Describing themselves as “string-rock”, the band started up in 2009 and quickly took hold of New England’s musical imagination. Playing over 100 shows during their first year of touring, the band created a seamless, exhilarating sound at the intersection of rock, classical, and folk music. Their self-produced six-song EP 1 earned high praise for its craftsmanship and originality, and their brand new subscription album Pilot Machines was released in 2012.
Clay & Cast Iron
Darlingside Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
White gold, sapphire, and apricot soap
French leather purses and saris with painted-on flowers
The smell of old cedar and jasmine perfume
Fig trees, bottles of milk, and sewing machines
The ring Baba gave you that you used to leave by the sink
You told me you take your Darjeeling black with a scone and,
"Always remove your shoes in a home."
That I was your shadow and keeper of secrets and standards
"A gentleman's only as good as his word."
Ice skating in Kansas City, Crown Center alight
I said I'd be there in a minute
I stayed on the ice
I gave you away
The lyrics of Darlingside's song "Clay & Cast Iron" are much more than just a beautiful array of words. The song expresses the bittersweet memories of the singer, who seems to be lamenting over the loss of something that they once held dear. As the verses unfold, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a past relationship, describing several items that help to evoke specific memories. The song is a reflection of what the singer left behind and what they miss about that time in their life.
The first stanza describes a collection of everyday objects with a personal meaning. The items mentioned - Clay and Cast Iron, sunglasses, soap, purses, saris, cedar, and perfume - all play a part in creating a tangible scene that paints a picture of a bygone era. The sterling silver sunglasses may have been a gift from a lover or a cherished object that represented a time when things were simpler or happier. The cedar and jasmine perfume may have been worn by a mother or grandmother, and the mention of the sari with painted-on flowers may have symbolized a lover whose beauty was timeless. The second stanza unfolds more details about the relationship with Baba, who gave the singer the ring that they used to leave by the sink. This ring is a symbol of the singer's commitment to someone or something that is now lost.
The bridge section of the song mentions "ice skating in Kansas City, Crown Center alight," which highlights a specific moment in time. Although the singer stated that they would be there in a minute, they "stayed on the ice." This indicates that they were not present at the appointed time, which may imply that the relationship deteriorated due to external pressures or lack of effort. In the chorus, the singer repeatedly says, "I gave you away," as if they were a passive participant in the end of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Clay and cast iron, rum-colored silver sunglasses
Describing a mix of textures and colors in different objects
White gold, sapphire, and apricot soap
Further building on the theme of different textures and colors in objects
French leather purses and saris with painted-on flowers
Continuing to describe different objects, this time with cultural references
The smell of old cedar and jasmine perfume
Describing certain scents associated with memories
Fig trees, bottles of milk, and sewing machines
More objects associated with memories
The ring Baba gave you that you used to leave by the sink
A specific object with sentimental value
I gave you away
The singer gave something or someone away
You told me you take your Darjeeling black with a scone and,
Recalling a past conversation about tea and food preferences
"Always remove your shoes in a home."
A rule or custom shared by the artist and the other person
That I was your shadow and keeper of secrets and standards
The artist was seen as a confidant and trusted advisor
"A gentleman's only as good as his word."
A quote shared by the singer and the other person, about the importance of keeping one's promises
Ice skating in Kansas City, Crown Center alight
Describing a specific memory of a location and activity
I said I'd be there in a minute
The singer made a promise to the other person
I stayed on the ice
The singer did not keep their promise and chose to continue skating
I gave you away
Repeating the earlier line, possibly referring to giving away a relationship or memory
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Poe Food
These guys are legends, I promise.
Paul Waltz
Wow, those harmonies are incredible.
John Palgrave
Extraordinary, quality music. Lovely harmonies as usual. Thankyou. . ...
Ray Banger
I watch a lot of these live music videos, and the quality of the recordings at OurVinyl is outstanding.
OurVinyl
+Ray Banger That means everything to us! Thank you for watching
intpseeker
Beautiful song! Loving Darlingside. Beautiful recording! Well done OurVinyl. Question: what is the vocal mic you used?
OurVinyl
+intpseeker Thanks so much for the kind words. The band brought that specific mic with them. I can look into it and see what they used.
Ryan Miller
+intpseeker The mic is "Louise" from Ear Trumpet Labs, a Portland, OR company. My acoustic duo uses the same mic and we love it, not to mention it looks great as well. More info at www.eartrumpetlabs.com
intpseeker
+Ryan Miller Thanks for the info. The mic and a number of the Ear Trumpet mics look like the ones used in The King's Speech. Very cool!
David Haupert
This song is so very moving to me! What do the lyrics “I gave you away” mean in the context of the song? That you grew up and took for granted your loved ones?