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.
Singularity
Darlingside Lyrics
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Burn these high rises back into a ghost town
Of iridium-white clouds
Matted close against the ground
While the sky hangs empty as a frame
See the reddening horizon line
Feel the planet spilling on the space time
For the history books on Mother Earth
To the west now it begins
In the sound waves in the wind
There is an echo going by
Of the mountains caving in
And the parted roads and I
Knew that one day we would die
And become smooth and old again
Like the ash that sweeps the sky
Someday a shooting star is gonna shoot me down
Burn these high rises back into a ghost town
There's holy water lying in the crater well
Heavy metals high test gasoline
Blessed singularity
A telescoping memory
Where the sky still flickers through the leaves
The lyrics of Darlingside's song Singularity talk about the end of the world in a somewhat romanticized way. The singer speaks of a shooting star that will bring down the high rises of the city and reduce it to a ghost town. The sky is described as empty as a frame, giving the impression that there is nothing left to see. The imagery used to describe the end of the world is both beautiful and terrifying.
The lyrics also speak of the planet spilling on the space time, suggesting that time and space are no longer separate entities. The singer takes pictures of cement on Somerset, perhaps to preserve some semblance of the world as it once was, even though it is now ending. The mountains are also described as caving in and the roads are parting, giving the impression of utter destruction. The final stanza of the song speaks of holy water in the crater well, heavy metals, high test gasoline, and a blessed singularity. The sky still flickers through the leaves, suggesting that even though the world has ended, remnants of it are still present.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday a shooting star is gonna shoot me down
The singer fears their inevitable mortality and that they will die suddenly, unexpectedly.
Burn these high rises back into a ghost town
The singer sees the destruction of urban development as freeing, allowing nature to take back control and return to a more peaceful state.
Of iridium-white clouds
The clouds are described as being silver-white, possibly due to the presence of metals like iridium.
Matted close against the ground
The clouds appear to be hanging low and dense, giving the impression of being closer to the earth than usual.
While the sky hangs empty as a frame
Despite the presence of the clouds, the sky itself feels empty and devoid of life or activity.
See the reddening horizon line
The singer observes the horizon, which appears to be turning red, possibly indicating the end of the day and a time for reflection and introspection.
Feel the planet spilling on the space time
The earth feels like it is overflowing and spilling over with energy and life force, which affects the fabric of space and time around it.
On the way down Somerset I take pictures of cement
The artist is observing and capturing the mundane, everyday objects and scenery around them, as a way of documenting history and the world around them.
For the history books on Mother Earth
The artist is taking pictures with the intention of preserving them as historical documents, possibly for the purpose of future generations understanding the past.
To the west now it begins
The artist observes something significant beginning to happen in the west, possibly a natural or man-made event.
In the sound waves in the wind
The singer can feel and hear the sound waves and movement created by the natural forces around them.
There is an echo going by
The artist hears an echo, which suggests sound waves bouncing off a nearby object.
Of the mountains caving in
The singer observes mountains collapsing or breaking apart, possibly indicating a natural disaster.
And the parted roads and I
The singer reflects on their own mortality and the paths they have taken in life, comparing it to roads that diverge and lead in different directions.
Knew that one day we would die
The singer acknowledges and accepts that death is inevitable for all living beings.
And become smooth and old again
The artist reflects on the natural state of decay and aging that all living beings experience, comparing it to the smooth, old appearance of ash.
Like the ash that sweeps the sky
The artist sees ash as a symbol of decay and destruction, possibly indicating a catastrophe or disaster.
There's holy water lying in the crater well
The singer observes holy water in a well located in a crater, possibly indicating a religious or spiritual site.
Heavy metals high test gasoline
The singer observes the presence of heavy metals and high-test gasoline, possibly indicating environmental pollution or industrial waste.
Blessed singularity
The artist sees a sense of blessedness or salvation in the idea of singularity, which could refer to technological advancements or spiritual transcendence.
A telescoping memory
The artist sees memory as something that can be telescoped, or expanded or contracted like a telescope lens.
Where the sky still flickers through the leaves
Despite the presence of trees and leaves, the artist can still see the sky peeking through, possibly indicating the passage of time or the idea of a fleeting moment.
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.