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.
Shield Your Eyes
Dry the River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The summer's come to haunt me.
And I know I'm not the sacrificial deer,
But I wish you could've warned me
Of the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
I understood the chemistry of peace;
You covered me in warpaint.
When Moses was a whisper in the reeds
I carved you in the floodplain
By the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
Under sweet autumnal skins is our myth dispelled.
In your strange and simple way.
[Repeat: x2]
And the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
Is what makes it our love.
And the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
The opening line of "Shield Your Eyes" by Dry the River, "I'm burning like an effigy in here" sets the tone for the entire song and depicts a sense of anguish and turmoil. The summer season is mentioned as a source of discomfort and the singer talks about being haunted by it. It can be interpreted as a metaphorical reference to some past traumatic experience or a painful memory that the singer is trying to bring to light. The line that follows - "And I know I'm not the sacrificial deer, but I wish you could've warned me" – further hints at a hidden danger that the singer is facing, and perhaps an ominous feeling of betrayal or abandonment by someone close to them.
The references to the Phrygian Lion, an ancient Greek mythological figure, add an element of mystery and complexity to the lyrics. The lion is known for having excellent eyesight, and according to the song, it guards the entrance to the singer's love. The repeated reference to it reinforces the idea of something formidable and unyielding standing in the way of the singer's relationship. The line "Under sweet autumnal skins is our myth dispelled" can be interpreted as a contrast between the beauty of the world and the harsh realities of human relationships.
Overall, "Shield Your Eyes" is a powerful and evocative song with themes of pain, danger, and love that are conveyed through vivid imagery and allusions to mythology.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm burning like an effigy in here:
The intense heat of summer is making me feel like a symbol of something being burned as an offering or sacrifice.
The summer's come to haunt me.
The heat of summer has become burdensome and difficult for me to bear, much like a haunting presence.
And I know I'm not the sacrificial deer,
Although I am not the one meant to be sacrificed, I still feel like I am being consumed or destroyed by the intensity of the situation.
But I wish you could've warned me
I wish someone had prepared me for the challenges and difficulties I am facing now.
Of the Phrygian Lion,
Referring to an ancient myth, the Phrygian Lion is a symbol of strength and danger.
With his excellent eyesight,
The Phrygian Lion is known for its sharp vision and ability to see clearly even in difficult circumstances.
At the gate of our love.
The Phrygian Lion is a metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that are present in the relationship being referenced.
I understood the chemistry of peace;
I knew how to maintain a relationship that was peaceful and non-confrontational.
You covered me in warpaint.
You encouraged me to be more aggressive and assertive in dealing with conflicts and challenges.
When Moses was a whisper in the reeds
This is a reference to the Biblical story of Moses being found in the reeds by the river before he led the Israelites out of Egypt.
I carved you in the floodplain
I made a lasting impression on you during a difficult or tumultuous time.
Under sweet autumnal skins is our myth dispelled.
The truth about our relationship is revealed when we remove the outer layers or appearances we present to the world, and confront the reality underneath.
In your strange and simple way.
You have a unique and straightforward approach to things that may seem unusual or surprising to me, but ultimately helps me to see things more clearly.
And the Phrygian Lion,
The reference to the Phrygian Lion again reinforces the idea of a powerful and dangerous obstacle that is present in the relationship.
Is what makes it our love.
The challenges and difficulties we face together are what ultimately define our relationship and make it meaningful and worthwhile.
At the gate of our love.
Repeating the metaphor of the Phrygian Lion at the end of the song reinforces the idea of ongoing challenges and obstacles that are a part of the relationship.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JONATHAN WARREN, MATTHEW TAYLOR, PETER DUNCAN LIDDLE, SCOTT MILLER, WILLIAM HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
telekittysis
Absolutely brilliant. Can't stop replaying this song. Layers upon layers of love.
Peder Woksepp
I love it, so beautiful and fragile
My Melancholy Snooze93
I'm burning like an effigy in here:
The summer's come to haunt me.
And I know I'm not the sacrificial deer,
But I wish you could've warned me
Of the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
I understood the chemistry of peace;
You covered me in warpaint.
When Moses was a whisper in the reeds
I carved you in the floodplain
By the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
Under sweet autumnal skins is our myth dispelled.
In your strange and simple way.
And the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
Is what makes it our love.
And the Phrygian Lion,
With his excellent eyesight,
At the gate of our love.
william horevoorts
great! i just met this song,it's fantastic!
Rebecca West
Amazing 💜💙💚
kilvihuy
Discovered this song on Songza, I bought the song after 2 minutes listening
John Janzen
This!
Mike Fat
iPod再生100回超えるもいまだに飽きない