Born from a friendship between Texas natives Colin Harman and Cullen Trevin… Read Full Bio ↴Born from a friendship between Texas natives Colin Harman and Cullen Trevino, Duncan Fellows started while the two were studying at The University of Texas. Over the subsequent years, the band grew into a musical grab bag of folk-playing local artists.
But when the group trimmed down to five members in 2012, they named the band after Trevino’s house on Duncan Lane and started in a new direction. With the name change, they focused their sound into the expressive indie rock they play today.
Duncan Fellows’ first two EPs track their growth from folky troubadours to indie rockers. “Twelve Months Older” (2013) is five songs of folk rock goodness. Standout tracks like “Arrow” showcase Harman and multi-instrumentalist Margot Stevenson’s natural harmony, while “Stolen Black Cars” speaks like a Springsteen ballad about growing up and getting out. Filled with the energy and fear of young love, blurred highway lines and unknown destinations, this acoustic guitar tune is beautiful in its simplicity.
Deeper and more rock than their previous effort, “Marrow” (2015) expands Duncan Fellows’ sound with early Smashing Pumpkins fuzz and Kings of Leon leads. “Saints” tells a story of growth and discovery, while “New Skins’” upbeat drum brush rhythms, sparse electric guitars and group harmonies float and sparkle. Even with only six songs, “Marrow” is full of variety and range.
Tentatively due for release this summer, Duncan Fellows’ first LP is the next evolution in the band’s sound. Thanks to fan feedback and personal taste, Harman promises the album will be more upbeat and driving than previous records.
“I feel like a lot of the stuff that has influenced us has been the live show setting,” Harman shared. “The more we played, the more we figured out what people liked and what we liked. We also bought electronic instruments, which helps.”
Judging from their live show, they’ve used those fancy electronics well. The newer songs in the set were peppered with electric drum beats, trumpets and huge, room-filling codas. Even the quieter, more contemplative tunes commanded the chatty crowd’s attention.

Saints
Duncan Fellows Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Smiling mother
fearless child
burning words
from the church choir

A boy that runs
is twice as wise
He'll shiver, he'll shake, with his shining eyes

I've seen it all, undid my ways
but I come alive when I see your face.

Decide your way to fall, tell me I'm wrong.
Decide your way to fall, you say I'm a fool.

A tap on your window,
When the saints are asleep
Steal your father's whiskey, start runnin' down the street.
The nighttime she is calling you, she's whisperin' through her teeth
moaning hallelujah, she's begging you to leave

Decide your way to fall, tell me I'm wrong.
Decide your way to fall, you say I'm a fool.

Your words are drippin' honey, intoxicate like wine

you're lightin' fires inside her soul, burning in her mind
she'll be fine, she'll be fine.

Overall Meaning

The song "Saints" by Duncan Fellows is about the conflict between following a righteous path and succumbing to temptation. The first verse features contrasting images of a smiling mother and a fearless child with the burning words from the church choir. This refers to the idea of finding guidance from a higher power, but also the temptation to stray from that path. The next line, "A boy that runs is twice as wise," suggests that taking risks and exploring beyond your comfort zone can be beneficial. However, this comes with the risk of getting lost and losing sight of what's important. The singer then acknowledges that they have seen it all and undone their ways, but the sight of their loved one still brings them back to life.

The chorus repeats the line "Decide your way to fall, tell me I'm wrong. Decide your way to fall, you say I'm a fool." This speaks to the internal struggle between doing what's right and what's easy, and the judgment that can come from both others and ourselves. The following verses tell the story of being lured away from the righteous path by the nighttime, personified as a seductive woman calling out and tempting the singer with whiskey and the thrill of running wild. However, the refrain of "she'll be fine" suggests that even if we give in to temptation, we can still find our way back to the right path.

Line by Line Meaning

Smiling mother
The mother is happy and content.

fearless child
The child is brave and unafraid.

burning words
The words being sung by the church choir are passionate and powerful.

from the church choir
The words being sung are coming from a group of singers in a religious setting.

A boy that runs
A boy who is not afraid to take risks and explore is wiser than one who doesn't.

is twice as wise
Being unafraid to explore and take risks is a sign of intelligence.

He'll shiver, he'll shake, with his shining eyes
The boy will be filled with excitement and wonder as he explores.

I've seen it all, undid my ways
The artist has experienced life and learned from their mistakes.

but I come alive when I see your face.
The artist is invigorated and joyful when they see the person they are singing about.

Decide your way to fall, tell me I'm wrong.
The artist is encouraging the person to make their own decisions, even if they are different from their own opinions.

Decide your way to fall, you say I'm a fool.
The person they are singing to disagrees with their opinions.

A tap on your window,
Someone is trying to get the other person's attention through their window.

When the saints are asleep
The incident is taking place at night when most people are asleep.

Steal your father's whiskey, start runnin' down the street.
The person is taking risks and doing things they shouldn't be doing, like stealing alcohol.

The nighttime she is calling you, she's whisperin' through her teeth
The night is portrayed as a seductive force that is tempting the person.

moaning hallelujah, she's begging you to leave
The person is being drawn away from their responsibilities and morals.

Your words are drippin' honey, intoxicate like wine
The person's words are sweet and addictive, like alcohol.

you're lightin' fires inside her soul, burning in her mind
The person is filling someone else's thoughts with passion and desire.

she'll be fine, she'll be fine.
Despite the risky behavior, the singer seems confident that everything will turn out okay.

Contributed by Bella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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