Halifax, Nova Scotia is a coastal city – a Canadian indie music hub since t… Read Full Bio ↴Halifax, Nova Scotia is a coastal city – a Canadian indie music hub since the 1990’s, nestled among ragged shorelines of the Atlantic Ocean. From this home base, In-Flight Safety has been crafting thoughtful, melodic indie rock that’s made its way across North America and Europe.

There’s been a lot of praise and accolades over the years, from television placements to awards, but the band still had growing to do. From The Coast is Clear (2006) to We Are an Empire, My Dear (2009), In-Flight Safety was building a solid fan-base in North America, the UK and Germany. Whether it was a performance on BBC Radio in London or a SXSW showcase, the band was outwardly focused during those years, playing copious shows and making new music for their fans.

Pre-2011 In-Flight Safety was by all accounts an extrovert. In 2011, the gears shifted. John Mullane (Vocals/guitars) spent time scoring films and Glen Nicholson (Drums) went to school to study architecture. At a glance the band had a record’s worth of new material ready to go. “At the end of 2011, I listened all our demos but all I saw was trees. No forest. I called Glen and was totally honest. To me, that’s when we started working on the album – during that conversation,” says Mullane.

From this introspection, confidence and maturity, Mullane and Nicholson came together to construct Conversationalist. It was built, literally and figuratively, on the backs of thousands of conversations between Mullane and Nicholson. Inspired by contemporary bands like Wild Nothing, The Walkmen and DIIV, In-Flight Safety created an album that is true to their history, but their most adventurous and honest. “There’s a celebratory feeling in the new songs. If we have a playful side, it’s on this album,” says Mullane.

The ten tracks on Conversationalist balance the light and the dark that is In-Flight Safety. You’ve got guitar hooks that will get stuck in your head and make you want to dance all night, but the imagery is more mysterious. It can be raw and haunting, but always uplifting with rich, thoughtful production that’s anything but indie. Mixed by Gus van Go (The Stills, Hollerado) in Brooklyn NY, Conversationalist is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. There’s beauty in opposites and this record is both pragmatic and ethereal, it builds and burns, leaving you wanting more. It’s a love letter and a breakup in one album.

But even introverts need to get out. Conversationalist will be released late summer 2014 (tour dates to follow) and In-Flight Safety will head out on the road, crossing oceans and continents. It’s good to talk.

The Warning
In-Flight Safety Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't believe I let you down
And if this is the place 6 feet underground
The place of our birth or the place that we go down
Whoa
Oh
Oh

If we don't believe the warning cries then maybe we'll lose

Maybe see it die
Caution to the wind
The rest on the fire
Whoa
Oh
Oh

Now the war
Now the warning
Close to your door
The war
The warning

I'm running out of things to say
I know there's somethings we've tucked away
Out deep in the woods or far deeper to say
Whoa
Oh
Oh

If we can unearth our future graves then maybe we'll mend or recuperate
Out of the ground and from out of the state
Whoa
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

Whoa
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

Whoa
Oh
Oh

Now the war
Now the warning
Close to your door
The war
The warning

Now the war
Now the warning
Close to your door
The war
The warning

Now the war
Now the warning
Close to your door

The war
The warning

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to In-Flight Safety's song "The Warning" are open to interpretation, but they seem to convey a sense of disbelief and urgency in the face of impending danger. The song begins with the singer expressing their disbelief in having let someone down, possibly a loved one or a significant other. There is also a reference to a place six feet underground, which can be understood as a grave or a metaphor for a low point in life.

The chorus brings forth a warning, urging the listener to pay attention to the cries of caution and to not ignore them, as doing so may lead to loss or death. The phrase "caution to the wind" suggests disregarding warnings and taking risks without considering the consequences. It implies that this attitude could result in destructive consequences.

The second verse suggests that the singer is running out of things to say, possibly indicating a sense of helplessness or a lack of solution to the problem at hand. The mention of buried secrets or untold truths hidden deep in the woods or within themselves speaks to the idea that there may be unresolved issues that need to be confronted in order to find a path to recovery.

Overall, the song seems to be a call to action, urging listeners to heed warnings and face the challenges or conflicts in their lives before it's too late. It embraces the idea that acknowledging and addressing problems head-on is essential for personal growth and avoiding further pain or destruction.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't believe I let you down
I have faith that I did not disappoint you

And if this is the place 6 feet underground
And if this refers to the grave

The place of our birth or the place that we go down
The place where we were born or the place where we ultimately end up

Whoa
Expression of astonishment or realization

Oh
Expression of surprise or realization

If we don't believe the warning cries then maybe we'll lose
If we disregard the alerts, we might face defeat

Maybe see it die
Possibly witness its demise

Caution to the wind
Disregarding cautionary advice

The rest on the fire
The remainder consumed by fire

Now the war
The current state of conflict or strife

Now the warning
The present alarm or alert

Close to your door
Immediate proximity to your residence

I'm running out of things to say
I have nearly exhausted my words

I know there's somethings we've tucked away
I am aware of things we have hidden or concealed

Out deep in the woods or far deeper to say
Hidden deep in the forest or metaphorically obscured

If we can unearth our future graves then maybe we'll mend or recuperate
If we can uncover the consequences of our actions, perhaps we can heal or recover

Out of the ground and from out of the state
Emerging from the soil and transcending the current situation

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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