Bow is a studio project by artist Chris van der Linden, combining ambient, … Read Full Bio ↴Bow is a studio project by artist Chris van der Linden, combining ambient, industrial and ethnic music into evocative, cinematic soundscapes. The debut album titled Man In the Machine tells the haunting story of a man questioning one’s purpose in life , juxtaposed against a similarly struggling machine.

Man In The Machine is a unique musical experience. An emotional journey that takes you on a mesmerizing trip you won’t soon forget. Features guest appearances of Sarah Nichols (Harp – Royal Conservatory The Hague), Keith Wallace (Spoken word) and Indigo Smith-Poelz (Violin).

Influences: Skepticism, Tiamat, Depeche Mode, Recoil, Anathema, In The Woods, Tangerine Dream.

Chris van der Linden is band lead/singer in experimental rockband Fourteen Twentysix (2006-present) and played drums in Sweet Assembler (2003-2006) amongst other projects.
Van der Linden started Bow early 2012 as an alias to freely experiment and explore new musical avenues. Working out of his home studio in Eersel, The Netherlands, Chris releases his music to fans around the world in a very personal way, ambitiously carving its own unique space, far outside the mainstream and majors.

Big Wings
Bow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I could see myself
At twenty eight
What do you think of me now?
To Hell with big wings
Heaven can wait
I won't be
I won't be checking out

Torn
Between big love
And hate
A passion whichever
Way round
Could have been
Could have been
Good intentions run aground

I am
I'm truly young
But I feel so old
'Cause the guage is
Good as gold
Plump and pearly?
It's way too early

Slim and surly
Is clearly divine

Overall Meaning

"Bigs Wings" by Bowes is a song about the struggles of growing up and finding one's place in the world. The opening lines of "I could see myself at twenty-eight, what do you think of me now?" introduce the theme of self-doubt that runs through the song. The chorus, "to hell with big wings, heaven can wait, I won't be checking out," speaks to a desire to reject the pressure to achieve greatness and instead focus on living life in the moment.

The verses explore the tension between love and hate and the consequences of following one's passions. The lyric "could have been good intentions run aground" suggests that even with the best of intentions, mistakes can be made and paths can be diverted. The singer's conflicting emotions are further accentuated by the line "I am truly young, but I feel so old," an acknowledgment of the weight of responsibility that comes with adulthood.

The bridge of the song offers a brief moment of levity with the playful wordplay of "plump and pearly, it's way too early, slim and surly is clearly divine." This serves as a reminder that life doesn't always have to be so serious and that sometimes it's okay to embrace one's quirks and imperfections.

Overall, "Big Wings" is a deeply introspective song that speaks to the universal experience of trying to find one's place in the world while grappling with the expectations of others.

Line by Line Meaning

I could see myself
I have a clear vision of my future

At twenty eight
When I reach the age of twenty-eight

What do you think of me now?
How do you perceive me currently?

To Hell with big wings
I have no interest in superficial success

Heaven can wait
I'm in no rush to achieve my goals

I won't be
I refuse to be

I won't be checking out
I won't give up on my aspirations

Torn
I'm conflicted

Between big love
Between intense feelings of love and desire

And hate
And intense feelings of anger and loathing

A passion whichever
I'm passionate no matter which way I go