Isakov has been described by Boulder Weekly, "Strong, subtle, a lyrical genius" and has been compared to his influences; Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Gillian Welch. Isakov's humble presence and his overwhelming voice and guitar style has been treasured by an ever-growing and captivated fan base.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Isakov immigrated to the States with his family and grew up in the Philadelphia area. He started touring at the age of 16 with his first band. In 1999 he sought out his solo acoustic roots and moved to Colorado where he now resides.
Isakov has been taking on the folk music scene with his 2003 release "Rust Colored Stones" LP and his 2005 release "Songs For October". Isakov's song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, and his live performance has been known to quiet and shake the biggest rooms.
Isakov has shared the stage with numerous touring artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch, and Fiona Apple. He has performed throughout the United States, playing numerous music festivals such as Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and Southpark Music Festival. Isakov has toured solo and with his band "The Freight".
In 2007, Gregory was named "Best Male Singer-Songwriter" by Westword Magazine.
Subsequent albums have included That Sea, The Gambler (2007), This Empty Northern Hemisphere (2009), The Weatherman (2013), Evening Machines (2018).
Caves
Gregory Alan Isakov Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's something I forgot
Walk slow and I'll catch up
Let's hear the stars do their talking
And I used to love caves
Stumble out into that big sky
Remember that bright hollow moon?
This town closes down same time everyday
Put out the smoke in your mind
Let's put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Now I think alike birds
See I'm far from St. Paul
And I go running when the night aches
Hear her every time she calls
Did I hear something break
Was that your heart or my heart
Like when the Earth shakes
Then the silence that follows
This town closes down same time everyday
Put out the smoke in your mind
Let's put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Let's put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Let's put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
The lyrics of Gregory Alan Isakov's "Caves" are full of metaphors and imagery that represent the feelings of isolation and disconnection from others. The song suggests that sometimes the best way to communicate is to put aside words, breathe and embrace the silence. The opening lines of the song indicate that the singer is willing to let go of his worries and that he is asking the other person to go ahead and walk slowly so that he can catch up. The idea of slowing down and living in the moment is highlighted through the phrase, "Let's hear the stars do their talking." The stars symbolize something greater than us, and they are constantly communicating with us with their light and beauty.
Further into the song, the singer reminisces about his love for caves and the act of emerging into the open sky. The image of the "bright hollow moon" that "showed our insides on our outsides" represents the vulnerability that one sometimes feels while baring their soul to someone else. The third stanza is where the conflicting emotions of nostalgia and isolation are highlighted, as the singer talks about how the town shuts down every day, and how he feels like he can't escape it. The phrase, "put out the smoke in your mind," suggests that the singer wants to let go of his thoughts and be free from them. The repetition of the line, "Let's put all these words away," is symbolic of how the singer wants to move on from the past and focus on the present.
In the final verse, the singer talks about how he thinks like birds and how he travels away from St. Paul. He also mentions how he feels the need to run when night falls, and how it makes him feel free. The line, "Did I hear something break, was that your heart or my heart," is another metaphor for the feeling of being alone and the difficulty in identifying where your pain is coming from. The song ends with the repeated phrase, "Let's put all these words away," which gives a sense of closure to the piece.
Line by Line Meaning
You go ahead
Continue without me
There's something I forgot
I've left something behind
Walk slow and I'll catch up
Slow down so we can be together
Let's hear the stars do their talking
Let's listen to the peaceful silence of the night
And I used to love caves
I had a fondness for exploring darkness
Stumble out into that big sky
Emerging from the darkness to see the vastness of the sky
Remember that bright hollow moon?
Recalling the beauty of the moon shining brightly in a cave
Showed our insides on our outsides
Revealed our true selves to each other
This town closes down same time everyday
The town's routine is always the same
Put out the smoke in your mind
Clear your thoughts
Let's put all these words away
Stop talking and just be in the moment
Now I think alike birds
I feel a connection to the natural world
See I'm far from St. Paul
I am physically distant from home
And I go running when the night aches
I run to escape emotional pain
Hear her every time she calls
Feeling connected to nature through the voice of the Earth
Did I hear something break
Sensing that something has been damaged
Was that your heart or my heart
Wondering if the pain is personal or shared
Like when the Earth shakes
Similar to the feeling of a natural disaster
Then the silence that follows
The quiet aftermath of a traumatic event
Let's put all these words away
Once again, the desire to stop talking and be present
Lets put all these words away
Encouraging togetherness and emotional connection
Lets put all these words away
Repeating the desire to be fully present in the moment
Writer(s): Ron Scott, Gregory Alan Isakov
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@43Aquaman
You go ahead
There's something I forgot
Walk slow and I'll catch up
Let's hear the stars
do their talking
I used to love Caves
Stumble out into that big sky
Remember that bright hollow moon
Showed our insides
on our outsides
This town closes down
same time everyday
Put out the smoke
in your mind
Let's put all these words away
Lets put all these words away
Now think alike birds
See 'em fly from St. Paul
And I go running when the night aches
Hear her every time she calls
Did I hear something break
Was that your heart or my heart
Like when the Earth shakes
Then the silence that follows
Chorus
@mr.potter9426
I'm 61,thank God for artists like GAI,I feel reborn...
@CallmeOzymandias
@@Back2TheFuture1985 I'm 17, but I agree.
@josephblackwood4001
God bless All, isnt music awesome. Bring g each other together. If you're here, than you have exquisite taste
@animatewithdermot
I found him through the use of "Master & a Hound" in the final ep. of 'Heels'. Couldn't find the song listed in the credits, but picked out some lyrics and did a google search, and found him on YT. Happy day. What an amazing talent.
@ThornyRoseV
Age has nothing to do with music. Why do people always need to point it out ?
@Orion-zq8jf
Let's put all these words away
@austindellinger5450
I’m so broken I don’t know what to do, I put in head phones and this is my jam on those broken nights. This is my therapy god help me
@ahmadabdallah2896
hang in there, if it's external suffering then just know seasons change, spring will come.
if it's internal suffering, it's tougher because time will not help, you need to help yourself, change your perspective, understand yourself, seek healing and you will be healed.
@yeosoly
His songs reminds me of the autum breeze i felt as a child which has been my best memory. And this can’t be reminded by any other song of these days. His songs got some huge emotion inside. Thanks for your music Gregory. 🙏🏽
@ezi2144
Same