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.

Memories Of Places We've Never Been
Faunts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

No time to decide how far this loyalty will stretch me
Long ago if it were up to me, who knows where I'd be
Had a need for a while before you left him, whose fault is it? We'll see
I'm not chained, free to leave, but what, what is there for me?

If I go, and I might, I'm not sure my happiness will be there
Oh well, I have to rest before we feel the need to go elsewhere
Have I died? I can't solve this, not in my care

Can one man make a difference to the task of one who's been there

Who will it hurt?
I am free to go
What will move me?
I don't really know.

No time to decide how far this royalty will stretch me
Long ago if it were up to me, who knows where I'd be
Had a need for a while before you left him, whose fault is it? We'll see
Well, I stay, free to leave, but what, what is there for me?

Who will it hurt?
I am free to go
What will move me?
I don't really know
Who will it hurt?
I am free to go, say
What will move me?
I don't really know

Who will it hurt?
I am free to go

What will move me?
I don't really know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Faunts's song "Memories Of Places We've Never Been" tackles the issue of loyalty and the consequences that come along with it. The first stanza starts with a contemplation on the extent of one's loyalty and how far it will stretch them. The second line poses a rhetorical question, "Long ago if it were up to me, who knows where I'd be?" which suggests that the singer may have given up certain things in their life due to their loyalty, which is now making them question if it was worth it. The third line is directed towards someone who left another person for the singer, implying that a situation like this might have aroused some animosity, but the outcome is still uncertain. The final line reflects the sense of confusion and existential dilemma the singer is currently in.

The second stanza picks up the theme of the consequences of loyalty. If the singer leaves, they are unsure whether they will be able to find happiness elsewhere or not. The line "Oh well, I have to rest before we feel the need to go elsewhere" shows the apprehension the singer feels about what the future holds for them. The lines "Can one man make a difference to the task of one who's been there" touches upon the feeling of insignificance that one may experience in a world where everyone is struggling to achieve something.

The chorus of the song, "Who will it hurt? I am free to go. What will move me? I don't really know," echoes the singer's sentiment of confusion and indecisiveness. They are not sure if they should stay or go, and if they go, how it will affect others around them. The song's overall mood is melancholic and introspective, giving an insight into the singer's state of mind.

Line by Line Meaning

No time to decide how far this loyalty will stretch me
I don't have the luxury of time to weigh how dedicated I am to this cause.

Long ago if it were up to me, who knows where I'd be
I can't say for certain where I'd be today if I had the power to make decisions in the past.

Had a need for a while before you left him, whose fault is it? We'll see
I had a temporary desire before you abandoned your previous commitment, so it is undecided who is at fault for any resulting turmoil.

I'm not chained, free to leave, but what, what is there for me?
I am not obligated to stay, but I question what benefits leaving would bring me.

If I go, and I might, I'm not sure my happiness will be there
Even if I choose to leave, I am uncertain if I will find happiness elsewhere.

Oh well, I have to rest before we feel the need to go elsewhere
It's better to take a break now, rather than waiting until we're forced to leave.

Have I died? I can't solve this, not in my care
I feel stuck in a situation that I cannot improve or control.

Can one man make a difference to the task of one who's been there
Does one person have the power to change anything for someone who has already experienced a situation?

Who will it hurt?
I wonder who will be negatively impacted by my decision.

I am free to go
I am not restricted from leaving if I choose to do so.

What will move me?
I am unsure what reasons or motivations could influence me to make a decision.

I don't really know.
I am uncertain and cannot confidently predict what will happen or how I will react.

Well, I stay, free to leave, but what, what is there for me?
I remain in the situation, but still question if there are any benefits for me to stay.

Who will it hurt?
I continue to ponder who will be negatively impacted by my choice.

I am free to go, say
I have the freedom to leave, if that is what I decide.

What will move me?
I still have no clear idea what will induce me to take one path over another.

I don't really know
It's still difficult for me to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Contributed by Emma N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS