Owen Ashworth started to make music on a small casio keyboard back in 1997. His first two albums, "Answering Machine Music" and "Pocket Symphonies for Lonely Subway Cars," were made using nothing but small, battery-operated keyboards and Ashworth's own voice (along with occasional accompaniment by guest musicians). These early albums are now available on one CD, appropriately titled "The First Two Albums by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone."
Ashworth has released numerous EPs and full-length albums, with a trademark austere lyrical style that conveys emotions through its simplicity and directness.
CFTPA expanded its sound in 2006 with Ashworth's release 'Etiquette,' now using more instruments and effects (as well as more professional production and vocals from Jenny Herbinson). This album has given Ashworth room for experimentation and thinking space.
In 2009, CFTPA's newest album, titled 'Vs. Children,' was released. Although vocally very similar to his earlier work, the album features a greater variety of acoustic instruments and further demonstrates Ashworth's interest in pursuing more complex arrangements for his songs. His live shows reflect this as on his most recent tour he is joined by a full band.
In 2010 Ashworth announced that he was retiring the "Casiotone for the Painfully Alone" name, as well as the songs he wrote under that name. He now performs as Advance Base and a producer.
Natural Light
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you're in Charlotte again
teaching Spanish at high school
he said you're going by Joy
you cut your hair like a boy
& you don't talk to your old friends
we're in natural light
& you're sitting on my lap
like everything's alright
I've walked around with you on my mind
the names we used at the time
you know I've changed myself since then
I've thought on things that we said
what if we'd had the kid
I guess he'd be 15
I found a picture from before the fight
we're in natural light
& you're sitting on my lap
like everything's alright
The lyrics to Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's song, Natural Light, suggest a story about a person who has received news about an old friend. The friend is in Charlotte and now goes by the name Joy. She has moved on with her life, as evidenced by the fact that she cut her hair short and no longer talks to old friends. The singer then reminisces about a time before they had a falling out and found a picture of them together in natural light. The picture showed Joy sitting on the singer's lap, seemingly happy.
The singer has clearly been walking around with Joy on their mind, reminiscing about the past and the names they used to call each other. They recognize that they have changed since then, and they thought about what might have happened if they had a child together. The song ends with the singer once again looking at the picture from before the fight, where everything seemed to be alright between them.
Overall, the lyrics create a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past, and a desire to understand what went wrong between the singer and Joy. The natural light in the picture serves as a metaphor for the simplicity of the past, and serves to highlight the contrast with the present situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I got some news on you from a friend
I received information about you from an acquaintance
you're in Charlotte again
You are in Charlotte once again
teaching Spanish at high school
You are a Spanish teacher in a high school
he said you're going by Joy
He mentioned that you have changed your name to Joy
you cut your hair like a boy
You now have short hair that resembles a boy's haircut
& you don't talk to your old friends
You have stopped communicating with your former friends
I found a picture from before the fight
I discovered a photograph taken prior to our disagreement
we're in natural light
The lighting in the picture is from a natural source
& you're sitting on my lap
You are seated on my lap in the picture
like everything's alright
Appearing as if there are no problems or concerns between us
I've walked around with you on my mind
You have been in my thoughts frequently
the names we used at the time
Referring to the names we called each other during our time together
you know I've changed myself since then
You are aware that I have transformed myself since then
I've thought on things that we said
I have pondered over things that we spoke about
what if we'd had the kid
What if we had decided to have a child together?
I guess he'd be fifteen
If we had a child, he or she would be approximately fifteen years old now
Contributed by Colton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.