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.
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The Sound
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you carry me?
Like driftwood on the sea
There's nothing down below
Forget your vertigo
My feet come off the ground
But I don't hear a sound
I just don't hear a sound
A sound, a sound
I just don't hear a sound
A sound, a sound
I just don't hear a sound
A sound, a sound
I just don't hear
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below
Vertigo, there's nothing down below
We've left our fear below
There's no more vertigo
White roses in my dream
Big ambient new machine
Won't you carry me?
Like driftwood on the sea
My feet don't touch the ground
But I don't hear a sound
A sound, a sound
I just don't hear a sound
I just don't hear a sound
A sound, a sound
I just don't hear a sound
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below
Vertigo, there's nothing down below
Machine, machine
Big ambient new machine
Big ambient new machine
Machine, machine
Big ambient new machine
White roses in my dreams
My dreams, my dreams
White roses in my dreams
White roses in my dreams
Machine, machine
Big ambient new machine
One road to cross
Unknown, unnamed
One road it goes
Unknown, unnamed
The sky is why I thought that I
I bleed the sky, I wait for night
Our dreams denied, our dreams denied
One road to cross
Unknown, unnamed
One road it goes
Unknown, unnamed
Our dreams denied, our dreams denied
(But I don't hear a sound, I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below
Vertigo, there's nothing down below
Big ambient new machine
Machine, machine
Big ambient new machine
White roses in my dreams
In my dreams, in my dreams
White roses in my dreams
The lyrics of Foals's song "The Sound" revolve around the theme of escapism and the desire to break free from the constraints of reality. The opening lines, "It's Wednesday when I wake, 1:30 too late, won't you carry me like driftwood on the sea," convey a sense of longing for someone to rescue the singer from their mundane existence. The mention of vertigo suggests a fear of falling or being trapped, but the chorus emphasizes the absence of any sound, indicating a detachment from the world.
The lyrics also explore the power of dreams and imagination as a means of transcendence. The references to "big ambient new machine" and "white roses in my dreams" symbolize a fantastical realm where the singer can escape and find solace. This dream-like state allows them to float above the ground, evoking a sense of weightlessness and freedom.
Overall, "The Sound" delves into the yearning for liberation and the allure of an alternative reality found within dreams. It highlights the desire to break free from the mundane and experience a world devoid of fear, where the limitations of reality cease to exist.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Wednesday when I wake 1:30 too late
I always seem to wake up too late on Wednesdays, feeling a bit disoriented
Won't you carry me?
I need someone to support and guide me
Like driftwood on the sea
I feel lost and aimlessly floating, much like a piece of driftwood on the vast sea
There's nothing down below
There's no danger or darkness lurking beneath me
Forget your vertigo
Ignore your fear of heights or instability
My feet come off the ground
I feel weightless and liberated, as if I'm floating in the air
But I don't hear a sound
Despite the freedom and elevation, there is an absence of any meaningful noise or impact
A sound, a sound
I long for some kind of audible stimulation
I just don't hear a sound
Unfortunately, there is still no sound reaching my ears
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below
Despite the potential fear or instability, there is nothing truly scary or sinister beneath me
We've left our fear below
We have consciously left our anxieties and trepidations behind
There's no more vertigo
We have overcome our fear of heights or unsteadiness
White roses in my dream
Within my dreaming mind, I envision white roses symbolizing purity and beauty
Big ambient new machine
A metaphorical representation of something grand and technologically advanced
Machine, machine
Emphasizing that this grand machine plays a significant role
One road to cross
There is a singular path we must traverse
Unknown, unnamed
The road is mysterious and lacks a clear identity
The sky is why I thought that I
The sky has always been the inspiration for my thoughts and aspirations
I bleed the sky, I wait for night
I am deeply connected to the sky, eagerly awaiting the nightfall for its unique beauty
Our dreams denied, our dreams denied
Our aspirations and desires have been thwarted and unfulfilled
In my dreams, in my dreams
Within the realm of my subconscious, I repeatedly encounter certain images or ideas
I just don't hear a sound (but I don't hear a sound)
The repetition emphasizes the absence of any meaningful noise despite the desired anticipation
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below
Once again emphasizing that there is no true danger or darkness beneath us
Big ambient new machine
Referring once more to the grand and advanced machine that plays a prominent role
White roses in my dreams
Reiterating the symbol of purity and beauty within the dream world
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack William Bevan, James Andrew Smith, Yannis Barnabas Emanuel Philippakis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Foals
THE SOUND
it's Wednesday when i wake, 1.30 too late
Won't you carry me? like driftwood on the sea
There's nothing down below, forget yr vertigo
My feet come off the ground, but i don't hear a sound.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below.
Vertigo, there's nothing down below.
We've left our fear below, there's no more vertigo
White roses in my dreams, big ambient new machine
Won't you carry me? Like driftwood on the sea
My feet don't touch the ground, but i don't hear a sound.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
Machine, Machine, Big Ambient New Machine.
White Roses In My Dreams.
One road to cross, unknown, unnamed,
One road it goes, unknown, unnamed
The sky is wide, cut like an eye,
I bleed the sky, i wait for night.
Our dreams denied, Our dreams denied
One road to cross, unknown, unnamed,
One road it goes, unknown, unnamed
Our dreams denied, Our dreams denied.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
I don't hear a sound, i just don't hear a sound
But i don't hear a sound
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below.
Vertigo, there's nothing down below.
Big Ambient New Machine.
White Roses In My Dreams.
Foals
THE SOUND
it's Wednesday when i wake, 1.30 too late
Won't you carry me? like driftwood on the sea
There's nothing down below, forget yr vertigo
My feet come off the ground, but i don't hear a sound.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below.
Vertigo, there's nothing down below.
We've left our fear below, there's no more vertigo
White roses in my dreams, big ambient new machine
Won't you carry me? Like driftwood on the sea
My feet don't touch the ground, but i don't hear a sound.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
Machine, Machine, Big Ambient New Machine.
White Roses In My Dreams.
One road to cross, unknown, unnamed,
One road it goes, unknown, unnamed
The sky is wide, cut like an eye,
I bleed the sky, i wait for night.
Our dreams denied, Our dreams denied
One road to cross, unknown, unnamed,
One road it goes, unknown, unnamed
Our dreams denied, Our dreams denied.
A Sound
A Sound
A Sound, I just don't hear a sound.
I don't hear a sound, i just don't hear a sound
But i don't hear a sound
Vertigo, there's nothing dark below.
Vertigo, there's nothing down below.
Big Ambient New Machine.
White Roses In My Dreams.
Ramiro Babino
One of the best songs in their discography and the best one in the album imo. Just listened to the first 10 seconds and i knew it was going to slap.
Sameer Sagar
Easily my favorite song from the last 2-3 albums
bobby Light
One of the best songs ever made. This song with a quality sound setup/subwoofer is just ridiculous. 10/10
Chris Vinton
Sounds like they were just jamming in the studio and went with it...an actual masterpiece 👏
Linkmon99
I just went through the whole album and WOW this song stood out as a total instant banger, LFG boys!!!
DiwineJasix
DAMN, EVERYTHING IN THIS SONG IS FIRE 🔥 THATS SO FUNKY AND DANCY THIS ALBUM, I HOPE I CAN SEE THEM LIVE PERFOMING THIS SONG!!
Soma Skribanek
Simply the best song of the album.
Uncle Gardener
This is one of the best songs I’ve listened to; the album is also one of the best albums I’ve played.
Jefferson Arango
Love it! OMG the sounds of this song makes me crazy! Absolutely Insane guys. You bring me the life with THE SOUND 🌷🌷