Habibi was formed in the spring of 2011 by Detroit expatriates Rahill Jamalifard and Lenaya Lynch, tapping into their Motown roots of simple but infectious pop melodies delivered with punkish attitude. Jamalifard took lead vocal duties, Lynch played guitar and sang, and the lineup was rounded out by drummer Karen Isabel and bassist Erin Campbell. They played often around the New York City area, eventually releasing several tracks in the form of 7" singles and online streams. They participated in South by Southwest and toured with like-minded acts such as King Tuff; by 2014, they'd released a self-titled debut album of their dreamy-eyed and dancey pop on Burger Records. In 2015, they joined forces with La Luz to release a split single. In the years that followed, the band was joined by additional guitarist Leah Fishman and a four-song EP, Cardamom Garden, arrived in 2018. After a round of international touring, Habibi set to work on their sophomore album, exploring a wider range of instrumentation and arrangement than before. The more refined Anywhere But Here arrived in early 2020, expanding from the band's garagey beginnings with Middle Eastern instrumentation in some songs.
Sunsets
Habibi Lyrics
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On the trees the trees they're falling
Little leaves the leaves they're changing
And the change the change is for???
And I look up to the sunset
On the trees, the trees they're falling
Little leaves the leaves they're changing
And the change, the change is for???
Caught up with him later and I thought of things to say
Asked him what his name was and he answered with a smile
His name was Joe
(His name was Joe)
His name was Joe
(His name was Joe)
And I look up to the sunset
On the trees, the trees they're falling
Little leaves, the leaves are changing
And the change, the change is for???
And I look up to the sunset
On the trees, the trees they're falling
Little leaves, the leaves are changing
And the change, the change is for???
Saw him on the corner and I watch him walk away
Caught up to him later and I thought of things to say
Asked him what his name was and he answered with a smile
His name was Joe
(His name was Joe)
His name was Joe
(His name was Joe)
And I look up to the sunsets
And I look up to the sunsets
And I look up to the sunsets
And I look up to the sunsets
The lyrics in Habibi's song "Sunsets" describe the beauty of the changing seasons and the different perspectives that can be taken when looking at the world around us. The singer gazes up at the sunset and sees the trees shedding their leaves, signaling a new season. The imagery of falling leaves is used as a metaphor for change that happens in life; just like the leaves eventually grow back, change can bring new growth and beauty. The singer is left wondering what this change is for, suggesting a sense of uncertainty or contemplation.
The second half of the song focuses on a chance encounter with a man named Joe. The singer watches Joe walk away, but later catches up to him and strikes up a conversation. Joe's simple smile and name leave a lasting impression on the singer. The lyrics suggest that sometimes the most significant moments in life come from unexpected encounters and that we should strive to be open to new experiences.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sunsets" convey a sense of appreciation for the natural world and a willingness to embrace the unknown or unexpected.
Line by Line Meaning
And I look up to the sunset
I am admiring the beauty of the setting sun
On the trees the trees they're falling
The branches of the trees are bending under the weight of falling leaves
Little leaves the leaves they're changing
The small leaves on the trees are changing color
And the change the change is for???
I am wondering why the leaves change color and what it signifies
Saw him on the corner and I watched him walk away
I saw a person on the street corner and observed them as they left
Caught up with him later and I thought of things to say
I had a desire to speak with the person I saw and caught up to them later
Asked him what his name was and he answered with a smile
I introduced myself to the person and they responded happily by revealing their name
His name was Joe (His name was Joe)
I learnt that the person's name is Joe
And I look up to the sunsets
I continue to gaze at the beautiful sunsets
Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.