With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Here There Be Tigers
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That was the only thing between us
That was the only thing we never hear
Somewhere up the coast, far from ancient states
I heard you say the wave was heavy and weighed you down
As weight tends to do, the way it got to you
When you were sending all your postcards
How many junkies does it take
To lay a track back home?
Here there be tigers, tigers be here
That was the only thing between us
That was the only thing that was clear
Here there be tigers
Mini tel aviv in south bombay where you slept off the drugs
Nervous from two years service from where they swept you under the rug
That’s the part that hurts, they said you wouldn’t work
You got down on everything ‘cause everyone let you down
Almost to the point where you could not open your mouth up
To say I love, I’ve always loved you
Here there be tigers, tigers be here
That was the only thing between us
That was the only thing that was clear
Here there be tigers
The song "Here There Be Tigers" by Craig Cardiff is a melancholic and introspective reflection on loss, distance, and alienation. The opening line "Here there be tigers, tigers be here That was the only thing between us" immediately creates a sense of danger and isolation, as if the singer and the person they're addressing are separated by a metaphorical jungle full of predators. This line is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the distance between the two individuals.
The second verse describes a conversation the singer overheard between the other person and someone else, in which the latter complains about feeling weighed down by the "wave" (perhaps a metaphor for the hardships and pressures of life). The singer realizes that they haven't talked to the other person in a long time, and wonders if the weight of their own problems is what's keeping them apart.
The third verse is more cryptic, referencing a location in Mumbai where the other person spent time after serving in the military. The singer seems to suggest that the other person has been let down by society, and is perhaps suffering from addiction or other forms of trauma. The verse ends on a poignant note of unrequited love, as the singer laments the other person's inability to express or receive affection.
Overall, "Here There Be Tigers" is a haunting and beautiful song that captures the complexities of human relationships and the difficulty of staying connected across distances and differences.
Line by Line Meaning
Here there be tigers, tigers be here
There are dangerous and unpredictable things in this place, we must be cautious and aware.
That was the only thing between us
Fear was what kept us from being close to each other.
That was the only thing we never hear
Our fear was so strong that we couldn't hear anything else that could've united us.
Somewhere up the coast, far from ancient states
The place that you talked about is difficult to locate - it's far away and not easily accessible.
I heard you say the wave was heavy and weighed you down
You expressed the burden weighing heavily on you, like a wave that's too strong to swim in.
As weight tends to do, the way it got to you
The weight of your struggles eventually got the best of you, as it does to most people.
You got off watching Hastings St and Hastings got you back
You found pleasure in watching the drug scene on Hastings St but it also lured you into addiction.
When you were sending all your postcards
During the times when you were reaching out to others, trying to connect with them.
How many junkies does it take
This place was filled with so many addicted people.
To lay a track back home?
How many more people have to suffer from addiction before they can find their way back home?
That was the only thing that was clear
The statement about tigers was the only thing that we both understood and agreed on.
Mini tel aviv in south bombay where you slept off the drugs
You went to a place known for drug use to try and recover from your addiction.
Nervous from two years service from where they swept you under the rug
You were anxious because of the two years you spent being ignored and underappreciated by those who were supposed to support you.
That’s the part that hurts, they said you wouldn’t work
It's painful to hear that you were deemed unfit to work by those who were supposed to help you recover.
You got down on everything ‘cause everyone let you down
You lost faith and trust in everything around you because you felt unsupported and ignored.
Almost to the point where you could not open your mouth up
You were so hurt and doubtful that you couldn't even speak out about your pain.
To say I love, I’ve always loved you
You couldn't even express your love for the person you cared about deeply because of your fear and pain.
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.