Originally hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Civil Twilight is a power trio that draws parallels with Pilot Speed and is especially known for their similar sound to early U2, Muse, Jeff Buckley, and Radiohead. Their music has been described as having impassioned vocals and stirring, alt-rock songcraft. Brothers Andrew and Steven McKellar were raised in a musical household, having explored their father's jazz collection at a young age while listening to their classically trained mother play piano. In November 1996, Andrew launched a teenaged band with help from his high school classmate, guitarist Richard Wouters. The two scheduled an inaugural rehearsal for the following month; in the interim, Andrew discovered that his younger brother, Steven, could sing and write songs. The three musicians subsequently banded together, with Steven agreeing to master the bass and Wouters giving up the guitar (which Andrew also played) to learn drums.
Their songs have been featured in many TV spots, including One Tree Hill and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. "Quiet In My Town" was prominently featured at the end of Season 6 Episode 3 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. of One Tree Hill on The CW Network. It played for 6 minutes during the coda – the scene of Quentin's funeral. They have also had songs on Vampire Diaries and the movie, "Underworld: Awakening". "Letters From The Sky" was featured at the end of Episode 11 of Harper's Island, after Wakefield kills Cal and Chloe commits suicide. In addition to this, the song was also featured on Season 7 of One Tree Hill, in the opening scene of the episode, You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son. The song has also featured at the end of the film I Am Number Four.
www.civiltwilightband.com
On the Surface
Civil Twilight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a frozen white light
Shone across my shoes
As I stood in the darkest blue
There came a light towards me
On the water that lay before me
And I could not wait to touch
The frozen hands that had felt so much
Ooh
I heard a song inside of me
It resonated off the sea
And all the chorus voices sang it back to me
If life is an ocean
Then I'm only on the surface
This is where they come in
Where some lives end and some begin
And this is where I like to stand
And watch the swirling ways of man
To stir humanity with visions of dignity
To see what will conspire
If I throw myself into its fire
Ooh
I heard a song inside of me
It resonated off the sea
And all the chorus voices sang it back to me
If life is an ocean
Then we're only on the surface
Ooh
I heard a voice inside of me
I looked up and I saw the sky scream
And there was light everywhere
If life is an ocean
Then I must be on the surface
Only on the surface
The song "On The Surface" by Civil Twilight tells a story of someone standing on the docks, feeling the cold and staring out onto the ocean before them. They see a light in the distance, coming towards them on the water. They feel compelled to reach out and touch it, as they know that it has felt so much. The lyrics suggest that this light is a metaphor for the experience and emotions of life.
The chorus of the song explores the idea that life is like an ocean, and that we are only on the surface. The lyrics suggest that there is so much more to explore and discover than what can be seen and experienced on the surface level. The verse that follows explores the idea that there is a space between where some lives end and some begin, and the singer likes to stand in this space and watch the "swirling ways of man." They are moved by visions of dignity and hope that stir within them when they throw themselves into the "fire" of life's challenges.
The last verse is a culmination of everything the singer has experienced and learned throughout the song. They hear a voice inside of them that makes them look up and see the sky scream with light. The imagery of light and the sky here suggests a moment of clarity and awareness. The repetition of the line "if life is an ocean, then I must be on the surface" suggests that the singer is still grappling with the idea that there is so much more to life than what can be seen and experienced on the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
It was cold on the docks that night
The environment was unpleasant and uncomfortable, and it set the tone for the rest of the experience.
As a frozen white light
The light was harsh and almost painful, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Shone across my shoes
The light was directed at the singer's feet, a reminder of his physical presence.
As I stood in the darkest blue
The color blue not only represents the time of day but also signifies the artist's emotions - sadness, depression, isolation.
There came a light towards me
The light appears as a beacon of hope or opportunity in the artist's life.
On the water that lay before me
The water represents the unknown: the future or the possibility of failure and regret.
And I could not wait to touch
There's an eagerness to grasp this opportunity, to experience something new and positive.
The frozen hands that had felt so much
There's an appreciation for those who have gone through trials and tribulations and have come out stronger.
If life is an ocean
Life is often compared to an ocean - vast, turbulent, unpredictable.
Then I'm only on the surface
The artist feels like he's not fully experiencing the richness and complexity of life.
This is where they come in
The singer is attuned to the subtle nuances of human interactions and personalities.
Where some lives end and some begin
The artist acknowledges that death is a part of life.
And this is where I like to stand
The singer prefers to observe and analyze situations rather than actively participate in them.
And watch the swirling ways of man
The singer is fascinated by the seemingly random and chaotic nature of human behavior.
To stir humanity with visions of dignity
The singer desires to inspire others to strive for something greater than themselves.
To see what will conspire
The artist is curious about the outcomes of various actions and events and what they might reveal about human nature.
If I throw myself into its fire
The artist is willing to take risks and put himself in challenging situations to learn and grow.
I heard a voice inside of me
The singer experiences an internal epiphany, a moment of clarity and understanding.
I looked up and I saw the sky scream
The sky represents something larger than life, and it's vocalizing an emotion or message, making the singer even more introspective and thoughtful.
And there was light everywhere
The realization or understanding brings clarity, hope, and positive energy.
Then we're only on the surface
The artist recognizes that all humans are limited by their circumstances and experiences but can strive to go deeper and experience life in a more profound way.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW MCKELLAR, RICHARD WOUTERS, STEVE MCKELLAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind