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.
Do You Ever Live?
Darlingside Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hands at 10 and 2? Are you the spinning wheel
As it starts to reel?
Or the tallship on a summer lawn?
The tiller yaws, the ripple moving blade to blade
Makes a figure eight
Or an echoing shell
Do you ever live?
Are you someone else?
Are you someone else or is someone else you?
Oh, what can you do
If you're the only passenger?
You've come from where you're coming to, but there may be
An unraveling seam
Wake up, low-angle sun, ivy runners have begun
To climb the starboard walls
And they start to call:
Do you ever live?
Only, only love
Only love will show us where we have to go
Set off into the vale
Make your way into the trail of intersecting shoots
One of which is you
Do you ever live?
In "Do You Ever Live?", Darlingside brings forth philosophical musings on self-discovery and existentialism. The song questions for the listeners if they are adrift or in control, questioning the state of their life. The lyrical lines "Are you adrift?" and "Are you the spinning wheel as it starts to reel?" builds on this sense of uncertainty and confusion. The references to a tall ship on a summer lawn and the image of an unraveling seam denote that things may look impeccable from the outside, but there could be problems lurking underneath the surface.
The chorus "Do you ever live?" underlines the underlying question of "what does it mean to truly live?". The lyrics contemplate if the listener is someone else or if they are themselves — another thought-provoking concept to ponder. The verse "Only, only love, Only love will show us where we have to go," brings forth the idea that love is the ultimate force driving humans towards their life's purpose. The song motivates the listener to look within and start living with a sense of purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you adrift? Are you
Do you feel lost and unsure about your direction or purpose in life?
Hands at 10 and 2? Are you the spinning wheel
Are you going through the motions without fully engaging or controlling your life?
As it starts to reel?
As your life feels like it's spinning out of control?
Or the tallship on a summer lawn?
Do you feel like you're gracefully navigating through life with purpose and direction?
The tiller yaws, the ripple moving blade to blade
Even when things get tough, do you stay the course and navigate through challenges?
Makes a figure eight
Do the ups and downs of life create patterns that you can reflect on and learn from?
Only, only time, only time will tell if you're the sea itself
The passage of time will determine whether you are a force of nature, powerful and unstoppable.
Or an echoing shell
Or if your life is empty and meaningless, with no inherent purpose.
Do you ever live?
Are you truly living your life to the fullest and experiencing all the joys and challenges that come with it?
Are you someone else?
Do you feel like you are living a life that is not authentic or true to yourself?
Are you someone else or is someone else you?
Are you living the life that you want, or are you living up to the expectations of others?
Oh, what can you do
What actions can you take to change your life and make it more fulfilling?
If you're the only passenger?
If you feel like you are alone in your journey through life?
You've come from where you're coming to, but there may be
You may have a sense of where you came from and where you're going, but there are always unexpected twists and turns in life.
An unraveling seam
Problems or issues that can arise unexpectedly and threaten to derail your life.
Wake up, low-angle sun, ivy runners have begun
Wake up and be present in your life, even in the small moments and details.
To climb the starboard walls
The world is constantly changing and moving forward, and you must be adaptable and flexible.
And they start to call:
Life is calling to you, urging you to take action and make the most of it.
Only, only love
Love is the ultimate force that can guide us and help us find our way in life.
Only love will show us where we have to go
Love can help us find direction and purpose in our lives.
Set off into the vale
Embark on a journey and explore new places and experiences.
Make your way into the trail of intersecting shoots
Follow your own path, even if it diverges from others, and take chances on new opportunities.
One of which is you
One of these paths will lead you to your true self and your ultimate purpose.
Do you ever live?
Are you truly alive and embracing all the experiences that life has to offer?
Writer(s): SENFT DAVID CULVER, MUKHARJI AUYON, PASELTINER HARRIS ANDREW, MITCHELL DONALD LEWIS
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.