Formed out of the ashes of First Day Back, the St Albans, United Kingdom hardcore band they formed while still at school, Friendly Fires make razor-sharp post-punk that burns through the memories of all the dismal, skinny jeaned ‘80s revivalists you’ve been hearing these past few years. Sounding brittle, knotty and urgent, Friendly Fires are the real deal. With no fat or padding on them at all, their songs possess an elegant sparseness. As guitarist Edd Gibson notes: “The hardest thing I think is to know what to leave out, to know when something is enough.” But amongst all the stripped-back twists, there are also moments full of deep, blissed-out melodies. “I love lush, massive, tingly chords; the My Bloody Valentine sound,” says bassist and singer Ed MacFarlane.
Silhouettes
Friendly Fires Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
All the memories of you
They bleach with the sunshine
Those initials that we drew
As the world comes into view
We can't lose the good times
Like a bolt out of the blue
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
You know I can't just say goodbye
And pretend this was nothing
When I saw it in your eyes
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Come get crazy
Head over my heart
No more waiting
To make a new start
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
The lyrics of Friendly Fires' "Silhouettes" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past relationship. The use of repetitive "Ba ba ba" sounds in the opening and throughout the song creates a melodic and almost hypnotic effect, drawing the listener into the emotional tone of the track. The lyrics speak of memories fading like sunlight and symbols of love washed away by the tide, highlighting the impermanence of relationships and the passing of time.
The singer reflects on a missed opportunity to be with their loved one, realizing that nothing is more important than cherishing the present moment. They acknowledge the need to change plans and seize the chance to reconnect with the person they care about before it's too late. This sentiment is echoed in the repeated refrain, emphasizing the urgency of embracing the fleeting nature of life and love.
The imagery of silhouettes dancing on the sundown and fading out suggests a sense of fleeting beauty and transience, capturing a moment of pure joy and connection before it disappears into memory. The dance motif symbolizes the freedom and spontaneity of love, urging the listener to embrace passion and live in the present without fear of the unknown.
In the final stanza, the lyrics shift towards a more hopeful and optimistic tone, urging both partners to let go of inhibitions and embrace a new beginning together. The repetition of "Ba ba ba" serves as a rallying cry for spontaneity and passion, encouraging the listener to take a leap of faith and pursue love without hesitation. Overall, "Silhouettes" is a poignant reflection on the ephemerality of love, the importance of seizing the moment, and the transformative power of embracing new possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
All the memories of you
Recollections of you
They bleach with the sunshine
Fade away under the sun's rays
Those initials that we drew
The symbols we created
Have washed up with the tide
Have disappeared with the waves
As the world comes into view
As reality sets in
We can't lose the good times
We must remember the happy moments
Like a bolt out of the blue
Suddenly and unexpectedly
I knew, I knew
I was aware
I had to miss the plane to be with you
I sacrificed the flight to be by your side
Nothing's worth losing this moment
This moment is too valuable to lose
I have to change the plan, now I understand
I must alter my strategy, now I comprehend
It's our last opportunity
This is our final chance
We should be
We ought to be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Shadowy figures
Dancing on the sundown
Moving gracefully as the sun sets
Dancing in the fadeout
Dancing during the fading light
Come get crazy
Let loose and have fun
Head over my heart
Feelings taking over
No more waiting
No need to delay
To make a new start
For a fresh beginning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward David Huw Macfarlane, Edward John Frederick Gibson, Jack Barnaby Savidge, James Ellis Ford, Nicholas James David Hodgson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nessian Z
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
All the memories of you
They bleach with the sunshine
Those initials that we drew
Have washed up with the tide
As the world comes into view
We can't lose the good times
Like a bolt out of the blue
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
You know I can't just say goodbye
And pretend this was nothing
When I saw it in your eyes
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Come get crazy
Head over my heart
No more waiting
To make a new start
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Fernando Chávez López
I really love how Ed dances <3
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
All the memories of you
They bleach with the sunshine
Those initials that we drew
Have washed up with the tide
As the world comes into view
We can't lose the good times
Like a bolt out of the blue
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
You know I can't just say goodbye
And pretend this was nothing
When I saw it in your eyes
I knew, I knew
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have…
Roberto Eduardo González Rivera
Lyrics
[Intro]
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
[Verse 1]
All the memories of you
They bleach with the sunshine
Those initials that we drew
Have washed up with the tide
As the world comes into view
We can't lose the good times
Like a bolt out of the blue
I knew, I knew
[Pre-Chorus]
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
[Chorus]
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
[Post-Chorus]
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
[Verse 2]
You know I can't just say goodbye
And pretend this was nothing
When I saw it in your eyes
I knew, I knew
[Pre-Chorus]
I had to miss the plane to be with you
Nothing's worth losing this moment
I have to change the plan, now I understand
It's our last opportunity
[Chorus]
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
[Post-Chorus]
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
[Bridge]
Come get crazy
Head over my heart
No more waiting
To make a new start
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
[Chorus]
We should be
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing on the sundown
Silhouettes, silhouettes
Dancing in the fadeout
[Post-Chorus]
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
n1KE
You know these guys are good when you click the first three songs in a row from them and they are honestly contagious !
Slavic Nerd
Now imagine knowing them from day one! Changing and adapting and staying off the radio for the most part is what makes a band good
Perez Hilton
Love this!!!
Xceloverdose
Friendly Fires are probably the most uplifting band I have ever heard. Such good vibes always with their music. Impossible not to dance!
Liana Soares
I feel the same way with Icona Pop.
Andrew McFly
I agree completely!
Alex W
That is the perfect blend of funk and electronic - this has to get a lot more airplay. What a stunning album from FF.
Adrian Martinez
This album was worth the wait, can wait for to them to tour in the US.
sammibryan46
Agreed alex! What an album, simply magical as always! 👌
Ansray Thomas
What can we do to get the group on the billboard charts.... They deserve a big breakthrough trust me. They are amazing