Born a fledgling pseudo-solo project of young songwriter Kat Burns, Forest City Lovers took flight in 2006 with the independent release The Sun and the Wind. The band grew up into a fully-realized collaborative outfit and in 2008 launched their critically acclaimed sophmore album Haunting Moon Sinking (Out of This Spark), a collection that bolsters FCL’s signature tunefulness with talented musicianship, strong guitar lines, and swelling string arrangements.
Phodilus and Tyto, a 7” vinyl released at the end of 2009 paved the way for the full-length follow-up, Carriage, being released July 2010 on Out of This Spark. Carriage picks up where Haunting Moon Sinking left off, carrying forward with arrangements and melodies that go from accutely vulnerable to downright sinister. A collection that drifts sonically across decades, Carriage laces 1970s whimsy and elaborate string arragements (Mika Posen) into contemporary pop gems to keep your feet tapping as you go singing down the sunny street.
While Burns and the other Lovers make their home in Toronto, they tour frequently across Canada, the US, and Europe, drawing inspiration for their songs from these migratory ventures into foreign urban and rural environments. With their new album on the horizon, keep an eye out for this unique band of songsters in your hometown.
Keep The Kids Inside
Forest City Lovers Lyrics
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And all the houses seem so empty, boarded up for security. They abide -responsibility- keep the kids inside
And all the cast offs and the long shots tie a knot around the punks and the have-nots, bundle in the streets of it all and keep the kids inside.
I work a good job I've had a long day, down the line I've seen the past (bout a decade). This is my responsibility, to keep the kids inside. I've worn my shoes bare, wore my soles down on the yellow lines through the heart of this ghost town. Prepare to be amazed at what you've found to keep the dream alive.
The lyrics to Forest City Lovers' "Keep The Kids Inside" speak to the sense of apprehension and unease that can pervade urban settings, particularly at night or in times of unrest. The song's opening lines describe "glowing eyes" keeping watch over the singer, and the suggestion is that these eyes symbolize a larger sense of vigilance or even surveillance that operates within the city itself. Despite this, the song also features a repeated refrain that emphasizes the importance of responsibility, urging listeners to "keep the kids inside" in order to protect them from potential harm.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the empty and boarded-up houses that also populate the cityscape, suggesting a sense of abandonment or decay. The use of terms like "cast offs" and "long shots" implies a larger sense of social and economic marginalization that can make urban environments feel inhospitable or even dangerous. Despite this, however, the refrain is repeated several times, underscoring the importance of taking steps to keep one's community safe and secure. The song's final lines suggest that the singer has seen a great deal of change over time, but that they remain committed to helping "keep the dream alive" for future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
In the darkness of the city glowing eyes keep an eye on me.
Despite the dark and obscure nature of the city, there are eyes that are constantly monitoring and watching over me.
Let's fake responsibility, keep the kids inside.
Instead of truly taking responsibility for the safety and well-being of children, let's pretend by simply keeping them confined indoors.
And all the houses seem so empty, boarded up for security.
All the houses in the city appear deserted and abandoned, with boarded-up windows and doors used as a security measure.
They abide -responsibility- keep the kids inside
In light of the potential dangers lurking outside, the best way to keep children safe is to keep them indoors and out of harm's way.
And all the cast offs and the long shots tie a knot around the punks and the have-nots, bundle in the streets of it all and keep the kids inside.
The lower class and those who have been marginalized by society are forced to stick together in order to survive in the rough streets, and it is best to keep children inside and away from these potentially dangerous elements.
I work a good job I've had a long day, down the line I've seen the past (bout a decade).
Despite being hardworking and having a full day, I've been around long enough to know the history and the struggles of the city, having witnessed it for almost ten years.
This is my responsibility, to keep the kids inside.
It falls on me to ensure that the children in this city are safeguarded and protected, even if it means keeping them confined indoors.
I've worn my shoes bare, wore my soles down on the yellow lines through the heart of this ghost town.
Having walked the same path repeatedly throughout the abandoned and eerie city, I've worn out my shoes and walked the soles thin on the yellow lines that guide me through its heart.
Prepare to be amazed at what you've found to keep the dream alive.
Despite the bleakness and desolation of the city, there are still things worth fighting for and striving towards, and we must be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep our hopes and dreams alive.
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Phabulos
Well, this collaboration clearly worked fine!!! Congrats!!!
Phabulos
Well, this collaboration clearly worked fine!!! Congrats!!!
T H
I like it !
Marcin Skrzypek
I like very much your unusual melody and rythm solusion, the way in which dramatic tension is built on the level of subtle means of expression. By unusual I mean that you would not find such patterns in popular music. You hear it and you think "Oh, that's unusual, untypical".
kathrynstewart15
Awesome song! Cool video!
ColazioneDaThisvany
OMG, i'm in love!
Two Scoops
so good
Two Scoops
I love this song but I don't love the video. But I do love her dress :) :)
iamschieck1
better keep the kids inside or they'll turn into pool-hopping lesbians! save yourselves!
Conor Moyes
GG