Breathe Owl Breathe's first four albums were with a small Michigan based record label Earthwork Music, run by friends and fellow folk musicians Seth Bernard and May Erlewine. On September 28, 2010, Breathe Owl Breathe signed to Hometapes to release their fifth studio album Magic Central.
Official site:
www.breatheowlbreathe.com
Board Games
Breathe Owl Breathe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you take the time to talk
Everyone is cutting up paper
They have glue and glitter
A heart that opens, a heart that closes
and paper mache
Remember when we got together
Realizing that everyone is shouting
We are at a wild party
Some are dancing and others are talking
Some are dancing while they're talking
When I was younger, I had me a fortune teller friend
She told me about my future
It always started when
Black stallion in an open field
Thunder and lightening and it all seems too real
And then right at that moment
She'd clap her hands and ask me how I feel
Realizing that everyone is shouting
We are at a loud party
Some are dancing and others are talking
Some are dancing while they're talking
Won't you walk through the door
Won't you take the time to talk
Remember when this magic was magical
Before the magic turned dull
In Breathe Owl Breathe's song Board Games, the opening lyrics invite someone to come inside and engage in conversation. The next verse describes a playful scene where people are creating with paper, glue, and glitter while nostalgia lingers in the air with the mention of board games. The heart metaphor is used effectively to convey the message that we all have the ability to let others in and connect or shut them out, depending on how we navigate our emotions. The mention of a wild party and people dancing while talking, suggest a sense of chaos, but also the possibility of finding joy in it all.
The motif of fortune-telling is evoked in the later part of the song, and the imagery of thunder and lightning and a black stallion create a sense of foreboding. However, the fortune-teller prompts the listener to question their reactions to the symbolism and how they feel in that moment. The final verse returns to the earlier theme of the apparent loss of magic, and the need to remember its original wonder. Overall, Board Games seems to be a call for emotional openness and a reminder that magic can be found in everyday moments, even in the midst of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you walk through the door
Please come inside and join us.
Won't you take the time to talk
Please engage with those around you and have a conversation.
Everyone is cutting up paper
The group is creating art projects by cutting and gluing paper.
They have glue and glitter
These are the art supplies being used.
A heart that opens, a heart that closes
People have different emotional boundaries and their hearts can be opened or closed depending on the situation.
and paper mache
This is a reference to the art project being created with paper and glue.
Remember when we got together
Let's reminisce about past gatherings we've had.
And unfolded board games?
One of the activities that used to take place was playing board games.
Realizing that everyone is shouting
The atmosphere has changed and become more chaotic as people have gotten louder.
We are at a wild party
The gathering has become a more raucous party environment.
Some are dancing and others are talking
People are engaging in different activities at the party.
Some are dancing while they're talking
Some people are multitasking at the party by dancing and talking simultaneously.
When I was younger, I had me a fortune teller friend
In the past, the singer had a friend who could foresee the future.
She told me about my future
The fortune teller shared predictions about what was to come.
It always started when
The fortune telling always followed a specific pattern.
Black stallion in an open field
The fortune teller's visions often began with a black horse in a wide open space.
Thunder and lightening and it all seems too real
The visions were intense and vivid, including dramatic elements like thunder and lightning.
And then right at that moment
Just as the vision reached a climax...
She'd clap her hands and ask me how I feel
...the fortune teller would snap the singer out of it and try to gauge their emotional state.
Won't you walk through the door
The party is still going on and we'd love for you to join in.
Won't you take the time to talk
Please make an effort to converse with those around you.
Remember when this magic was magical
Let's try to recapture the sense of wonder and enchantment that once characterized these gatherings.
Before the magic turned dull
Lately, the gatherings have seemed less exciting and special than they used to.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.