Plumb was nominated for the 2012 Mercury Prize.
After the release of Tones of Town, the group announced a break, leading to solo releases by the brothers (David's "Sea From Shore" under the name School of Language, and Peter's album as The Week That Was, both 2008), before reconvening in 2009. Both brothers have continued releasing music outside of the band: School of Language now has 3 albums and an EP, while Peter has worked with contemporaries Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park (Frozen By Sight), as well as Sarah Hayes of Admiral Fallow (You Tell Me). In 2022, the Brewis brothers created their own record label (Daylight Saving Records) which will host what they refer to as "extra-curricular activities;" i.e., new releases from side projects and other related groups (such as Slug).
All Field Music albums were self-produced at the band's studio space in Sunderland.
Other musicians who have played in the group in some form include Andrew Moore, Tom English, Kevin Dosdale, Ian Black, Damo Waters, Andrew Lowther, Peter Gofton, Mark Simms, Emma Fisk, Peter Richardson, Liz Corney and Pauline Brandon.
Got To Write A Letter
Field Music Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People say you're unkind
But you tried like a dog
Trying's off or it's on
oooooh-wooooh
You're so clever
Can't forget her
Got to write a letter
She's so clever
Always on your mind
Gonna have to give her some time
So you think with your shoes
And you guess with your neck
You're pushed in reverse
The worst is the best
oooooh-wooooh
We're so better
You're always mine
Can't forget her
Got to write a letter
She's so clever
Always on your mind
Gonna have to give her some time
So you're feeling the pull?
To have what you have
Though it's never the same
You always want what you taste
oooooh-wooooh
We're so better
You're always mine
Can't forget her
Got to write a letter
She's so clever
Always on your mind
Gonna have to give her some time
oooooh-wooooh
We're so better
You're always mine
Can't forget her
Got to write a letter
She's so clever
Always on your mind
Gonna have to give her some time
The lyrics to Field Music's song "Got to Write a Letter" are complex and elusive, leaving the interpretation up to the listener. The chorus provides a few clues, with the emphasis on a woman who is always in the singer's mind and who he cannot forget, leading him to feel the need to communicate with her through writing a letter. The verses, however, are cryptic, using images and metaphors that are difficult to decipher.
One possible interpretation is that the song is about the struggle to balance different desires and impulses. The first verse suggests that the singer is torn between his guilt (perhaps about a past relationship) and his love (for the woman who is always on his mind). He may have been accused of being unkind, but he insists he has tried his best. The second verse seems to be about the difficulty of making decisions, as if the singer is unsure whether to go forward or backward, or which way to turn his head. The third verse suggests that the singer is grappling with the desire for something that is unattainable or fleeting, leading him to always seek out new experiences and sensations.
Overall, the song is a complex and intriguing exploration of the ways in which different desires and emotions can conflict with one another.
Line by Line Meaning
So your guilt is your love?
Is your love for someone driven by guilt?
People say you're unkind
Others think you are not a kind person
But you tried like a dog
You made an effort, even if it was difficult
Trying's off or it's on
You either try or don't try at all
You're so clever
You are very intelligent
You're always mine
I always have you
Can't forget her
I cannot forget about her
Got to write a letter
I need to write a letter to her
She's so clever
She is very intelligent
Always on your mind
You think about her constantly
Gonna have to give her some time
She needs some space
So you think with your shoes
You base your decisions on where your shoes take you
And you guess with your neck
You make guesses based on instinct
You're pushed in reverse
You are going in the opposite direction of where you want to be
The worst is the best
The bad things end up being the best things
So you're feeling the pull?
You are being drawn to something/someone
To have what you have
To want what you already possess
Though it's never the same
Even though things are never exactly how they were before
You always want what you taste
You always want more of something that you've already experienced
We're so better
We are so much better together
Contributed by Lila V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.