
@briankiragu8819
STAY WINNING!! I love this track
@cucaluciferina
God I love these guys.
@claudiaschulz3989
Love this song!
@Ananya-qp4tq
I love this so much
@TboneWillsone
You're doing amazing work and creating great music. I'm surprised you're not on Facebook! Anyway, keep doing what you're doing :)
@pravesh534
great work guys !! ....love from India : )
@ayushranaa
Thankfully, I found someone from India sharing the same taste in music as mine.✌🏻✨
@user-kv6wr5gd3f
sounds good
@jigawhatts
E MUITO BOAAAAAAA