Elysian Fields have always travelled in mysterious waters. Led by the enigm… Read Full Bio ↴Elysian Fields have always travelled in mysterious waters. Led by the enigmatic New York co-composers Jennifer Charles (vocals) and Oren Bloedow (guitar), the music born of their collaboration is not easy to categorize. They carry a torch for nature, sex, love, the cycle of death and rebirth, and the sounds of folk and jazz ballads, no wave and classical music, seamlessly interwoven into a style that is at once languorously romantic and tough. Their music might be described as alternative or dream pop, with the husky and sultry vocals of Charles and the filmic qualities of Bloedow's guitar work they have also been associated with the genre of rock noir or indie rock. The duo formed in 1995 and have been making discs ever since. More information (like live dates) is often found on their website - http://www.elysianmusic.com.

The two have many side projects as well. They have a Moorish inflected Sephardic band called La Mar Enfortuna, which has released records on John Zorn's label Tzadik. Jennifer is also known as the female voice and co-writer of cult band Lovage, the other members being Mike Patton and Dan The Automator. Oren used to play bass in The Lounge Lizards and his diverse guitar and bass playing skills are called on from everyone from James Chance to Martha Wainwright to Doveman.

Note: This Page is for the band "Elysian Fields", a American based band with a sensual and romantic sound. There is another band with a similar name, The Elysian Fields, which is a Greek melodic death metal band that is currently split-up. Some of the tracks by the metal band, The Elysian Fields, have ended up listed under the band, Elysian Fields. The album 12 Ablaze is NOT by Elysian Fields, rather it is by The Elysian Fields.

Lie Low
Elysian Fields Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You don't come out
You're alone as you tremble
I want you to be mine
But you hide and you're hidden
It's inside where you're living
You lie low
Though there's no protection from my love
From the rack

Why won't you come out tonight
You lie low
In between you and me
A smokescreen
That's all I see
Give up your fears
Taste the verge of my equator
I need you to be mine
But you're blind in your blizzard

Come inside for asylum
You lie low

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elysian Fields's song Lie Low might be interpreted as a plea towards someone who is guarded and hiding themselves away from intimacy. The singer of the song is frustrated by their object of affection's reluctance to come out from their shell, and the way they seem to be living inside of themselves. The line "you're alone as you tremble" suggests that this person might be scared or anxious about opening up and being vulnerable. The singer acknowledges that love might not be a shield from the harshness of reality (as indicated by the phrase "there's no protection from my love / from the rack"), but they still wish this person would take a chance on them.

The second verse of the song continues the metaphorical language, describing the distance between the two characters as a "smokescreen". The singer urges their lover to "give up [their] fears" and come toward them, promising asylum or safety from whatever is causing their hesitation. The repeated refrain of "you lie low" could be interpreted in a few ways - it might be an accusation that the person is deliberately hiding from the singer, or a lament that they are living a smaller life than they should be. There's a sense of both desperation and tenderness in the song, as the singer tries to break through the barriers that separate them from their object of desire.

Line by Line Meaning

You don't come out
You are not willing to leave your hiding place and show yourself

You're alone as you tremble
You are scared and feel lonely

I want you to be mine
I desire to have a relationship with you

But you hide and you're hidden
You conceal your true self and stay out of sight

It's inside where you're living
You reside within yourself and keep to yourself

You lie low
You stay low and try not to draw attention to yourself

Though there's no protection from my love
Even though I love you, it won't shield you from everything

From the rack
Despite the pain or hardship that may come from exposing yourself

Why won't you come out tonight
What reason do you have to stay hidden tonight?

You lie low
You continue to hide and stay out of sight

In between you and me
There is something that separates us