Their debut album, "North Hills", was released in 2009. The album, "Nothing Is Wrong", follows in 2011.
More info: www.dawestheband.com
When You Call My Name
Dawes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and all my brothers keep them small,
then I'll get lost in the difference
between their whisper and the echo of their call.
So I am headed for the ocean
to let the sea smoke guide me in.
I'd give up my belongings and questions
So I will not turn around
as I step up to the train,
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
And I will not be the sound
of your roof under the rain,
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
So I am takin' off my wristwatch
to let the time move how I please,
to let my day be guided by the sunlight
through morning's mill and twilight's soft release.
So if you wanna get to know me
follow my smile down into its curves.
All these lines are born in sorrows and pleasures
and every man ends up with the face that he deserves.
So I will not give you bread
as you reach out from your cage,
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
And I will not give applause
as you step off of the stage,
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
There's a river running through the city
gently reminding me what's what.
Of course you are invited to come with me,
but I don't think that's really what you want.
I think you want a world that will hold you
through security and gravity and love
and I can't think of anyone who'd blame you
and I can't think of how that'd be enough.
So I won't come back around
when you curse the ground you've tamed,
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
And when you realize, once I'm gone,
that I never really came,
oh I'll hear it when you call my name.
And when the burden of the sun
reveals to you its pain,
oh I'll hear it when you call my name.
And when you realize that you're wrong
but you still give me all the blame,
I'll hear it when you call my name.
The lyrics to Dawes's song, "When You Call My Name," are about the singer's journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. From the opening lines, the singer acknowledges the different perspectives of the people around him - lovers and brothers - and how he often struggles to differentiate between their whispers and echoes. He signals his intent to move towards the ocean, marked by the "sea smoke," and relinquish his "belongings and questions" that "only ever taught (him) to begin" - indicating his desire to break free from societal conventions that have always dictated his life. He then suggests that he will not conform to the expectations of others or be hampered by their opinions - making it clear that he hears his own voice and that he sticks to his convictions, even if they are conflict with the general consensus.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's determination to hold on to his identity, even in the face of diverging opinions or alternative lifestyles. While he might "not be the sound of (the other person's) roof under the rain" or "give applause" when they step off stage, he will "hear it when they call (his) name." Essentially, he is telling them that he is there for them, even if he does not perform the functions that people generally assume he will. The second verse presents the singer in a vulnerable state, as he contemplates the ever-flowing nature of time and how it governs his actions. He decides to remove his wristwatch to allow himself to be guided by the sun's natural rhythm and seize the day as it comes. He advises the listener to "follow (his) smile down into its curves," indicating that his experiences - both good and bad - have shaped his personality, and he is comfortable with his current self.
The final verse is essentially a reflection on what the other person expects from him and how he is unwilling to accept their definition of his existence. He invites them to join him on his journey, but he is not sure if that is what they truly want. The singer recognizes the desire to be held by others and how that might not be a sustainable source of happiness in the long run. He anticipates being blamed if things go wrong, but he is comfortable with that outcome, and he will continue to hear their call whenever they need him.
Line by Line Meaning
If all my lovers sing the big words,
If all my romantic partners use grandiose language
and all my brothers keep them small,
and all my male siblings use simple language
then I'll get lost in the difference
I'll become confused by the contrast
between their whisper and the echo of their call.
between their soft speech and the lingering sound it creates
So I am headed for the ocean
So I'm going towards the sea
to let the sea smoke guide me in.
to allow the mist from the water guide me
I'd give up my belongings and questions
I would relinquish my possessions and uncertainties
They only ever taught me, to begin.
because they only taught me to start over
So I will not turn around
Therefore I won't look back
as I step up to the train,
as I get onto the train
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
but I'll listen when you call out to me
And I will not be the sound
Also, I won't be the noise
of your roof under the rain,
of the sound of rain hitting your rooftop
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
but I'll listen when you call my name
So I am takin' off my wristwatch
So I'm removing my watch
to let the time move how I please,
to allow time to pass as I want it to
to let my day be guided by the sunlight
to allow the sun's presence to guide my activity
through morning's mill and twilight's soft release.
during the early hours of the day and at sunset
So if you wanna get to know me
So if you're interested in getting to know me
follow my smile down into its curves.
observe my smile to understand my character
All these lines are born in sorrows and pleasures
My wrinkles are created from both sadness and happiness
and every man ends up with the face that he deserves.
Every individual gets the face he deserves.
So I will not give you bread
Therefore I won't feed you
as you reach out from your cage,
when you attempt to escape your confinement
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
but I'll listen when you call my name.
And I will not give applause
Also, I won't give my approval
as you step off of the stage,
when you finish performing
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
but I'll listen when you call my name.
There's a river running through the city
A river flows within the city
gently reminding me what's what.
quietly reminding me of the essential truths
Of course you are invited to come with me,
Of course it's possible for you to accompany me
but I don't think that's really what you want.
although I doubt that's your intent
I think you want a world that will hold you
I believe you want a place that protects you
through security and gravity and love
through outstretched arms, commitment, and affection
and I can't think of anyone who'd blame you
and I can't imagine anyone thinking less of you for that desire
and I can't think of how that'd be enough.
and I can't fathom how that would be sufficient.
So I won't come back around
Therefore, I won't revisit
when you curse the ground you've tamed,
when you condemn the land you've controlled
but I'll hear it when you call my name.
but I'll listen when you call my name.
And when you realize, once I'm gone,
And when you realize that now that I'm gone
that I never really came,
I was never truly present
oh I'll hear it when you call my name.
oh, I'll listen when you call my name.
And when the burden of the sun
And when the pressure of the sun's intense heat
reveals to you its pain,
shows you its suffering
oh I'll hear it when you call my name.
oh, I'll listen when you call my name.
And when you realize that you're wrong
And when you comprehend that you were incorrect
but you still give me all the blame,
but you still foist all the blame on me
I'll hear it when you call my name.
I'll listen when you call my name.
Contributed by Audrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.