From Hanalei's conception (November 2002) through November of 2004 all song… Read Full Bio ↴From Hanalei's conception (November 2002) through November of 2004 all songs were written and recorded soley by Brian Moss. From December of 2004 through December 2006 Hanalei consisted of Brian Moss: guitars & vocals, Pete Tscoukas: guitars, Jason Kyrouac/Nick Kraska: drums, & Pete Croke: bass. Now, following Brian's move back to Oakland and then San Francisco, CA, things are back in solo form. Sometimes, there's a laptop involved. The computer wishes to remain nameless. Hanalei's third full length, tentatively entitled "Adventure Playground" will be a collection of home recordings and should be released sometime during 2009.

Beacon in the Distance
Hanalei Lyrics

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In an attic apartment in Iowa in a bed too big for one
You fell asleep with the stereo on when the day was done
On a hard wood floor in Memphis I awoke to a hangover and rain
I laid there in my sleeping bag and heard the walls whisper your name
I missed you in Mississippi with a map drawn on my chest
My hands kept driving south, but my heart beat midwest

[Chorus]

This fall will be all phone calls and postcards and "I wish you were here's"
Last night the streetlights painted on October ice and your face appeared

I got dead drunk and dreamed of you down in New Orleans
You sting just like one fifty one and you burn just like Jim Bean
You've got Virginia's good looks and Carolina's charm
If you were Florida, I'd be the sea and hold you afloat in my arms
In a basement flat in Chicago in a bed too small for two
I'm holding this beat up six string when I should be holding you

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Beacon in the Distance" by Hanalei talks about a long-distance relationship where the two lovers are separated by miles and miles. The lyrics paint a picture of two people who are in love, but they are forced to live apart due to various circumstances. The first verse talks about two people sleeping alone, one in an attic apartment in Iowa and the other on a hardwood floor in Memphis. The distance between them is palpable, and the walls seem to whisper the name of their loved one.

In the chorus, the lead singer talks about how they will keep in touch through phone calls and postcards, and how they will keep wishing that the other was there. The second verse talks about the lead singer drinking too much and dreaming of their loved one, giving the listener a sense of how much they miss them. The lyrics "You sting just like one fifty-one and you burn just like Jim Bean / You've got Virginia's good looks and Carolina's charm" paint a vivid picture of the lead singer's love for their partner.

The final verse talks about the lead singer holding a beat-up six-string in a basement flat in Chicago, longing to hold their loved one instead. The song ends with the chorus, leaving the listener with a bittersweet feeling of love and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

In an attic apartment in Iowa in a bed too big for one
You were alone in a big bed in an attic apartment in Iowa

You fell asleep with the stereo on when the day was done
You fell asleep while the stereo was on, after a long day

On a hard wood floor in Memphis I awoke to a hangover and rain
You woke up hungover on a hardwood floor in Memphis, with the sound of rain

I laid there in my sleeping bag and heard the walls whisper your name
You lay in a sleeping bag and heard the walls whispering the name of the person you missed

I missed you in Mississippi with a map drawn on my chest
You missed the person while in Mississippi and had drawn a map on your chest

My hands kept driving south, but my heart beat midwest
You were physically going south, but your heart was still in the midwest

This fall will be all phone calls and postcards and "I wish you were here's"
You anticipate that this autumn will be filled with phone calls, postcards, and longing for the person you miss

Last night the streetlights painted on October ice and your face appeared
You saw the face of the person you missed reflected on the icy streetlights of October

I got dead drunk and dreamed of you down in New Orleans
You got drunk and dreamed of the person while in New Orleans

You sting just like one fifty one and you burn just like Jim Bean
The person has an intoxicating effect on you, like alcohol

You've got Virginia's good looks and Carolina's charm
The person is attractive and charming, like the states of Virginia and Carolina

If you were Florida, I'd be the sea and hold you afloat in my arms
If the person were Florida, you would be the sea and hold them close

In a basement flat in Chicago in a bed too small for two
You were in a small bed in a Chicago basement, wishing the person was with you

I'm holding this beat up six string when I should be holding you
Instead of holding the person, you are holding a beat up six string

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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