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.
Orphans
Forest City Lovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
only 16
so unprepared
left in the wilds of adolescence
and no less scared
an awkward boy
an awkward girl
what could be better
the city lights erase the night
while we fester indoors
throw back the shades to erase
the lines that we abhor
an orphan boy
an orphan girl
what could be better
than laying in this bed feeling slightly more
remembered together
together
ohh
together
ohh
thrown in too fast
no time to last
thrown in too fast
no time to last
The lyrics of Forest City Lovers's song Orphans beautifully convey the feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty that comes with growing up. The song paints a picture of two awkward teenagers who find solace in each other's company. The lines "we were 16, only 16, so unprepared, left in the wilds of adolescence, and no less scared" perfectly capture the feeling of being thrust into adulthood without any preparation or guidance. The two protagonists of the song are orphaned, which adds to their feelings of alienation and loneliness.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the word "together", is a reminder of the comfort that the two teenagers find in each other's company. The city lights that erase the night symbolize the distractions that can obscure our path when we are young and trying to find our way. The lines "throw back the shades to erase, the lines that we abhor" are a metaphor for the obstacles that we encounter in life and our need to overcome them.
Overall, the song Orphans is a poignant reflection on the challenges of adolescence and the importance of human connection. It encourages us to hold on to the people who make us feel less alone in this world.
Line by Line Meaning
we were 16
We were in our sweet sixteen, the prime age of adolescence.
only 16
Our age was nothing but 16.
so unprepared
We lacked the preparedness that life demanded.
left in the wilds of adolescence
The wilderness of adolescence left us clueless.
and no less scared
We were scared, really scared.
an awkward boy
He was an uncomfortable boy.
an awkward girl
She was an uneasy girl.
what could be better
than laying in this bed feeling slightly less awkward together
Laying in the same bed made both of us slightly comfortable and relaxed.
the city lights erase the night
City lights wipe away the essence of the night.
while we fester indoors
While staying in the same place, we were getting worse.
throw back the shades to erase
the lines that we abhor
Opening the window shades was an attempt to hide the undesirable marks that we detested.
an orphan boy
He was parentless.
an orphan girl
She was parentless.
what could be better
than laying in this bed feeling slightly more
remembered together
Getting a chance to remember and relive old memories was an excellent thing.
together
Both of us were together and not apart.
ohh
Our happiness was immense.
thrown in too fast
We were pushed into something too quickly.
no time to last
We did not have enough time together.
thrown in too fast
We were pushed into something too quickly.
no time to last
We did not have enough time together.
Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.