It began as an experiment in collaboration: two people with diverse artistic backgrounds coming together to merge their skills, aesthetic tastes, and music-making approaches. Robert L. Barber grew up listening to punk and hardcore, and Mary Pearson studied bassoon performance, but both gravitated toward a DIY compositional style and a love of layers. It is the affinity for layering that has thus far defined the duo, both in ideas and instrumentation. High Places’ songs contain a fascinating range of aural layers: bells and bird calls over a wash of ocean waves; mallets hitting mixing bowls over treated guitar and glockenspiel; Mary's reflective vocals over Rob's homemade beats. The result is an imaginative and spacious amalgamation of sounds with a unique, almost Caribbean undertone that is as immediate as it is refreshing.
Since their inception in 2006 in Brooklyn, High Places have honed their "exquisite corpse" style of songwriting, exchanging ideas back and forth, challenging one another's expectations, pushing both performance and songs to new places, or more aptly, new heights. With each single, from “Head Spins” to “Sandy Feat” from “Greeting the Light” to “Granola” the band has revealed more complex elements within their layers be it in vocal texture, delicate melodic sense, or in new dimensions to their ever inventive and propulsive percussion.
Their album "Original Colors" was released in 2011.
Vision's The First...
High Places Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're not always sure you are on the right track
You gave a little bit and they took a lot
Of your sense of self and your private thoughts
Oh, how very strange
We cannot look away
And nothing you could say
The picture's clear but it's going black
And your favorite song's still the hidden track
You gave a little bit and they took a lot
Of your quietude and your unsaid thoughts
Oh, how very strange
We cannot look away
And nothing you could say
Would ever make us go away
The picture's clear but it's going black
When you're out at sea floating on your back
You gave a little bit and they took a lot
Of your precious time and your favorite spots
Oh, how very strange
We cannot look away
We cannot look away
We cannot look away
The lyrics of High Places's "Vision's The First" convey feelings of uncertainty and loss in the face of external expectations and pressures. The singer describes a situation where they feel like they are losing their sense of self and their personal space. The line "The picture's clear but it's going black" suggests a familiarity with their surroundings, but also the sense that things are slipping away or becoming obscured. This is reinforced by the line "you're not always sure you are on the right track" which implies a sense of doubt and second-guessing.
The second stanza reinforces the first, with the repetition of the lines "The picture's clear but it's going black" and "You gave a little bit and they took a lot." The use of the word "quietude" adds to the idea that the singer is losing their sense of inner peace and space. Interestingly, the mention of a favorite song's hidden track suggests something that is intentionally hidden or not readily apparent, possibly reflecting the singer's own obscured thoughts or feelings.
Overall, the song appears to be about the struggle to maintain individuality and personal space in a world where external pressures and expectations threaten to encroach upon it. There is a sense of sadness and resignation in the last stanza, with the mention of "floating on your back" suggesting a passive surrender to the forces at play. The repetition of "We cannot look away" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the singer feels trapped or unable to escape from their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
The picture's clear but it's going black
Despite having a clear perspective, things are becoming uncertain and unclear
And you're not always sure you are on the right track
Doubts and insecurities are clouding one's confidence in their direction
You gave a little bit and they took a lot
Others have taken advantage of one's generosity and taken more than what was given
Of your sense of self and your private thoughts
As a result, one's sense of identity and personal thoughts have been compromised
Oh, how very strange
The current situation is uncanny or unusual
We cannot look away
Despite recognizing the strangeness, it's hard to divert attention from it
And nothing you could say
Attempts to address or explain the situation are in vain
Would ever make us go away
The strangeness is persistent and cannot be easily dismissed
And your favorite song's still the hidden track
Despite the changes, there are still aspects that remain enjoyable and special
Of your quietude and your unsaid thoughts
However, there are still emotions and thoughts that have not been expressed
When you're out at sea floating on your back
There are times of vulnerability and exposure
Of your precious time and your favorite spots
During these times, something valuable might be lost or taken
We cannot look away
The strangeness continues to demand attention
We cannot look away
Once again, it's hard to divert attention from it
We cannot look away
The persistence of the strangeness is emphasized
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
charlie z
still an amazing track. one of their best pieces by far.