Circulatory System, founded by Will Cullen Hart, John Fernandes, and Peter … Read Full Bio ↴Circulatory System, founded by Will Cullen Hart, John Fernandes, and Peter Erchick after the 1999 break-up of The Olivia Tremor Control, make dense, psychedelic noise pop rife with harmony. Other contributors include Heather McIntosh of The Instruments, Hannah Jones of The New Sound of Numbers, Alexis Daglis and Jeff Tobias of Bomb the Music Industry! and of Montreal, Robbee Cucchiaro of Nana Grizol and The Music Tapes, Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, Eric Harris of Elf Power, and Derek Almstead of M Coast.

Waves of Bark and Light
Circulatory System Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

did we never say hi?
we never say hi or say goodbye
but here we go into the sun
to ride the waves of bark and light
when we've made it up to the sun
unpack your things, you'll see why we've come
you need your frequencies of intuition
the now dead eternal clock has ceased its ticking

i read between the lines
and saw the faces
we saw the difference in every corner

we now know, everything
is just beyond us, above us, below us, etc.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Waves of Bark and Light" by Circulatory System depicts a journey, possibly a physical or a metaphorical one, where the singer and the listener are riding waves made of bark and light towards the sun. The song begins with the singer wondering if they have ever properly greeted or parted ways. However, now they are embarking on a new journey, and the emphasis is more on the present and future rather than the past. They continue riding towards the sun, and once they reach there, they unpack and discover the reasons why they have undertook this journey. It is revealed that they had to tap into their intuition and leave behind the concept of time (the eternal clock) to fully experience what lies ahead. The singer sifts through their experiences and learns new things, realizing that every corner of life is unique and they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Overall, "Waves of Bark and Light" is a song that is both introspective and optimistic. The journey is not an easy one, but the singer assures the listener that the destination is worth it. The combination of bark and light is an interesting juxtaposition, making the journey not only tactile but also illuminating. The reference to tuning into their intuition and casting aside the concept of time can be interpreted in various ways, but it seems like it is meant to be a call to live in the present moment and pay attention to the little things that make life unique.

Line by Line Meaning

did we never say hi?
Did we not have an opportunity to greet each other?

we never say hi or say goodbye
We have never exchanged greetings or goodbyes.

but here we go into the sun
We are embarking towards the sun's direction.

to ride the waves of bark and light
We are here to experience the undulating effects of sunlight shining through the trees.

when we've made it up to the sun
After we reach the sun...

unpack your things, you'll see why we've come
Unpack your belongings and you will realize why we embarked on this journey.

you need your frequencies of intuition
You must trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice.

the now dead eternal clock has ceased its ticking
The timeless clock that once ticked has now stopped

i read between the lines
I interpreted the hidden messages.

and saw the faces
I saw the people's expressions.

we saw the difference in every corner
We observed the dissimilarities in everything around us.

we now know, everything is just beyond us, above us, below us, etc.
Our understanding is now that everything exists beyond the confines of our physical surroundings.

Contributed by Luke T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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