Comprising Philip Moore (vocals, guitar), Beth Tacular (accordion, vocals) and Mark Paulson (violin, vocals), their début album, Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007), was released on Burly Time Records, followed by their second album, Upper Air in July 2009 and album number three, The Clearing in March 2012.
Whereas the first two albums were recorded on the quick and the cheap, the songs sounding like "old, familiar campfire anthems sung by a couple clinging to very deep love". For the recording of The Clearing they had more time and better resources, making it a bigger sounding record, with bolder sounds, a broader scope, and more complicated songs. It was more than a third record for Bowerbirds. Between 2009 and 2012, Beth Tacular nearly died after a mysterious illness that put her in the hospital.
Beth and Phil even ended their long relationship but began it again after realizing that, despite their own shortcomings, they didn’t want to be with anyone else. Mostly, though, they returned to their cabin in the woods of North Carolina to nest—to make soup and walk dogs, to make art and write songs, to realize that this was their life and find contentment in it.
From 2012 to 2020, they did not release anything until the release of a string of digital singles in 2020 (they were compiled on Endless Chase: 20 Singles) and a long overdue new studio album, becalmyounglovers, in 2021.
Hooves
Bowerbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I nearly split my mama in two,
While she held me proud I had the thought:
Well, there's no one more beautiful than you.
Ahhhhh ahhhhhhh
And you're the kindlin' still that burns below my heart,
And you're the hooves that lead me through the forest.
Ahhhhh ahhhhhhh
You're the memory now that lives across the world,
While the wind howls low and tries to steal my hours,
You're the hooves that lead me through the forest.
In Bowerbirds' song "Hooves," the lyrics describe the singer's deep-rooted connection with someone they hold dear. The first verse takes us back to the moment of the singer's birth, where they express immense admiration for their mother for bringing them into the world. The use of the phrase "split my mama in two" suggests the intensity of the experience, emphasizing how life-changing it must have been. The second verse is where we learn about this person's significant other. They are referred to as "kindliing" and "hooves," symbols of warmth and guidance that keep the singer going through life's challenges. The lyrics suggest that this person is not only physically present but also a significant source of emotional support - a memory that lives on no matter how far away they may be.
The chorus repeats the opening phrase, emphasizing the connection to the birth moment while acknowledging the presence of the significant other that has become woven into the singer's life. The imagery of the forest underscores the natural, organic connection that the two share while the wind's howling represents the external forces that would tear them apart. Overall, the song is a beautiful testament to the power of connection and the importance of holding on to the people that matter most in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Back to when I was born on a full moon,
Remembering the time of my birth on a full moon night.
I nearly split my mama in two,
My birth was a difficult one for my mother.
While she held me proud I had the thought:
As my mother held me after birth, I had the thought:
Well, there's no one more beautiful than you.
My mother was the most beautiful woman to me at that time.
Ahhhhh ahhhhhhh
Instrumental
And you're the kindlin' still that burns below my heart,
You still ignite the fire in my heart.
And you're the hooves that lead me through the forest.
You guide me like the hooves of an animal lead it through the forest.
Ahhhhh ahhhhhhh
Instrumental
And you're the kindlin' still that burns below my heart,
You still ignite the fire in my heart.
You're the memory now that lives across the world,
You are the memory that exists across the world now.
While the wind howls low and tries to steal my hours,
While the wind blows with a low howl and tries to take away my time.
You're the hooves that lead me through the forest.
You guide me like the hooves of an animal lead it through the forest.
Contributed by Mia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.