Hollow Coves is an indie folk band hailing from Brisbane, Australia. The ba… Read Full Bio ↴Hollow Coves is an indie folk band hailing from Brisbane, Australia. The band, consisting of Ryan Henderson and Matt Carins, was formed in 2013. Henderson and Carins both contribute vocals and play the guitar in the band.

Ryan Henderson discovered his passion for music during his high school years when he attended the Woodford Folk Festival and was captivated by the performances of Angus & Julia Stone. Inspired by their music, he embarked on a journey to learn the guitar and pursue a career in music.

Matt Carins, on the other hand, grew up in a musical environment in Brisbane. His father is a member of a local cover band and has also written albums, while his mother is proficient in piano and flute, teaching these instruments as well. Carins' sister is a pianist, and his brother is involved in an alternative rock band, highlighting the family's musical connections.

The band released their debut EP, "Drifting," in October 2014. Following the release of "Drifting," Hollow Coves quickly gained international recognition, especially with the success of their hit single "The Woods" in 2017.

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Angus & Julia Stone, Ben Howard, and The Paper Kites, Hollow Coves blends an earthy folk sound, featuring simple acoustic melodies, rich vocal harmonies, and profound themes. Their music resonated with audiences, propelling them to the top of notable charts like Hype Machine and THR's Top TV Songs.

Initially, the duo recorded their music in a garage before parting ways, with Henderson heading to Canada and Carins to England. Despite the distance, their music garnered significant attention on platforms like Spotify, leading to widespread acclaim and record deals. In 2017, Hollow Coves signed with Nettwerk and released their debut EP, "Wanderlust". While physically apart, they continued to collaborate remotely, utilizing online resources to write and record songs.

In 2019, the group returned with their nostalgia-laden first full-length titled "Moments".

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt Carins, previously working as a carpenter, joined forces with Ryan Henderson to construct a production studio and a soundproof room for practicing and recording their music, highlighting their commitment to their craft even during challenging times.

Beauty in the Light
Hollow Coves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We saw the colors shining from that little treehouse window
The morning light would rise above the golden hills and meadows
And all the birds sang songs around the place we called home
We never thought the wind would blow cold

The summer sun would shine upon that house among the treetops
We felt the warmth within the wind and never thought the leaves would drop
When they fell you felt the cold and closed the doors to hide your heart

You know it can't keep beating in the dark

Lift up your head, break down the walls
Don't stop pushing 'til they fall
At first the sun might hurt your eyes
But soon you'll see the beauty in the light

Remember how the winter ends, ice turns to flowing water
And all the leaves come out again long nights start getting shorter
You see there's always some way back don't close the doors to hide your heart
You know it can't keep beating in the dark

Lift up your head, break down the walls
Don't stop pushing 'til they fall
At first the sun might hurt your eyes
But soon you'll see the beauty in the light

It shines upon the hills and valleys
Illuminates a path through the pine trees
Reflecting all the light that's free to find in this life

Lift up your head, break down the walls
Don't stop pushing 'til they fall
At first the sun might hurt your eyes
But soon you'll see the beauty in the light

Lift up your head, break down the walls
Don't stop pushing 'til they fall

At first the sun might hurt your eyes
But soon you'll see the beauty in the light

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Beauty in the Light" by Hollow Coves describe a sense of hope and optimism after experiencing hardship. The opening line creates an image of a small treehouse glowing with color, inspiring a feeling of warmth and safety. The second verse, however, introduces the changing of the seasons as metaphor for personal growth and resilience. The loss of leaves and warmth is accompanied by a call to action - to break down the walls that we build to protect ourselves, but that ultimately keep us in darkness.

The chorus reinforces this message, urging the listener to push through pain and challenge to see the beauty that comes with perseverance. The final lines offer a more specific image of the natural world, as valleys and pine trees are illuminated by the same light. The repeated refrain of "Lift up your head, break down the walls" empowers the listener to actively seek out the light and overcome whatever obstacles they might encounter.

Line by Line Meaning

We saw the colors shining from that little treehouse window
We saw the vibrant colors gleaming from the little window of the treehouse that we cherished and called our home.

The morning light would rise above the golden hills and meadows
Every morning the beautiful light would emerge from the horizon above the sun-kissed fields and meadows.

And all the birds sang songs around the place we called home
The birds would chirp and tweet lovely melodies around the place we dearly loved and cherished.

We never thought the wind would blow cold
We never expected the air to grow frigid and chilling as the gentle breeze transformed into cold and harsh winds.

The summer sun would shine upon that house among the treetops
The warm sun of summer would bask upon the cozy abode nestled among the trees.

We felt the warmth within the wind and never thought the leaves would drop
The breeze brought us warmth, and we never imagined that it would also cause the leaves to fall from the trees.

When they fell you felt the cold and closed the doors to hide your heart
The falling leaves brought with them the cold of autumn, and we shut our doors to protect our hearts and emotions.

You know it can't keep beating in the dark
Our hearts cannot thrive and continue living when kept in the shadows of the darkness.

Lift up your head, break down the walls
Raise your head and demolish the barriers in your path.

Don't stop pushing 'til they fall
Do not give up until the obstacles crumble and disappear.

At first the sun might hurt your eyes
Initially, the bright sunlight may cause discomfort to your eyes.

But soon you'll see the beauty in the light
However, soon enough, you will notice and appreciate the beauty within the light that was once too bright for you.

Remember how the winter ends, ice turns to flowing water
Recall how the winter comes to an end, and the ice starts melting into flowing streams of water.

And all the leaves come out again long nights start getting shorter
The leaves inevitably grow back, and the long nights begin to shorten as the seasons change.

You see there's always some way back don't close the doors to hide your heart
Remember there are always paths to make it back, and do not shut yourself out from opportunities to protect your emotions.

It shines upon the hills and valleys
The light radiates upon the hills and valleys.

Illuminates a path through the pine trees
The light highlights a way through the dense pine trees.

Reflecting all the light that's free to find in this life
Reflecting all the light that you can discover and experience in this life.