Embracing a moody, introspective pop sound that's smart, tuneful, forceful,… Read Full Bio ↴Embracing a moody, introspective pop sound that's smart, tuneful, forceful, and sweetly melancholy all at once, Faunts were formed in 2000 by Tim Batke and his brother Steven Batke, who hail from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. With Tim handling guitar, keyboards, and vocals while Steven contributed vocals and guitar, Faunts became a trio with the addition of percussionist Paul Arnusch. After Joel Hitchcock signed on as the group's keyboard player and Scott Gallant became their bassist, Faunts set out to make a name for themselves on Northern Canada's music scene, and steady club work led to concert dates opening for Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, and Stars. After two well-received tours of Canada, Faunts struck a deal with the independent Friendly Fire label, and the group released their debut album, High Expectations/Low Results, in the fall of 2005. A five-song EP, M4, appeared in late 2007, released only via digital download services; the EP featured music created to accompany a series of short films presented as part of a multimedia project. One of the songs, "M4, Pt. 2," was featured in the popular video game Mass Effect for the PC and Xbox 360. By this time, Hitchcock had left the group and another member of the Batke family, Rob Batke, had joined the lineup on keyboards and laptop manipulations.

The band is also currently on hiatus.

Alarmed/Lights
Faunts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We grabbed our things and ran
We ran 'cause all was lost
We lost our sense of us
We've got the cost
Staring from a train
And dreaming on a bus
Nothing feels like home
Betray my trust

Lights are flashing bright
The siren's warning sound
Listening to the night
Waking to the knock
Now I cannot feel a thing
Now I cannot carry on
I've left this sight behind

Ready to go
Home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Faunts's song Alarmed/Lights describe a sense of loss and displacement. The singer is no longer comfortable in their surroundings and has lost their sense of self. The urgency of their situation is emphasized when they grab their things and run. They are trying to escape from something or somewhere that has caused them to feel like all is lost. However, even as they move away, they still feel like they have lost something significant. The feeling of displacement is further emphasized when they mention staring from a train and dreaming on a bus. These are times when one is typically on the move, never sure of where they are headed or where they will end up.

The chorus of the song describes a moment of alarm. Lights are flashing, and sirens are wailing in the night. The singer is caught off guard, and they cannot feel a thing. They are overwhelmed by the sensory input around them, and they are no longer in control of their emotions. The moment of chaos is juxtaposed with the line "ready to go home," which suggests that the singer is looking for a sense of stability.

The lyrics of Alarmed/Lights are open to interpretation, but they suggest a sense of dislocation and a desperate search for a feeling of belonging. The song is hauntingly beautiful, with a dream-like quality to it. The music perfectly complements the raw emotion of the lyrics, creating an immersive experience for the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

We grabbed our things and ran
We quickly collected our belongings and escaped from the situation

We ran 'cause all was lost
We fled because we had nothing left to lose

We lost our sense of us
We no longer had a clear sense of who we were

We've got the cost
We are bearing the consequences of our actions

Staring from a train
Looking out the window of a moving train

And dreaming on a bus
Imagining possibilities while riding on a bus

Nothing feels like home
No place or situation feels familiar or comfortable

Betray my trust
Someone has broken my confidence or loyalty

Lights are flashing bright
Bright lights are flickering

The siren's warning sound
The emergency alarm is blaring

Listening to the night
Hearing the darkness around us