Since forming in Brighton in 2008, Esben and the Witch have had just a few releases behind them including "Lucia, at the Precipice" from February 2010 - and have had positive press support from NME, Pitchfork Media and The Guardian, plus experience of concerts alongside Warpaint, The xx, Wild Beasts, Foals and The Big Pink.
In May 2010 the band contributed to the London edition of The Creators Project, warping one of 33's tracks, "Corridors", into an eighteen-minute soundscape to soundtrack artist Karl Sadler's lit forest installation.
On October 19th 2010 it was revealed that the band were nominated for a Q Award as "next big thing", pipped to the post by Clare Maguire at the Awards on October 25. The following day Matador Records announced the band's debut album Violet Cries is to be released in January/February 2011.
The band were included in the BBC Sound of 2011 poll long-list, announced December 7th.
Swans
Esben and the Witch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bellies full of pearls,
Screaming down the houses,
Whilst the willows start to fool.
Bow their boughs and buckle,
The curtains they are drawn,
The cavalcade and symmetry,
The mutiny procession,
Somber and serene,
A pageant on behalf to show,
Her majesty's esteem.
The lake is turning darker,
It's as black as ostrich plumes,
Though I paraded answers,
With a noble magnitude.
Nail down the mirrors,
Pour the wars in the rooms,
The hands of the grandfathers,
Have settled on high noon.
We are the ire
We are the ire
We are the ire
Here the come the ire
The lyrics of "Swans" by Esben and the Witch are poetic and layered, inviting multiple interpretations. The first verse introduces the image of swans bellowing with their bellies full of pearls, while willows start to fool by bowing and buckling. This juxtaposition of beauty and decay, abundance and fragility, sets the mood for the rest of the song. The second verse describes a procession of mutiny that is somber and serene, a pageant to show Her majesty's esteem. The lake turns darker, and the singer claims to have paraded answers with a noble magnitude, although it is not clear what those answers are. The final verse commands to nail down the mirrors, pour the wars in the rooms, and invokes the hands of the grandfathers that have settled on high noon. The chorus repeats the phrase "We are the ire" three times, emphasizing a sense of anger and rebellion.
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that they describe a scene of societal decay and unrest, where the old order is breaking down and people are starting to rebel against it. The swans with their bellies full of pearls could represent the privileged class, whose wealth is taken for granted and who are starting to lose touch with reality. The willows that start to fool could represent the common people, who are more in touch with nature and the changing seasons. The procession of mutiny could represent a rebellion against authority, while the lake turning darker symbolizes a loss of innocence and purity. The final verse could represent a call to action, urging people to face the truth and take responsibility for their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
The swans begin to bellow,
The swans are loudly making noise to express something.
Bellies full of pearls,
The swans have consumed something valuable and precious.
Screaming down the houses,
The swans' screams are echoing through the houses.
Whilst the willows start to fool.
At the same time, the willows are starting to deceive or trick someone.
Bow their boughs and buckle,
The branches of the willows are bending and giving way.
The curtains they are drawn,
The curtains have been closed or pulled shut.
The cavalcade and symmetry,
There is a procession or parade with a sense of balance or order.
Commands for those to move.
Orders are given for people to take action.
The mutiny procession,
The procession is going against authority or order.
Somber and serene,
The procession is serious and peaceful at the same time.
A pageant on behalf to show,
The procession is a display to demonstrate something.
Her majesty's esteem.
The procession is meant to honor someone of great importance.
The lake is turning darker,
The lake is getting darker in color.
It's as black as ostrich plumes,
The lake is so dark it looks like the feathers of an ostrich.
Though I paraded answers,
Even though I confidently provided answers.
With a noble magnitude.
With a sense of greatness or nobility.
Nail down the mirrors,
Fix or secure the mirrors in place.
Pour the wars in the rooms,
Bring conflict or battles into the enclosed spaces.
The hands of the grandfathers,
The actions of those who came before us.
Have settled on high noon.
Their actions have established the present moment or situation.
We are the ire
We are angry or filled with intense emotion.
Here the come the ire
The anger or intense emotion is arriving or becoming more prominent.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: DANIEL COPEMAN, RACHEL ANNA DAVIES, THOMAS JACK FISHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind