After two EPs ("The Chambers and the Valves" and "Bible Belt"), the band were signed to Transgressive Records in 2010. "No Rest", their first single on the label, was released in March 2011. They recorded their debut full-length album, "Shallow Bed", in Connecticut with Peter Katis (producer for The National, Jónsi and Interpol), and released it on March 5, 2012. An acoustic version of "Shallow Bed" was released by download only on 17 December 2012.
The band's projects also include creating a charity t-shirt for the Yellow Bird Project to raise money for Asylum Aid (in March 2011) and designing "Mammoth", a limited edition beer brewed with Signature Brew (in November 2012).
Their second album, "Alarms in the Heart", was released on August 25th, 2014.
They announced their split on their Facebook page on 12 November 2015, along with the release of their final EP, Hooves of Doubt.
Peter Liddle crafted a solo album 'Casual Labour' released 13 July 2018, with a gang of his musical friends, including several from the Dry the River family bassist Scott Miller, keys player Patrick Pearson, string-player Will Harvey, writer Matthew Reynolds along with producer Pete Miles.
Family
Dry the River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It brings every trial to your door.
When worries are swarming like bats in the morning
Or shadows of moths on the wall.
Shadows of moths on the wall.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
Here comes the breath, comes the unwanted guest.
The flock before dogs taking shape.
In henna and feathers it sweeps through the desert
When something you love is at stake.
Something you love is at stake.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don't.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won't.
Under the mountains are roofs of our houses and homes.
There with your mother, your father and brother, below.
Bury your worry, or worry your worry tonight.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don't.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won't.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
The lyrics of Dry the River's song "Family" seem to be invoking the idea of nostalgia and a sense of longing for simpler times. The opening lines, "So much for reason when, cold and unfeeling, it brings every trial to your door," suggest that reason and logic don't always provide comfort in difficult times. The line "When worries are swarming like bats in the morning or shadows of moths on the wall" paints a vivid picture of the anxiety that can overwhelm us at times.
The chorus of the song, "Lover, remember: The sorghum and the cane shake. We don't," seems to be calling back to a shared past and experience. Sorghum and cane are crops that are typically harvested by hand, requiring a community effort. The repetition of "we don't" seems to suggest that the singer and their loved ones aren't experiencing this shared sense of community and connection anymore.
The final stanza brings the song back to the idea of family and home. "Under the mountains are roofs of our houses and homes. There with your mother, your father and brother, below. Bury your worry, or worry your worry tonight" suggests that home is where one finds comfort, support, and a sense of belonging. The repetition of "Follow your mother, your father, and brother back home" underscores the importance of family and the idea of returning to one's roots for comfort and support.
Line by Line Meaning
So much for reason when, cold and unfeeling,
Reason fails when you are experiencing a difficult time or tragedy, and it doesn't provide comfort
It brings every trial to your door.
Difficulties are encountered in life even if you don't go looking for them
When worries are swarming like bats in the morning
Worries can feel overwhelming and persistently nagging
Or shadows of moths on the wall.
Worries can be lurking in the back of your mind, like shadows on a wall
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don't.
There are forces beyond our control, and it's important to acknowledge that we don't have power over everything, like we don't have power over sorghum and cane shaking with the wind, for instance
Here comes the breath, comes the unwanted guest.
A sudden change or unwelcome event is approaching
The flock before dogs taking shape.
A warning that danger or threat is around, and the flock is in danger of being pursued by dogs
In henna and feathers it sweeps through the desert
An image of a sudden change or threat depicted by the desert wind's sound, texture, and the objects it carries
When something you love is at stake.
The sense of loss or anxiety when something or someone important is in danger
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won't.
A metaphor for life's inevitability and unpredictability, and the resolve to keep going despite that uncertainty
Under the mountains are roofs of our houses and homes.
The idea of the security and familiarity of being close to family and tradition
There with your mother, your father and brother, below.
Reemphasizing the importance of family, and the comfort and safety they provide
Bury your worry, or worry your worry tonight.
Either let go of your worries, or let them consume you and cause you to worry endlessly
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
The idea of moving forward and returning to what's truly important in life, which is family
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
The idea of moving forward and returning to what's truly important in life, which is family
Writer(s): Jonathan Warren, Scott Miller, William Harvey, Warren Wills, Peter Duncan Liddle, Matthew Taylor Copyright: Transgressive Publishing Ltd. (PRS), Music Sales Corporation O.B.O. St. James Music
Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
My Melancholy Snooze- aka Mo
So much for reason when, cold and unfeeling,
It brings every trial to your door.
When worries are swarming like bats in the morning
Or shadows of moths on the wall.
Shadows of moths on the wall.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Here comes the breath, comes the unwanted guest.
The flock before dogs taking shape.
In henna and feathers it sweeps through the desert
When something you love is at stake.
Something you love is at stake.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won’t.
Under the mountains are roofs of our houses and homes.
There with your mother, your father and brother, below.
Bury your worry, or worry your worry tonight.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won’t.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Roseair Music
Ive met and worked with these guys a few times now, awesome bunch! Was sweet as getting drunk with the main singer on his birthday after playing the NME stage at TGE !
Tito Bongz
You are a lucky dude :) Cheers!
My Melancholy Snooze- aka Mo
So much for reason when, cold and unfeeling,
It brings every trial to your door.
When worries are swarming like bats in the morning
Or shadows of moths on the wall.
Shadows of moths on the wall.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Here comes the breath, comes the unwanted guest.
The flock before dogs taking shape.
In henna and feathers it sweeps through the desert
When something you love is at stake.
Something you love is at stake.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won’t.
Under the mountains are roofs of our houses and homes.
There with your mother, your father and brother, below.
Bury your worry, or worry your worry tonight.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Lover, remember:
The sorghum and the cane shake.
We don’t.
Lover, the weather
Is changing every day.
I won’t.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
Follow your mother, your father and brother back home.
ASATclass
These guys need more recognition... So fucking amazing.
Michael Watson
this song is haunting. brilliant, genius, fantastic.
A Andreassen
So powerful.
sofia barbara
totally in love with this song
Matt Sinele
Stuff is SO awesome
TrackFourtyFour
best drinking band
maymaybong4
They are getting it. Don't worry :)