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.
She's All Around
Darlingside Lyrics
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Ground and water running thick as the blood of a man
Down to the Bluestone, where the house used to be
Now the weeds and the wildflowers all have families to feed
And she's all around you now
The December after was enough to convince, when
And into cathedrals of cedar and pine
Even when we lost her, she was all we could find
And she's all around you now
The new year comes well before you think it will
Rushes in and dries out, needs time to refill
Three kinds of life, all sights to be seen
The end and the beginning and the evergreen
She's all around you now
In Darlingside's "She's All Around," the lyrics explore the healing power of nature and how it surrounds and nurtures those who immerse themselves in it. The opening lines liken the rain on the pasture to a healing drug for the land, sustaining it and ensuring growth. This is contrasted with the blood in a man's veins, emphasizing the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world. The mention of the Bluestone and the house that used to be there also suggests that nature has the power to reclaim and renew itself, even after human intervention.
The following verse speaks to a personal experience of losing someone, likely to death. The choice of the December season and the mention of winter jackets highlights the weight and sadness of this experience. However, the cathedrals of cedar and pine offer solace and refuge, reminding us that even in times of grief, nature can be a source of comfort and peace. Despite losing this person, the singer states that "she was all we could find," implying that the memory and presence of their loved one lives on through the natural world.
The final verse reflects on the cyclical nature of life and the ever-present wonder of nature. The new year rushes in, dries out, and then needs time to refill, a metaphor for the seasons and the perpetual cycle of life and death. The mention of the end, the beginning, and the evergreen highlights the various stages and elements of life, all of which are surrounded by the enduring and constant presence of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain on the pasture is a drug for the land
Watering the pasture is like giving a drug to the land, the field gets active and lively
Ground and water running thick as the blood of a man
The soil and water move slowly, just like a man's blood that flows through his veins
Down to the Bluestone, where the house used to be
Going downhill towards the bluestone where there was once a house but not anymore
Now the weeds and the wildflowers all have families to feed
The plants and flowers that have grown there now have their own families to take care of
And she's all around you now
Nature is present all around, embodying a feminine quality
The December after was enough to convince, when
After experiencing December, one is led to believe and understand
In our heavy winter jackets we slipped under the fence
Wearing their jackets in the winter, they got past the fence
And into cathedrals of cedar and pine
They were surrounded by tall and majestic trees of cedar and pine
Even when we lost her, she was all we could find
When they lost something important, nature was still there to provide solace and comfort
The new year comes well before you think it will
The new year arrives unexpectedly soon
Rushes in and dries out, needs time to refill
It comes quickly but also exits quickly, it requires time to replenish
Three kinds of life, all sights to be seen
There are three types of life present, each with their own unique sights to witness
The end and the beginning and the evergreen
The song references to the cycle of life which consists of death, rebirth, and renewal that are eternally present
She's all around you now
Nature is omnipresent and is with you wherever you go, hence being a female quality that surrounds you
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.