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.
White Horses
Darlingside Lyrics
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Be quiet, I've got a light
No moon tonight
Sitting on the ledge outside the second floor
We could hear the sirens running up the road
White horses for Chicago
October, I lose my mind
Cross over Wisconsin line
Apple cider signs
Looking for a trace of our orchard underground
Growing in the basements beneath a brand new town
White horses for Chicago
Black water brings me back home
Every year it's about the same
I'm swimming in my dreams across the lake
In second place
Come the winter I'm driving blind
A tuxedo doing doughnuts on the ice
Black-and-white on white
Doesn't matter if I sleep or follow it out of bed
I know that in the morning it's water in my head
White horses for Chicago
Black water brings me back home
The song "White Horses" by Darlingside seems to be about the passing of time and the cyclical nature of life. It starts off with the singer's brother leading them outside to witness something, possibly a beautiful sight like the titular white horses. The lack of moonlight enhances the experience, making it more magical. They hear sirens in the distance, possibly symbolizing the unpredictability of life and the reminder that everything is fleeting.
In the second verse, October is mentioned and the singer feels like they are losing their mind. They cross over the Wisconsin line, possibly indicating a change in environment or a journey towards something new. The mention of apple cider signs also invokes a sense of nostalgia and a connection to the past. They are looking for the orchard underground, another symbol of something being hidden or buried. The mention of growing in the basements beneath a brand new town also highlights the idea of progress and the constant movement forward in life.
The chorus of "White horses for Chicago, black water brings me back home" is repeated throughout the song and seems to be referring to the idea of moving forward while still being anchored to where you come from. The white horses for Chicago could represent new adventures or opportunities, while the black water that brings the singer back home could symbolize the grounding force of their roots and past experiences. The final verse mentions swimming in dreams across the lake and driving blindly in the winter, both activities that could be dangerous or unpredictable. The mention of a tuxedo doing donuts on the ice adds a touch of whimsy to the otherwise serious tone of the song.
Overall, "White Horses" seems to be about the bittersweet nature of life and the inevitability of change. The cyclical structure of the song mirrors the cyclical nature of life and the repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that no matter what happens, there will always be something that ties us to where we come from.
Line by Line Meaning
My brother led me outside
I followed my brother outside
Be quiet, I've got a light
Please be quiet, I have a light
No moon tonight
We can't see the moon tonight
Sitting on the ledge outside the second floor
We're sitting on the ledge outside the second floor
We could hear the sirens running up the road
We could hear sirens heading up the road
White horses for Chicago
This is a reference to the Great Chicago Fire and the firefighters' white horses
Black water brings me back home
I associate black water with my hometown
October, I lose my mind
In October, I go a little crazy
Cross over Wisconsin line
I cross the border into Wisconsin
Apple cider signs
I see signs for apple cider
Looking for a trace of our orchard underground
I'm looking for any signs of our old orchard
Growing in the basements beneath a brand new town
But the town has changed, and the orchard may be gone forever
Every year it's about the same
This happens every year, like clockwork
I'm swimming in my dreams across the lake
In my dreams, I'm swimming across the lake
In second place
But I always come in second
Come the winter I'm driving blind
Then winter comes, and it's hard to see
A tuxedo doing doughnuts on the ice
I picture myself driving a car in circles on the ice, wearing a tuxedo
Black-and-white on white
The scene is black and white, and the ice is white
Doesn't matter if I sleep or follow it out of bed
Whether I sleep or stay awake, this thought is always in my head
I know that in the morning it's water in my head
I know that in the morning, this thought will fade away
White horses for Chicago
This is a reference to the Great Chicago Fire and the firefighters' white horses
Black water brings me back home
I associate black water with my hometown
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bkdascenzo
I just lost my first cousin who grew up in Chicago. I was driving the snow covered New Hope, Pa. countryside when I heard this on the radio today. He had been a figure skater and biked across America for HIV fundraising. Got home and replayed it with the video... beautiful!!
@808fergus
I don't have the vocabulary to do this justice. The marriage of two stunning artistic works, the music and video, is just magical!
@j.grinnell79
Heard this band on a college radio station and fell in love with their harmonies. Then I found this video. Wow!! I am a fan.
@groenpaardje
This is really one of the most awesome pieces of motion graphics i've seen lately. Awesome style and smooth animation. Incredible detail and an amazing atmosphere. This deserves a lot of attention!
@abedieckman7894
+Thomas van den Heuvel Thanks a ton! Really great to hear from someone really looking at what went into the aesthetic. Thanks for liking it!
@groenpaardje
+Abe Dieckman No problem man! I watched this a couple times now! Keep making awesome stuff! :)
How long did this project take you? It looks like such a huge amount of details and layers. I think my AE would crash if I even tried to think about this much detail :')
@abedieckman7894
+Thomas van den Heuvel It was a little under 2 months of working full-time hours. It was indeed a colossal amount of layers -- I think about 12,000 including everything in the precomps, but I haven't done an exact calculation. About halfway through the video After Effects was no longer able to display all the layers, so I had to split the film up into three projects to work on and then bring together at the end. Ironic, since the concept was chosen because it sounded like a way to keep things simple!
@groenpaardje
+Abe Dieckman Haha holy shit. Good sollution! That must be a complicated workflow!
Thanks for answering anyway, inspiring stuff!
@darlingside
+Abe Dieckman U R a Beast and we <3 U.
@PrincessBudenskya
I wish animation so breathtaking didn't have to be accompanied by a story so heartbreaking.