Olivier fancies himself a goat farmer, from rural France, but instead he’s a conservatory trained Parisian violinist and composer. Clare had a not-so-booming business of selling frogs by the side of the road as a child, and is the offspring of Geoff Muldaur. As a teen, Bob had the hair to prove he could play every note of Yngwie Malmsteen’s guitar solos (yes, he can!). This picturesque mixture of personalities has formed music rich in imagery, resulting in their songs being featured in several films and commercials. They have shared the stage with Devotchka, Vic Chesnutt, St. Vincent, Nouvelle Vague and others. Highlights from their most recent tours are The Meltdown Festival in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Primavera Festival in Barcelona, Moogfest in Asheville, Pop Montreal, La Cigale in Paris, The Paradiso in Amsterdam (released as a live CD), Union Chapel in London, and three trips to play in the band’s beloved Japan in just over a year.
Their debut album “The Movie” had a clear warm sound with a large string section artfully arranged by Olivier Manchon, recorded in an orchestral room and mixed to tape. Collaborators of great talent stepped in; Sufjan Stevens sang a duet with Clare and Van Dyke Parks played piano on one song. On their second album “Arrow”, the band experimented with more electronic elements, brass, and a stacked approach. Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) lent her voice to a song. The album was a stepping stone to their newest effort. KR-51 resided at the top a very steep hill for the band, a writing process filled with heartache, raw honesty, relentless practice, and a tireless willingness to throw things away. Clare studied the way Lotte Lenya delivered so convincingly, and you may hear the adventurous attitude of early Kate Bush in Clare’s writing. The great James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens) played drums on the album, filling it with crunch and bang, driving the record. Clare and the Reasons are not interested in the easy way, they are interested in the musical way. In a world of sound banks and sequencers, an orchestra made up of members of the Orchestre de Paris materialized, and was recorded live in Paris, something Clare and the Reasons consider a miracle.
The band sunk themselves into a city of many histories, a city of concrete boxes and fluted columns. Those contrasts, at times stark and streamlined, at times grandly lush, show up in the 11 songs on KR-51. They carry the meticulous orchestration and innovative songwriting Clare and the Reasons are known for, while also carrying a little more sorrow, a lot more distorted guitar, and a little more darkness of heart. Clare, Olivier and Bob were given room to contribute what only they could as musicians, in the beautiful recording studio sprouted in the middle of a vast sea of farm green. Clare and the Reasons’ third album, KR-51, is their Berlin.
Go back
Clare & the Reasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you even knew me at all
'Cause we tried, we tried and we tried
But something wouldn't keep us alive
Go back to your other world
Where thoughts have no consequence
'Cause we've talked, we've talked and we've talked
And thoughts of you
Stir in time
And thoughts of you
Relieve my mind
They come and then they go
Go back to you other bed
Where you win all your fights
'Cause we loved, we loved and we loved
Somehow something wasn't right
And thoughts of you
Stir in time
And thoughts of you
Relieve my mind
They come and then they go
The song 'Go Back' by Clare & the Reasons is a melancholic reminder of an unsatisfying relationship. The lyrics tell the story of a love that was tried and tested but ultimately failed. The singer is urging the other person to go back to their life before they had met, reminding them of a time where they were not weighed down by the troubles of a relationship that seemed doomed from the start. She asks them to go back to a world where thoughts have no consequences and where they always win their fights. The repetition of the phrase 'we tried, we tried and we tried' underscores the futility of their efforts to make their relationship work. The singer acknowledges the emotional baggage that remains as she admits that thoughts of the other person still stir her mind, but also that they come and go.
The longing and sadness in the song are communicated through the beautifully melancholic melody, the slow tempo, and the singer's emotive voice. The use of the piano as the main instrument adds to the wistful atmosphere of the song. The lyrics are simple but impactful, and they leave the listener with a sense of melancholy.
Overall, 'Go Back' is a somber reminder of the fragility of relationships and the pain that comes with their demise. It is a song that many can relate to, due to its frank and honest depiction of romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Go back to your other life
Return to the life you had before meeting me
Before you even knew me at all
Before we had any interaction or relationship
'Cause we tried, we tried and we tried
Despite our attempts and efforts
But something wouldn't keep us alive
Our relationship couldn't last
Go back to your other world
Return to the place or state of mind you were in before meeting me
Where thoughts have no consequence
Where thoughts or actions have no real impacts or outcomes
'Cause we've talked, we've talked and we've talked
Despite having conversations and discussions
But somehow we never made sense
Our communication or understanding of each other was not effective
And thoughts of you
Memories or feelings related to you
Stir in time
Arise or come up every now and then
Relieve my mind
Bring some comfort or peace to my thoughts or emotions
They come and then they go
These thoughts or feelings appear and disappear intermittently
Go back to your other bed
Return to the place where you rest and sleep
Where you win all your fights
Where you have control and feel empowered
'Cause we loved, we loved and we loved
Despite our mutual affection and care
Somehow something wasn't right
Something was not working or fitting well in our relationship
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.