Read Full Bio ↴Hayden Calnin is an Australian singer-songwriter based in Melbourne.
The ink lines that would shape young, self-produced, singer/songwriter Hayden Calnin and his budding musical career were drawn in his teen years after his father gave him a guitar at age 14. He hasn’t gone a day since without playing it.
Dabbling in bands through his teen years led him to add drums and piano to his repertoire, until at the age of 17 he finally decided to give singing a go.
Calnin's guitar-driven sound is complemented by a selection of husky, honest harmonies and delicate folk-pop melodies.
Honour
Hayden Calnin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
breath small leaf
short is the sting of this
now push
the folds of life to dust
put eager heads to sleep tonight
to dream of places never seen before
a home to call their own
now I know not who you are
so whisper out here in the dark
put thought into your words before they're told
this begins to crack
and I thought you'd talk back to me
all on your own
all on your own
all on your own
all on your own
all on your own
all on your own
Down
by the seeds of life
grace the day, the night and dawn
Down
by the seeds of life
grace the day, the night and dawn
Down
by the seeds of life
grace the day, the night and dawn
You surely get it by now
that seeds don't grow without a cloud
The opening lines of Hayden Calnin's song "Honour" set the tone for the rest of the piece. The lines "Take my hand, breath small leaf, short is the sting of this, now push," depict a sense of urgency and immediacy, urging the listener to take action. The following lines "the folds of life to dust, put eager heads to sleep tonight, to dream of places never seen before, a home to call their own, a home" evoke a sense of longing, of seeking a place of belonging and comfort.
The next few lines contain a dialogue between two individuals, with one admitting that they do not know the other person's identity, and urging them to think carefully before speaking. The repetition of "all on your own" emphasizes the theme of loneliness and isolation.
The repeated chorus of "Down by the seeds of life, grace the day, the night and dawn" reinforces the idea that growth and renewal come from unexpected places. The final lyrics "You surely get it by now, that seeds don't grow without a cloud" emphasize the importance of adversity and challenge in the growth process.
Overall, "Honour" is a song that speaks to the human desire for connection, belonging, and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my hand
A call for connection and emotional support from the singer
breath small leaf
An instruction to the listener to inhale peacefully
short is the sting of this
The hurt caused by the separation of two individuals is brief
now push
A push to move on from the hurt caused by separation
the folds of life to dust
The need to leave the past behind and embrace the new future
put eager heads to sleep tonight
The need to be patient and let the future unfold itself
to dream of places never seen before
Encouragement to imagine and visualize a new and better life
a home to call their own
A desire for a stable and permanent place to belong
a home
The ultimate goal, a place to call home
now I know not who you are
The singer is unsure of the listener's identity
so whisper out here in the dark
A request for the listener to reveal themselves
put thought into your words before they're told
An instruction for the listener to think before speaking
this begins to crack
The relationship between the two individuals is beginning to break down
and I thought you'd talk back to me
The singer is surprised at the listener's lack of response
all on your own
The listener is alone in their silence
Down
A command to focus and introspect
by the seeds of life
The source of life and growth, a metaphor for self-care and nurturing
grace the day, the night and dawn
The need to find harmony and balance in all moments of life
You surely get it by now
Assumption that the listener understands the message so far
that seeds don't grow without a cloud
Metaphor for the need to face challenges and difficulties in order to grow
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.