Boris Smile was formed in 2004 by A. Wesley Chung. While originally created… Read Full Bio ↴Boris Smile was formed in 2004 by A. Wesley Chung. While originally created as a solo project named after his young Russian neighbor, it quickly became a band with a rotating door of musicians. Boris Smile released their first full-length record entitled “Chapter I” in the summer of 2007. The album follows Chung’s personal experiences in high school, documenting the angst, self-doubt, and absurdity of youth.

During the final stages of “Chapter I,” the band began working on the next full-length record, a collection of lo-fi home recordings entitled “Young and it Feels So Good.” Chung produced, engineered, and mixed the 18 track record, recording almost all of it in his dining and living room. After six months of work, the album was released in the spring of 2008. “Young and it Feels so Good” is an exploration of youth culture that touches on four main themes of celebration, social separation, the “culture of cool”, and growth. The album was considered in the top ten best albums of 2008 by music blog The Album Project.

In the Fall of 2008, Boris Smile released the “Beartooth EP.” Produced by Chung and newest recruit Seth Shafer (tuba, keys, arrangements), “Beartooth” stands out as the darkest release in the Boris Smile catalog. The “Beartooth EP” was Boris Smile’s first release with Michigan indie label Count Your Lucky Stars Records. The EP stays true to the pop sensibilities of older Boris Smile while entering a moodier world of Chung’s writing, which is only enhanced by Shafer’s brooding arrangements.

Boris Smile released their “Rockets EP” in March 2010, to mostly positive reviews. The six-track album focuses on a central theme involving the exploration of space and the fears and wonders involved. The growth of the band is made quite clear in this album, from their most recent rendition of the Boris Smile classic “Adventures With Rockets” to the closing track “8.24.06 [The Humbling of a Planet].”

In the Spring of 2011, the band released their final album, "My Love Powered by 10,000 Practice Amps," a 23 track magnum opus celebrating Chung's 2009 experience of living at the L'Abri community in England. The album is characterized by an eclectic mix of songs and styles and revolves around the themes of community, faith/doubt, and strength in weakness.

With the prospects of marriage, moving, and graduations, the band decided to dismantle in the summer of 2011. Boris Smile played their final show on September 5, 2011 at Fingerprints record store in Long Beach, CA. Band members since have continued to work on their own or in other musical projects: The Great Albatross, Avi Buffalo, Day Nurse, Paulie Pesh, Chase Long Beach, Korey Dane, The Red River, Rainman, Crowd Theory.

MEMBERS (as of August 2011):

Jon Carman - helping hands
A. Wesley Chung – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, arrangements
Meagan Christy – trumpet, vocals
Doug Brown – bass, vocals
Abigail Davidson – vocals, clarinet, percussion
Jonathan Morine- violin
Matt Proffitt - trombone
Seth Shafer – tuba, keys, arrangements, vocals
Avi Zhaner – electric guitar

AURORA
Boris Smile Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I call you Henry,
Will you call me Walden?
I will be your shelter;
I won′t let the cold in.
I will march to my own rhythm,
If that's what I seek.
Three times I wash in the Jordan;
Can you make me unique?

Will I hibernate in winter?
Will I wake up now in spring?
Aurora changed my days to seasons;
Aurora makes new everything.
When you wake up in the mornin′
In the mornin'
If I call you lightning,
Will you call me thunder?
I could be your moonlight,
If you would choose another.
I would march to my own rhythm
If you show me how.
I would fly by your sunset,
But my wings are melted now.
Will I hibernate in winter?
Will I wake up now in spring?
Aurora changed my days to seasons;
Aurora makes new everything.
When you wake up in the mornin'
In the mornin′
Hey Aurora, goddess of the dawn
Hey Aurora, grass has risen; spring has sprung
Hey Aurora, goddess of the dawn
Hey Aurora, grass has risen; spring has sprung
In the mornin′

When you wake up in the mornin'
In the mornin′

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Boris Smile's song Aurora depict a conversation between two people who are trying to establish a connection. The first verse begins with an invitation to use different names that symbolize a connection to nature and the environment. The line "I will be your shelter / I won't let the cold in" reassures the listener that they will be protected and not left alone. The next line "I will march to my own rhythm /If that's what I seek" underscores the importance of personal freedom and self-expression.

The second verse continues the conversation about naming and identity, exploring the possibilities of becoming unique. The lyrics "Three times I wash in the Jordan/Can you make me unique?" allude to the Biblical story of Naaman, a military commander who was cured of leprosy by washing in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman's story is often seen as a symbol of transformation and renewal. The third and final verse addresses the theme of change, particularly the change from winter to spring, which is brought about by the dawn or Aurora, the goddess of the dawn in Roman mythology.

Line by Line Meaning

If I call you Henry,
If I address you as one name,

Will you call me Walden?
Will you address me as another name?

I will be your shelter;
I will protect and provide comfort for you;

I won′t let the cold in.
I will keep the harshness of life away from you and keep you warm.

I will march to my own rhythm,
I will move forward in life according to my own pace and preferences,

If that's what I seek.
If that’s what I desire.

Three times I wash in the Jordan;
Three times I cleanse myself in the river Jordan;

Can you make me unique?
Do you have the ability to make me stand out from everyone else?

Will I hibernate in winter?
Will I go into a period of isolation and rest during the winter season?

Will I wake up now in spring?
Will I emerge from my period of rest and isolation and begin anew during the spring season?

Aurora changed my days to seasons;
The goddess of dawn transformed my experiences from mundane to significant, as the seasons change.

Aurora makes new everything.
The presence and influence of the goddess of dawn brings about newness and freshness in everything.

When you wake up in the mornin′
When you begin your day,

If I call you lightning,
If I refer to you as a natural phenomenon of electricity

Will you call me thunder?
Will you refer to me as a loud, powerful sound that follows lightning?

I could be your moonlight,
I could provide you with beauty and radiance like the moonlight,

If you would choose another.
If you would prefer someone else’s companionship.

I would march to my own rhythm
I would move forward in my own way and pace,

If you show me how.
If you guide me and show me how to do it.

I would fly by your sunset,
I would accompany you until the end of the day, at sunset,

But my wings are melted now.
However, my abilities and capabilities are no longer intact or strong enough to do so.

Hey Aurora, goddess of the dawn
Greetings to Aurora, the deity of dawn,

Hey Aurora, grass has risen; spring has sprung
Greetings to Aurora, for it is because of her presence and influence, that new grass has grown due to the arrival of spring.

In the mornin′
During the morning hours;

When you wake up in the mornin'
When you begin your day,

Writer(s): Chung Adam Wesley

Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS