Fast-becoming the darlings of Toronto’s vibrant music scene, alt-pop creators HIGHS’ much- acclaimed musical blend has taken them from bedroom demos to festival stages in a matter of a few short years.
The band’s self-titled EP – a 6 tracker that reflects growing up, the concept of home and spirituality – was produced and engineered at Verge Music Lab by Steve Major (Death From Above 1979, Island, Whitehorse, Great Lake Swimmers) and lead to the band inking a recording deal with highly-respected Indica Records (Half Moon Run, Phantogram, The Gaslight Anthem) in 2014.
“Nomads” of the bands’ debut EP saw a major sync placement in John Cusack’s movie, Adult World, while internatonal recogniton has lead to placement in the Top 30 Hype Machine charts, CMJ Top 200 charting positons, and single “Summer Dress” reaching the #1 spot on CBC Radio 3.
Having shared stages with Cold War Kids, Twin Forks, Hey Ocean, Kopecky Family Band and Rich Aucoin across their native Canada, HIGHS recently played slots at the UK's Focus Wales and The Great Escape. Following the EU trip the band is moving full steam ahead into release plans for their full-length debut album, carefully coaxed and crafted during a spring studio session with producer Luke Smith (Foals, Lily Allen) and due for international release later in 2015. Until then fans can see the band gracing festivals this summer including Ontario’s coveted WayHome Music & Arts Festival.
Careful
Highs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put 'em under your bed
And gather your thoughts up
But keep 'em in your head
Be careful what you wish for
Be careful what you dream
They let you sing your songs, son
But they'll never hear you scream
Button your coat up
Take shelter from the rain
They want you to be like them
But you can never be the same
'Cause you're standing on the outside
They'll never let ya in
They'll let you play the game, son
But they'll never let you win
Never let them bear witness
To the tears in your eyes
And never take a handshake
From the prophets and their lies
'Cause they put you in the wrong line
You've been crying out for more
They've given you the key, son
But you'll never find the door
You've fallen like an angel
Stranded on the earth
They let you see their riches
They never tell you what you're worth
They put you in the back seat
While they're heading for the sun
And if you're waiting for the rapture
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
The day will never come
In the song "Careful" by Highs, the lyrics convey a message of caution and disillusionment in the face of societal expectations and the pursuit of dreams. The song begins with the idea of tidying up one's books and thoughts, symbolizing a desire for order and control. However, the lyrics warn to keep these thoughts to oneself, as the world may not be receptive or understanding. The line "Be careful what you wish for, be careful what you dream" suggests that even when granted opportunities to express oneself, there may be consequences or limitations.
The song continues with the theme of conformity and the pressure to fit in. The line "They want you to be like them, but you can never be the same" highlights the inherent difference and outsider status of the persona. Despite being allowed to participate in the game, success is elusive, as "they'll never let you win." This reflects a sense of inequality and the notion that certain structures and systems are designed to perpetuate the status quo.
The lyrics also touch on the concept of hiding one's vulnerability and tears behind a facade. The caution against believing in the words of prophets and their lies implies skepticism towards authority figures and the manipulation they may employ. This skepticism extends to the idea of being put in the wrong line, suggesting a feeling of being misguided or deceived. Despite being given the key to something, the persona will never find the door, symbolizing a perpetual sense of being stuck and unfulfilled.
The song concludes with the metaphor of falling like an angel, representing a loss of innocence or idealism. The mention of seeing riches but not being told one's worth suggests a disconnect between material success and personal fulfillment. The idea of being put in the back seat while others reach for the sun embodies a feeling of being left behind and unacknowledged.
Overall, "Careful" by Highs serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges and disillusionments one may encounter when pursuing dreams and navigating societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Tidy your books up
Organize and clean up the thoughts and ideas you have accumulated
Put 'em under your bed
Keep those thoughts hidden and away from others
And gather your thoughts up
Bring all your thoughts and ideas together
But keep 'em in your head
Don't share those thoughts with anyone else
Be careful what you wish for
Exercise caution when desiring something
Be careful what you dream
Exercise caution when envisioning aspirations
They let you sing your songs, son
They allow you to express yourself through music, but only to a certain extent
But they'll never hear you scream
They won't pay attention to your real emotions and struggles
Button your coat up
Protect yourself from the difficulties of life
Take shelter from the rain
Find refuge and safety from the challenges you encounter
They want you to be like them
They expect you to conform to their standards and ideals
But you can never be the same
You are unique and cannot fully assimilate into their mindset
'Cause you're standing on the outside
You are excluded from their inner circle and perspective
They'll never let ya in
They will never fully accept you
They'll let you play the game, son
They allow you to participate in their system or society
But they'll never let you win
They won't allow you to achieve true success or fulfillment as they hold the ultimate power
Never let them bear witness
Never allow them to see or experience
To the tears in your eyes
Your vulnerabilities and emotional pain
And never take a handshake
Don't trust the promises or agreements made by
From the prophets and their lies
From those who claim to have foresight but only deceive
'Cause they put you in the wrong line
They misdirected you to an unsatisfactory path
You've been crying out for more
You have been expressing your desire for something greater
They've given you the key, son
They have provided you with a potential solution or opportunity
But you'll never find the door
You won't discover the true path or fulfillment
You've fallen like an angel
You have experienced a downfall or loss of innocence
Stranded on the earth
Feeling isolated and disconnected from the world
They let you see their riches
They show you their wealth and success
They never tell you what you're worth
They don't reveal or acknowledge your true value
They put you in the back seat
They relegate you to a position of insignificance
While they're heading for the sun
While they pursue their own ambitious goals and aspirations
And if you're waiting for the rapture
If you are anticipating a significant, transformative event
The day will never come
That event or revelation will never occur
The day will never come
The anticipated event or revelation will never happen
The day will never come
The awaited day will never arrive
The day will never come
The expected moment or opportunity will never materialize
The day will never come
The hoped-for day will forever remain out of reach
The day will never come
The desired day will always elude you
The day will never come
The longed-for day will never be realized
The day will never come
The envisaged day will never come to pass
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NOEL GALLAGHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shaon Williams
And seven more diamonds, been carving these shapes
It's hard to believe I'm still counting my age
And it's you, and it's you, and it's always been you
But it's cruel, and it's cruel, 'cause it's always been you X2
But out of my hands Chasing a Cruel wind
and out of my hands Chasing Cruel wind
Face out, kicking at the back door
Got your name on my tongue
Feel it, feel it in the middle
Spit it out, feel it as it runs
And I swear, I didn't mean it
I just needed to let you know
Ain't it strange, the minute that you want it
is the minute you let it go
Kick back, feel it in your stomach
I can feel it in my bones
You're the only one who wants it
Let it out, feel it as it goes
And I swear, I didn't mean it
I just needed to let you know
Ain't it strange, the minute that you want it
is the minute you let it go
Take it, take it when you want it
Fake it, fake it when you want it
Haunt me, shakin' like I'm haunted
but I still got love for this place
And I told you that I need it
And I told you that I'm innocent
And I hold you 'til you sleep through
'Cause I still got love for this
Knees deep, face in the water
Face me, tasting the bottle
Fingers tracing the bottle
Give it up, gonna get it out in your hair
Take your time makin' out
Feelin' like another one on the inside
Take your time makin' out
And seven more diamonds, been carving these shapes
It's hard to believe I'm still counting my age
And it's you, and it's you, and it's always been you
But it's cruel, and it's cruel, 'cause it's always been you.
Brandon Zarzyczny
That was beautiful, it's amazing that you guys can achieve such a perfect performance live.
Moe
What an amazing sound and song!
Salo
Amazing freakign tunes! Makes every joint of my body to swing! Goosebumps for sure!
Pedro Thiago
intimate sound that you guys make,really beautiful.
GingerontheUke
hardcore reminds me of the fleet foxes. love it!
gRosh08
Love it!
Shaon Williams
And seven more diamonds, been carving these shapes
It's hard to believe I'm still counting my age
And it's you, and it's you, and it's always been you
But it's cruel, and it's cruel, 'cause it's always been you X2
But out of my hands Chasing a Cruel wind
and out of my hands Chasing Cruel wind
Face out, kicking at the back door
Got your name on my tongue
Feel it, feel it in the middle
Spit it out, feel it as it runs
And I swear, I didn't mean it
I just needed to let you know
Ain't it strange, the minute that you want it
is the minute you let it go
Kick back, feel it in your stomach
I can feel it in my bones
You're the only one who wants it
Let it out, feel it as it goes
And I swear, I didn't mean it
I just needed to let you know
Ain't it strange, the minute that you want it
is the minute you let it go
Take it, take it when you want it
Fake it, fake it when you want it
Haunt me, shakin' like I'm haunted
but I still got love for this place
And I told you that I need it
And I told you that I'm innocent
And I hold you 'til you sleep through
'Cause I still got love for this
Knees deep, face in the water
Face me, tasting the bottle
Fingers tracing the bottle
Give it up, gonna get it out in your hair
Take your time makin' out
Feelin' like another one on the inside
Take your time makin' out
And seven more diamonds, been carving these shapes
It's hard to believe I'm still counting my age
And it's you, and it's you, and it's always been you
But it's cruel, and it's cruel, 'cause it's always been you.
zergdc
1:59 so good
Nefeli
zergdc this is what I came here for
Kürşat Doğan
baya iyi şarkı neden bu kadar az dinlenmiş?