Lead-singer Grog would never define Feline's music any more than acknowledging those dark elements within it, but admitted to some influences such as Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop, and The Pixies. A classically trained pianist, Grog wrote the bulk of Feline's material; some of the songs she recorded with Feline were written by her prior to the band's formation.
Generally getting good write-ups in the rock press, such as NME and Kerrang!, they released a number of singles, a limited release album and a single full-length album between 1997 and 1998 but were not as successful as their potential showed. Their record company dropped them in 1999 as part of a company-wide roster clear out, and they split, with several members moving on to form Ultraviolet, and then, the relatively more successful Die So Fluid (who have to date released 4 albums with a fifth slated for 2017).
The name "Feline" was also used by the Belfast-based band The Feline Dream between 1993 and 1995.
The female german singer Swantje Schneemann from Hamburg used the name "Feline" for her first and only single "Magic Carpet Ride"
Release
Feline Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no room for you here in my head
Still no sign of release from you yet
Maybe soon I can like you instead
I feel grief but I have no regrets
These are feelings I've come to expect
Maybe soon I will lay them to rest
Release me, release me
She can hear the sea inside his mouth
(inside his mouth)
Wash away the fear that keeps her out
(that keeps her out)
Not on purpose smothers him
Rushing to hold him
Release me (release me)
(release me)
Release me (release me)
(release me)
Release me
She can hear the sea inside his mouth
(inside his mouth)
Wash away the fear that keeps her out
(that keeps her out)
Not on purpose smothers him
Rushing to hold him
The lyrics of Feline's song "Release" express a certain level of emotional turmoil associated with the inability to forget about someone who has caused pain in the past. The lines "Why can't I just forgive and forget, there's no room for you here in my head" express the desire to move on from the person responsible for causing the emotional pain but the inability to do so. The second verse's lyrics, "I feel grief but I have no regrets, these are feelings I've come to expect" further illustrate the feeling of being unable to let go or forgive, despite the presence of strong negative emotions.
The last section of the song, which repeats the lyrics "She can hear the sea inside his mouth, wash away the fear that keeps her out, not on purpose smothers him, rushing to hold him" could be interpreted in a few different ways. One interpretation is that the singer is referencing a memory of being held by the person they are trying to forget, and feeling a connection to the sea (possibly symbolizing comfort, escape or freedom) through them. However, the lyrics could also be interpreted as the person who caused the emotional pain in the past, trying to reach out and reconcile with the singer.
The lyrics, coupled with the repeated phrase "Release me" illustrate a desire for emotional freedom from the past, and a need to move on, but also the struggle to do so. "Release" is a song about wanting to forgive and forget, but struggling to actually execute that.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't I just forgive and forget
I am struggling to let go of the hurt you caused me
There's no room for you here in my head
I don't want to think about you anymore
Still no sign of release from you yet
I still feel trapped by my emotions linked to you
Maybe soon I can like you instead
Perhaps one day, I will be able to feel positive emotions towards you
I feel grief but I have no regrets
I am deeply saddened but I do not wish to undo past experiences
These are feelings I've come to expect
This pain is now a part of me, and I have learned to manage it
Maybe soon I will lay them to rest
Perhaps in the future, I will be able to release these feelings
Until then I must forget
For now, I need to let go of my memories of you
She can hear the sea inside his mouth
She senses that he is holding onto pain inside
(inside his mouth)
Wash away the fear that keeps her out
She wants to help him deal with his pain and be closer to him
(that keeps her out)
Not on purpose smothers him
She unintentionally makes it harder for him to open up to her
Rushing to hold him
She wants to comfort him and help him work through his pain
Release me (release me)
Both of them need release from their pain
(release me)
Release me (release me)
They both need to find a way to heal and move on
(release me)
Release me
They both need to find closure in order to release their pain
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.