After fronting several rock bands in his native Idaho, singer/songwriter Justin Ringle moved to Portland, OR in 2004 and began focusing on acoustic music, playing open mics regularly under the moniker Horse Feathers. In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick heard a couple of Justin's demos and offered to help flesh them out. In February 2006 the duo went into Skyler Norwood's Miracle Lake studios and recorded their debut album, Words are Dead, which was released that September on Portland label, Lucky Madison. Later that year, Peter's sister Heather Broderick joined the group on cello and by 2007, Horse Feathers began featuring a rotating cast of instrumentalists backing Justin's guitar and vocals.
Justin and the Brodericks returned to Miracle Lake studios in the fall and winter of 2007 and recorded House With No Home, which was released on Kill Rock Stars in the spring of 2008. Around that time, Peter left the country to pursue music in Europe, and Nathan Crockett was enlisted to cover violin duties. Several months later, Heather also left the group to pursue other musical projects and cellist Catherine Odell came on board. The current lineup was rounded out at the beginning of 2009 when Sam Cooper joined as a multi-instrumentalist. As a four piece, the group has been touring extensively and released a new album entitled Thistled Spring on Kill Rock Stars, April 20th, 2010.
Like Lavender
Horse Feathers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hole from which to see your head,
If words are dead.
Some things always stay the same.
How you looked wet from all the rain.
Like lavender the smell of your hair,
And I'll wait, I'll wait.
Take a ticket to my own fate.
Maybe I'm too late.
And this wall breaks on the phone it at all, if you call.
A hole from which to see your head,
If words are dead.
Some things always stay the same.
How you looked wet from all the rain.
Some things always stay the same.
The lyrics in Horse Feathers’s song “Like Lavender” are expressive and poignant, setting a melancholic and introspective tone. The line “The wall breaks on the phone if at all, if you call” can be interpreted as a metaphor for communication barriers between two people, suggesting that even if someone reaches out and tries to break down those walls, they may still not be able to connect with the other person. The following lines “A hole from which to see your head, If words are dead” further emphasize this idea of a lack of communication, suggesting that even if the singer can see and understand the other person, words may not be enough to bridge the gap between them.
The next stanza begins with “Some things always stay the same,” highlighting the idea of the passage of time and how certain things remain constant, such as memories like “how you looked wet from all the rain.” The line “Like lavender the smell of your hair” creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, evoking a sensory memory of a person who is no longer present. The final lines “And I'll wait, I'll wait. Take a ticket to my own fate. Maybe I'm too late” express the singer’s sense of resignation, as if they are waiting for something that may never come or have missed their chance at connection.
Overall, the lyrics of “Like Lavender” create a mood of melancholy and longing, exploring themes of communication, memory, and the passage of time. The use of sensory language, such as the smell of lavender and the image of someone wet from rain, create a vivid atmosphere that enhances the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The wall breaks on the phone if at all, if you call.
If you call, the wall between us may crumble and the communication may flow freely.
A hole from which to see your head, If words are dead.
If we can't communicate with words, we can still try to understand each other's thoughts by looking into each other's eyes.
Some things always stay the same. How you looked wet from all the rain.
No matter how much time passes, some memories remain strong and vivid.
Like lavender the smell of your hair, Silly errs postponing your despair.
The fragrance of your hair is as calming as lavender, and foolish mistakes can sometimes help us avoid moments of despair.
And I'll wait, I'll wait.
I am willing to be patient and wait for you.
Take a ticket to my own fate. Maybe I'm too late.
I am willing to let fate guide me, but it may already be too late for me to change the outcome.
And this wall breaks on the phone it at all, if you call.
Once again, I am reminded that if we want to connect, we need to take the risk and make the call.
Some things always stay the same.
The idea that some things remain constant is repeated, emphasizing the importance of memories and connections that endure over time.
Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CMV562
amazing song. Love horsefeathers :)
Kalila Pierson
I tear up everytime I hear this song. Seriously though, surely this was made my angels?
yeahoriginal
lullabies for big kids to fall asleep to :)
Naomi Frye
Brings back angsty high school me that was depressed and listening to this on repeat haha
breezynjuli
beautiful
Naomi Frye
So peaceful and beautif
Chaim Lebeowitzrosenshoahshekelberg
absoutely gorgeous....
.....
...
sigh.
Kelsey Thompson
<3
heyorpheus
Almost painful in its beauty...
Naomi Frye
@PfftRee Yeah, I thinnk about how I keep falling for the same guy, but we haven't gone out even though we both like each other( I'm really scared of getting my heart broken again ) :) I LOVE 1:42 , Always was my favorite and 2:02