The band was formed in 2005 by Philippakis and Bevan, both former members of math rock band The Edmund Fitzgerald, and Andrew Mears of Youthmovies. Mears left the band after their first single to focus on Youthmovies. In January 2018, it was announced that Walter Gervers was also leaving the band.
In early 2007, the band released the limited edition 7" singles Hummer and Mathletics, both produced by Gareth Parton. In the summer of 2007 Foals began working on their debut album in New York. It was produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio, however, the band decided to mix the album themselves, stating that Sitek made the first master copy of the album sound like "it was recorded in the Grand Canyon". Yannis has stated multiple times during various interviews that Foals and Dave Sitek are on good terms, even though the copy by Sitek was rejected by the band.
Foals released their debut album, entitled Antidotes, on 24 March 2008 in the UK and 8 April 2008 in the US. The album was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, debuting at No. 3 in the UK Albums Charts. The album was a minor success in other countries, charting in Japan, France and the Netherlands. Non-UK versions of the album include the early Parton produced singles.
In August 2009, Foals started recording their second album at Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album, Total Life Forever, has been described by the band members as sounding like "tropical prog" and "like the dream of an eagle dying". The band have described the album as being "a lot less funk" than they had originally planned. The album was produced by Luke Smith, formerly of Clor, and its title is named after an element of Ray Kurzweil's theory of singularity. The band's frontman Yannis Philippakis has professed a long time interest in futurology, with it informing numerous songs on Total Life Forever.
On 1 March 2010, the promotional single "Spanish Sahara" was first played on Zane Lowe's show Radio 1. Foals' new website was updated that night with the release of a video for the track directed by longtime collaborator Dave Ma. On 6 March, the Total Life Forever site was officially launched. Puzzles revealed images, lyrics and sound clips of songs from the album. The last clip appeared on 12 March, and resulted with a password entry for the Foals' new website. The site was opened on 13 March and presented the whole new art concept and media including samples of songs, photos and videos. Lead single "This Orient" was released on 3 May 2010. The album was finally released on 10 May 2010. "Spanish Sahara" was later released as a full physical single in September 2010, featuring an edited remix starring the strings of London Contemporary Orchestra. The album was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.
http://foals.co.uk
Black Gold
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found the ground again
So now you know to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you
Now that spring is finally here
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light
Follow your heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Foals' song Black Gold, from their third studio album, Holy Fire, speaks to the complexities of the human experience. The lyrics "Top of the world, bottom of the ocean," point to the highs and lows that humans experience in life. The next line "They built you up and broke you down again, So now you hope to beat the surf in," suggests that even after being "broken down," individuals have to summon the strength to carry on. They must "beat the surf in," even though the odds sometimes seem insurmountable.
The chorus "Cause the future is not what you've seen, It's not where you've been to at all," reminds the listener that just because life has been a certain way up until this point does not mean that it will continue in that manner. Life is unpredictable, and the future may bring changes that one never could have imagined.
The lyrics "They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left, Just the residue," speak to the idea that one's legacy may not be as valuable or as significant as they once believed. The line "Now that spring is finally here, Your hollow heart, your hollow heart," suggests that even when the world around you changes, you may still feel empty inside.
The repetition of "Into yourself, Pacific," at the end of the song further illuminates the album's theme of personal exploration and self-discovery. It emphasizes the idea that one must look deep within themselves to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Feeling both on top of the world and at the bottom of the ocean, emotionally lost and drifting.
They built you up and broke you down again
Someone gave you success only to take it away, leaving you feeling even more disillusioned.
So now you hope to beat the surf in
You're trying to regain control of your life by pushing back against the forces that keep pushing you down.
Cause the future is not what you've seen
You realize that the future is unpredictable and that your past experiences can't prepare you for it.
It's not where you've been to at all
Your previous actions or successes doesn't necessarily dictate your future.
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Your expectations for the future have changed after being disillusioned by past failures.
They lit you up and found the ground again
Someone gave you an opportunity but then quickly took it away, leaving you feeling unstable.
So now you know to beat the surf in
You're determined to overcome the obstacles that have been pushing you around, to show resilience.
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Your heritage and legacy has been covered up and forgotten.
Just the residue
Only fragments of your past remain.
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you, What's happened to you
You're questioning how you got to this point, how everything went wrong.
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
You feel empty and devoid of emotion.
Drive through the forest and into the night, Away from the city, away from the light
You're trying to escape your current situation and find some peace away from the struggles of the city.
Follow your heart, your hollow heart, You know
You're searching for some direction or purpose in life despite feeling hollow inside.
And we're worlds apart, And we're worlds apart
You feel disconnected from others, like you're in a different world and can't relate to those around you.
They gouge you out, they dug you in, They took the name right out of your mouth
Someone has wronged you, leaving you feeling robbed of your identity and ability to express yourself.
Into yourself, Pacific
You're turning inward to try to find some kind of inner peace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edwin Thomas Congreave, Jack William Bevan, James Andrew Smith, Walter James Morrison Gervers, Yannis Barnabas Emanuel Philippakis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TaRxFaCe
"Black Gold"
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found the ground again
So now you know to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you
Now that spring is finally here
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
@CamilaFuentes0227
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to be pacific
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found your ground again
So now you know to be pacific
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you
Now that spring is finally here
In your hollow heart, in your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And you're worlds apart
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself, Pacific
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
@carikintsugi
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found the ground again
So now you know to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you've seen
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you
Now that spring is finally here
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light
Follow your heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
Into yourself, past of it
Into yourself, past of it
Into yourself, past of it
Into yourself, past of it
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
@Michael-ks3rl
That fucking drum fill and pause leading up to "Now that spring is finally here"
@flaro38
Chills. Favourite part of the song
@BONZAI26
Yeah man
@lifeisstr4nge
like the perfect domino sequence
@KJ-je9pm
Still their best song in my opinion and also best album. Everything is just perfect!
@sammybaker6872
Two trees, surely...
@Wolfzoalsik
Best song by far... Over and over... again
@ottoscraps
agreed, however personally I do quite enjoy the Life Is Yours album specifically Under The Radar but that takes close second
@TaRxFaCe
"Black Gold"
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They built you up and broke you down again
So now you hope to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
Top of the world, bottom of the ocean
They lit you up and found the ground again
So now you know to beat the surf in
Cause the future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what you see
It's not where you've been to at all
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
The future is not what it used to be, used to be
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the residue
They buried the gold, your ancestry's sold and left
Just the mist of you
Now what's happened to you, look what's happened to you
What's happened to you
Now that spring is finally here
Your hollow heart, your hollow heart
Drive through the forest and into the night
Away from the city, away from the light
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
And we're worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
They gouge you out, they dug you in
They took the name right out of your mouth
Hollow heart, your hollow heart
You know
Worlds apart
And we're worlds apart
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself past of it
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
Into yourself
@ntina..
Truth !