Armed with solid training and raw talent, they mix and combine their different musical backgrounds. Their complex arrangements, inspired by both classical and modern composers, are particularly striking to hear and see during their live shows. Devon Portielje’s remarkable voice is beautifully backed up by Connor Molander and Dylan Phillips. Phillips often plays drums and keys simultaneously as Molander and Portielje shuffle between guitar, keys, samplers, and percussion folky three-part harmonies hold down moody, psychedelic arrangements and electronic-infused soundscapes. They have recently welcomed a 4th member on stage, multi-instrumentlist Isaac Symonds, who adds his voice as well as playing guitar, keyboards and percussions.
21 Gun Salute
Half Moon Run Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I saw it in my TV show
With the look of the sun on the cityscape
I caught the subway home with a bellyache
When you look in her face, my friends
When I try to talk with a cloudy head
I keep fucking it up, and it's tough
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
Only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
All your secrets
You kept 'til now
You'll keep to the grave
21 gun salute
I had to put the body to rest (yep)
I guess I saw it in my fevered sleep
And I come to wake up with the morning breeze
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
Only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
All your secrets
You kept 'til now
You'll keep to the grave
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
And only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
And all your secrets
Gone
The song "21 Gun Salute" by Half Moon Run tells a story of someone who has witnessed a lot of tragedy and loss. The first verse sets the scene of the cityscape with the sun shining on it, but the singer is feeling sick after catching the subway home. The chorus then describes how everything goes downhill after the rain and floods, and only the mountains retain their shape and blood. This is a metaphor for how life can be tough and unpredictable, but the natural world remains constant.
The second verse reveals that the singer has had to bury a body, perhaps someone close to them has died. This experience is described as being like a fevered sleep, and they wake up with the morning breeze. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that life is unpredictable and secrets are kept until the grave. The song ends with the line "and all your secrets, gone," implying that even those secrets are eventually forgotten and lost over time.
Overall, "21 Gun Salute" is a poignant and reflective song that touches on themes of loss, mortality, and the fleeting nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
21 gun salute
A procession to honor someone who has died
I guess I saw it in my TV show
The singer imagines the procession from something seen on television
With the look of the sun on the cityscape
The bright sun illuminating the city as the procession takes place
I caught the subway home with a bellyache
Despite feeling sick, the artist continues with their day-to-day life
When you look in her face, my friends
Addressing the audience, the artist talks about looking at another person's face to gain insight
When I try to talk with a cloudy head
While feeling disoriented and confused, the singer attempts to communicate
I keep fucking it up, and it’s tough
The singer struggles to express themselves and it's frustrating
Or maybe it’s just that I’m outta luck
The artist considers the possibility that their difficulties are due to external circumstances
After the floods Only mountains Retain their shape Retain their blood
The idea that after a crisis, only the strongest things endure and remain unchanged
All your secrets You kept til now You’ll keep to the grave
A reminder that some things are meant to be kept hidden and will never be revealed
I had to put the body to rest (yep)
The singer had to bury someone they knew
I guess I saw it in my fevered sleep And I come to wake up with the morning breeze
The artist has nightmares about the burial and wakes up feeling refreshed by the cool air
And all your secrets Gone
A realization that the secrets of the buried person are now lost forever
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Devon Portielje, Conner Molander, Dylan Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keqz x
21 gun salute
I guess I saw it in my tv show
With the look of the sun on the city-scape
I caught the subway home with a belly-ache
When you look in the face of my friends
When I try to talk with a cloudy head
I keep fucking it up, and it's rough
Maybe it's just that I'm out of luck
It all goes downhill after the rains, after the floods
Only mountains retain the shape, retain the blood
All the secrets you've kept till now, you'll keep till the grave
21 gun salute
I had to put the body to rest
I guess I saw it in my fevered sleep
With a cough to wake up in the morning breeze
It all goes downhill after the rains, after the floods
Only mountains retain the shape, retain the blood
All the secrets you've kept till now you'll keep till the grave
All slow to face when I'm wrong enough
Long shall we wait for another one
It all goes downhill after the rains, after the floods
Only mountains retain the shape, retain the blood
All you seek is gone
Tomas Mendez
LYRICS:
21 gun salute
I guess I saw it in my TV show
With the look of the sun on the cityscape
I caught the subway home with a bellyache
When you look in her face, my friends
When I try to talk with a cloudy head
I keep fucking it up, and it's tough
Or maybe it's just that I'm outta luck
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
Only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
All your secrets
You kept til now
You'll keep to the grave
21 gun salute
I had to put the body to rest (yep)
I guess I saw it in my fevered sleep
And I come to wake up with the morning breeze
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
Only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
All your secrets
You kept til now
You'll keep to the grave
It all goes down hill
After the rains
After the floods
And Only mountains
Retain their shape
Retain their blood
And all your secrets
Gone
MyAlternativeWays
This is a real masterpiece! I always got goosebumps at the crescendo during the second chorus.
guitarfiend100
It is rare that I can honestly say that I am moved by certain artists but HMR is as of today my favourite band. I just wish I had access to the lyrics to gain a better grasp of what their written message was all about. I discovered HMR in St. Pierre/Miquelon this summer and have been telling everyone about your music ever since. Pure genius. Keep it up!
Amy Vigna
Heard this song in the car and literally missed the street I was so into it
TheRubbaRazza
How is it even possible for a song to sound this good?
Mr. McMagpie
truth
Andrea c
This is one of my late night, home alone, dark shadows on the walls, world tired songs. Somehow makes it better.
deefhead
Love this song so freaking much.
Victoria Melluish
This song makes my heart sing and suddenly I fall in love with my own soul
SeasonsApart
Just saw these guys last night! They opened up for Of Monsters and Men! They defiantly got a new fan!
Bert Dammann
Geweldige song !!!! Prachtige combinatie tussen elektronica, regular instrumentatie en voices, MOOI.