McMorrow's second album, Post-Tropical, was released in January 2014. It was noted for its distinct shift in style from the nu-folk of his first album, leaning more towards electronica and ambient sounds. Two singles were released from the album - "Cavalier" and "Red Dust." The album reached the top 30 in the UK and the Netherlands; as well as peaking at number 2 on the Irish album charts.
Hear the Noise That Moves So Soft and Low
James Vincent McMorrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the sound of freshly fallen snow
Your love is gold, your love is gold
Seems, seems as though we'll be stuck out here for days
To bang upon these drums that we have made
You never know, you never know
My one, my only one
Gave chase and so we run
Nothing breaks your stride like what's become
Oh, ooh, ooh
Stack, stack the frozen wood next to the shed
Pile it up so high then paint it red
Confuse the dogs, confuse the dogs
And time, time we lost is resting on the stairs
The window out reveals the cooler air
And so we go, and so we go
My one, my only one
Lied twice to keep me on
Gave chase and still we sung
Everything that ends has still begun
From the inside of my mouth
And the slow migration south
And it's not to be denied
It's not to be denied, ooh
The opening lines of the song set a peaceful, serene environment as the listener can hear the soft and slow sound of freshly fallen snow. The musical piece conveys a winter ambiance, where the snow and coldness require one to remain indoors or rely on their resources. The phrase "Your love is gold" could be interpreted in different ways. It may refer to having someone special to spend time with during the winter, which makes the cold and snow more bearable, or it may suggest the warmth and value of love in general. The lyrics of the chorus suggest uncertainty, as the singer isn't sure how long they are going to be stuck in such an environment. However, he seems content to be there with the one whom he loves.
The second stanza speaks of creating drums, stacking frozen wood beside the shed, and painting it red as a diversion. However, it is unclear why they wanted to distract the dogs. It could be a metaphorical reference to attaining a goal by diverting attention from obstacles, or perhaps it is simply something to do to help pass the time. The repeated phrase 'my one and my only one' illustrates a strong connection and affection for this person. The third stanza seems to suggest that there has been a wasted time ("time we lost") and that they are moving on. However, the person he loves remains constant, and the two of them are moving forward together. The reference to the "slow migration south" may suggest that they are leaving the cold environment behind to head south where it's warmer. Nonetheless, the undertone of the lyrics conveys contentment despite uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding their destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear, hear the noise that moves so soft and slow
Listen carefully to the gentle and calm sound that is made by the snow as it falls slowly and softly.
That's the sound of freshly fallen snow
The sound you can hear is specifically of snow that has just fallen and has not been disturbed.
Your love is gold, your love is gold
Your love is precious and valuable, like gold.
Seems, seems as though we'll be stuck out here for days
It appears that we may be stranded here for days and unable to leave this place.
To bang upon these drums that we have made
To create noise by hitting on the drums that we have constructed.
You never know, you never know
It is impossible to predict with certainty what will happen in the future.
My one, my only one
The person who is the only one for me, who I love deeply and truly.
Lies sleeping in the sun
This person is currently sleeping under the sunlight.
Gave chase and so we run
We pursued something and as a result, we are now running away together.
Nothing breaks your stride like what's become
It is difficult to adjust to changes in circumstances and it may take time to find a new pace that works.
Stack, stack the frozen wood next to the shed
Put the frozen logs next to the shed, one on top of the other.
Pile it up so high then paint it red
Create a tall stack of the logs and paint them red to make them more visible or apparent.
Confuse the dogs, confuse the dogs
Make it harder for the dogs to find their way by making changes that they do not recognize or understand.
And time, time we lost is resting on the stairs
The time we have lost in the past is still affecting us, and its impact is visible in our current situation.
The window out reveals the cooler air
Looking outside through the window allows us to see the cooler temperature outside.
And so we go, and so we go
We will continue on this journey and move forward with determination.
Lied twice to keep me on
This person has told two lies in order to convince me to stay with them.
Gave chase and still we sung
We chased after what we wanted and even though we had difficulties, we continued to sing and stay positive.
Everything that ends has still begun
Even when something has ended, there is always the potential for a new beginning.
From the inside of my mouth
Something that is coming from me internally or originating within me.
And the slow migration south
The gradual movement towards the South, which may take time but is happening deliberately.
And it's not to be denied
It is inevitable and cannot be ignored or avoided.
It's not to be denied, ooh
The fact that this is happening is not something we can deny, and there may be significant consequences as a result.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James McMorrow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
blaccademia
Hear, hear the noise that moves so soft and slow
That's the sound of freshly fallen snow
Your love is gold, your love is gold
Seems, seems as though we'll be stuck out here for days
To bang upon these drums that we have made
You never know, you never know
My one, my only one
Lies sleeping in the sun
Gave chase and so we run
Nothing breaks your stride like what's become
Stack, stack the frozen wood next to the shed
Pile it up so high then paint it red
Confuse the dogs, confuse the dogs
And time, time we lost is resting on the stairs
The window out reveals the cooler air
And so we go, and so we go
My one, my only one
Lied twice to keep me on
Gave chase and so we sung
Everything that ends has still begun
From the inside of my mouth
And the slow migration south
And it's not to be denied
It's not to be denied
blaccademia
Hear, hear the noise that moves so soft and slow
That's the sound of freshly fallen snow
Your love is gold, your love is gold
Seems, seems as though we'll be stuck out here for days
To bang upon these drums that we have made
You never know, you never know
My one, my only one
Lies sleeping in the sun
Gave chase and so we run
Nothing breaks your stride like what's become
Stack, stack the frozen wood next to the shed
Pile it up so high then paint it red
Confuse the dogs, confuse the dogs
And time, time we lost is resting on the stairs
The window out reveals the cooler air
And so we go, and so we go
My one, my only one
Lied twice to keep me on
Gave chase and so we sung
Everything that ends has still begun
From the inside of my mouth
And the slow migration south
And it's not to be denied
It's not to be denied
Yes Yeptho
He is so underrated 😢😢😢...wish world can listen to this special artist❤❤❤
Simply Ramla
This song is brilliant. I enjoy listening to James and Ray Lamontagne. Love their voices.
Steve D
This is an amazing song
idontliketotakeaname
I accidental found this music of James Vincent... wow.. I 'm so impressed !!! His music is just great.......
loopy lau
amazing voice
SB
I can’t believe this song only has 39 comments and 195k views. After 7 years, it’s like it’s my own little secret.
(It deserves more views and attention)
Abigail Desiderato
The chills. So much. Ahhh.
ThatShannonKid
Fucking brilliant album!! Love it!! :p
Pedro Brandão
Simply great.