The band released their debut EP, I Saw Such Things in my Sleep EP, in September 2005; all 1000 copies sold out on the day of release. In January 2006, Guillemots were awarded fifth place in the BBC's Sound of 2006 list of favourite up-and-coming acts.
Their full-length debut LP, Through The Windowpane was released in July 2006, including Made-up Lovesong #43 from the Such Things EP and other previous singles Trains To Brazil and We're Here. The album's release date was timed so it would be eligible for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, and the album did make the shortlist.
During the recording sessions for the album, the band recorded an EP entitled Of The Night made up of one song written by each band member. It was released via the internet on Valentine's Day 2006 and performed live in its entirety at the BBC Electric Proms 2006, with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Their performance of Bad Boyfriend was particularly memorable for the band donning animal masks, and Fyfe crying "Take me to orchestral paradise!" before the song's orchestral culmination. The EP was eventually released on CD and LP in November, to independent music shops only.
They were Scissor Sisters' support on their stadium tour in late 2006 and released a reworked version of Annie, Let's Not Wait, on 15 January 2007.
The latest album 'Red', which features an even more eclectic mix of influences and ideas, was released on March 24th 2008.
The band had a short break following 'Red', in which time Dangerfield released his first solo album, 2010's 'Fly Yellow Moon'.
Guillemots returned with critically praised 'Walk The River' in 2011.
In May 2012 the band announced that they would be writing and recording four seasonally themed albums over the remainder of the year and in to early 2013, starting with 'Hello Land!'
Go Away
Guillemots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you’ve really left to do is pray
When a rainy day is not a rainy day
What more, what more, what more could I ever say?
Except I
When a walk in the park only renders darkness
When a walk in the park only renders darkness
‘Cause there are no ducks to feed
Feed, feed, feed, feed
When you cannot love with both your hands
Well chop them off, chop them off
And bury them in the sand
The lyrics of the song Go Away by Guillemots talk about the struggle and confusion that one goes through when things are not as they seem. The song describes a situation when a sunny day doesn't feel like one and even a walk in the park becomes dark when there is no one to feed the ducks. The chorus goes on to say that one might feel helpless and resort to praying when all that is left is uncertainty.
The latter half of the song brings about a sorrowful tone as it describes a situation where loving becomes impossible. The lyrics suggest that if one cannot love, then they should chop off their hands and bury them in the sand. The lines could signify a metaphorical representation of self-sabotage and denial or a hyperbole to emphasize the pain and frustration that love brings.
Overall, the lyrics of Go Away paint a gloomy picture of a person struggling to make sense of what is happening around them. The lines that suggest praying and chopping off hands convey emotions of desperation and helplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
When a sunny day is not a sunny day
When the weather outside is beautiful but everything around you is not going well
All you’ve really left to do is pray
When everything else has failed, the only thing left is to hope and pray for a miracle
When a rainy day is not a rainy day
When the weather outside is gloomy but you are in a happy and content state of mind
What more, what more, what more could I ever say?
When words are not enough to express the depth of one's emotions
Except I
Except to say that I am here, present, and alive
When a walk in the park only renders darkness
When even simple pleasures like a stroll in the park brings no joy
'Cause there are no ducks to feed
Because the things that once gave pleasure and purpose are no longer there
Feed, feed, feed, feed
The repetition of the word 'feed' emphasizes the desire to find something to nurture and care for
When you cannot love with both your hands
When there are physical or emotional barriers preventing one from fully expressing their love
Well chop them off, chop them off
This is a metaphorical statement, suggesting that one should remove whatever is stopping them from experiencing love fully
And bury them in the sand
To let go of the past and move forward, leaving the obstacles behind
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ARISTAZABAL EMI CHEN HAWKES, FYFE DANGERFIELD HUTCHINS, GREG STEWART, RICARDO BOMBINE PIMENTEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Minty
I fucking love this song. It's a shame so few people have heard it.