Blue Hawaii, Arbutus Records and many of their Montreal counter-parts all began with the same breath in early 2010. Their debut album Blooming Summer (2010) was recorded following the pair’s travels in Central America. It frames a time of warmth and novelty, featuring dense female harmonies, tape saturated synths, guitars and drum machines. Eventually Ra (Raphaelle Standell-Preston) returned to her role in Braids, touring constantly, while Agor (Alexander Cowan) moved to Europe, treading deeper into dance music, electronics, and production.
The two decided to make Untogether in 2012; they began recording on New Years Day in Vancouver and intermittently worked on the project until summer broke in Montreal. The music followed their winter in Canada, it became colder, more introspective. It again captured a time and place, but instead of a dense saturation of love and excitement, this record reflects the vast world of self-awareness and delicacy. It takes for its subject the question of belonging, despite overwhelming space.
Musically, the production on the album is more spacious and physically it was recorded in separation. Despite this, it belongs together in its final form. It demonstrates successful creative process in a pair who composed apart, and in doing so it is a meditation on communication: how technology and art influence modern human relationships. It contains the vast space of two years passing, including watching their Montreal scene change as some launched into international success and others turned deeper inwards. Here, the album finds the conflict of separation/belonging to one’s self and community.
The duo notice that throughout the changing social and personal landscape which is one’s twenties, these divided notions and people somehow stay together. Even the name Blue Hawaii suggests a kind of melancholic, jaded paradise, but a paradise after all. It is because – or perhaps in spite of – these disjointed intersections that the record is called Untogether.
In Two II
Blue Hawaii Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not knowing where to go
Sometimes when I think back on my life
I see the one thing that has gone wrong
And there's never knowing when to put my foot down
Is only knowing how to get out
So what is it instead?
Just time goes by
Just time goes by
Oh there's a cloud now swimming all around me
And on the other side there's a family
Oh, don't you know I wanted God for so long?
Oh, don't you know God's gonna die trying
Fighting for
So what is it instead?
So what is it instead?
In two
In two
In, in, in
In, in, in
In two
Take my arms
Tie them in the bottom
A man with hands
He has nothing to show, show
For a sigh who is
The bedding, a biggest
My emotions sprung
A silent all life long
I let you do this to me
It doesn't hurt
It only makes you sicker
And me wiser
The end to us
The lyrics of Blue Hawaii's song "In Two II" convey a sense of personal struggle and introspection, as well as a longing for something greater.
The opening line, "Oh God has left me in two," suggests a feeling of internal division or conflict. The singer feels torn, unsure of which direction to take in life. This confusion is further emphasized in the line "Not knowing where to go." The singer reflects on their past and acknowledges that something has gone wrong along the way, though it may not be explicitly stated.
The line "And there's never knowing when to put my foot down, is only knowing how to get out" suggests a lack of assertiveness or decision-making skills. The singer struggles with setting boundaries, instead finding comfort in escaping difficult situations. The repetition of the question "So what is it instead?" expresses a desire to find an alternative, possibly a different path or mindset, but it remains elusive.
The imagery of a cloud swimming around the singer and the reference to a family on the other side could symbolize feelings of separation or being detached from a sense of belonging. The yearning for God is expressed, indicating a longing for guidance or a higher power, and the acknowledgement that this longing may be in vain, as the line "God's gonna die trying" suggests a futile pursuit. The phrase "fighting for" further emphasizes the struggle and effort put into seeking something meaningful.
The final stanza presents a scene of surrender and vulnerability. The singer metaphorically offers their arms to be tied at the bottom, highlighting a sense of powerlessness or sacrifice. The mention of a man with nothing to show alludes to personal shortcomings or a lack of tangible accomplishments. The line "It only makes you sicker, and me wiser" suggests that enduring this pain or allowing others to mistreat them has led to personal growth and wisdom. The song ends with the somber realization of the end of a relationship, leaving the listener with a sense of closure and finality.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh God has left me in two
I feel completely divided and lost after losing my faith in God
Not knowing where to go
Feeling directionless and uncertain about my path in life
Sometimes when I think back on my life
Occasionally, as I reflect on my past experiences
I see the one thing that has gone wrong
I am able to identify the main source of my troubles
And there's never knowing when to put my foot down
I struggle with knowing when to assert myself and take a stand
Is only knowing how to get out
My default approach is escaping or avoiding difficult situations
So what is it instead?
What alternative or different outcome should I seek?
Just time goes by
Only the passage of time
Oh there's a cloud now swimming all around me
I am enveloped by a sense of darkness or sadness
And on the other side there's a family
Meanwhile, there is a sense of belonging and support within a family
Oh, don't you know I wanted God for so long?
Do you understand my longing for a connection with God?
Oh, don't you know God's gonna die trying
Even though I may not believe in God anymore, the pursuit of spirituality is still important to me
Fighting for
Striving for something meaningful or significant
In two
Torn apart or divided
In, in, in
Deeply immersed or trapped
Take my arms
Symbolically offering my support or assistance
Tie them in the bottom
Restraining my ability to act or express myself freely
A man with hands
Someone with the potential to accomplish things
He has nothing to show, show
But currently lacks visible success or achievements
For a sigh who is
Yearning or longing for someone who
The bedding, a biggest
Is the source of comfort and support, the most significant
My emotions sprung
An outpouring of my emotions
A silent all life long
Silently endured throughout my entire life
I let you do this to me
I allowed myself to be treated this way
It doesn't hurt
I don't feel pain
It only makes you sicker
But it has a detrimental effect on your well-being
And me wiser
However, it has made me more knowledgeable or wise
The end to us
The conclusion or termination of our relationship
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Alexander W. Cowan, Raphaelle Standell Preston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mvunduk
8 years later and I’m back here because this is a tuneee
@JamarD421
So cool how these two tracks sound like one. The transition was smooth. It's best to hear them In Two.
@anakakhidze5350
why do you care about cover? I thought everyone comes here to listen to this incredible peace of art.
@DitLOAntonio
Way too good. ❤
@rainbowmadgirl4266
OMG! I'm in love with this song .
@WoodenTriange
Guys Im so proud of you!!! This is amazing. So much love. -Ingrr
@Warl0k
Videos are all over Youtube 01. Follow (05:25) 02. Try To Be (03:52) 03. In Two (03:25) 04. In Two II (02:44) 05. Sweet Tooth (03:31) 06. Sierra Lift (03:40) 07. Yours To Keep (04:44) 08. Daisy (04:38) 09. Flammarion (03:42) 10. Reaction II (03:34) 11. The Other Day (03:56)
@Capgungoesbang
Blue Hawaii is a great band, February feels so far away!
@rainbowmadgirl4266
OMG! I'm in love with this song 💘
@seurat2
Finally a reason to look forward to February. Love the music these two make.