In the past few years the band has travelled all over their home country of Canada, touring and sharing the stage with many international acts including The Cat Empire, Xavier Rudd, State Radio and Finley Quaye. The summer of 2010 also saw them performing at the Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver Folk Festivals.
New album, Let it Go, will be released worldwide June 12th, 2012.
Boon 'Elm
Jon and Roy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is blue and my t-shirts torn
Up on a hill I found my thrill
And down in the valley I got my fill.
Her skin was fair and her hair was long
Her body built with a frame strong
She broke down my front door at dawn
Oh, but a man he can't always pretend, that he does understand
So I'm gonna keep somethings well hid
In a wooden box with a tight lid
Up on the hill I'll sing my tune
With my ear to the ground and my eyes on the moon
Oh but a man he can't always pretend, that he does understand
The lyrics of Jon and Roy's song Boon ’Elm describe a journey of self-discovery that involves finding beauty in both the highs and lows of life. The first stanza sets the scene with the singer walking down a dusty road, surrounded by the blue sky and torn t-shirt. The second line, "Up on a hill I found my thrill, and down in the valley I got my fill," suggests that the singer finds joy in both the highs and lows, as he finds his thrill on a hill and satisfaction in the valley.
The second stanza introduces a love interest, who is described as fair-skinned, long-haired, and with a strong physique. The third line, "She broke down my front door at dawn," suggests that she is a force to be reckoned with, taking charge of the situation. The last line of that stanza, "And now we're in bed and the day is done," suggests a physical relationship between the two.
The final stanza concludes with the lines, "Oh but a man he can't always pretend, that he does understand." This line acknowledges that despite the experiences and insights gained on the journey, there are still things that cannot be fully understood or communicated. The wooden box with a tight lid symbolizes the things that the singer chooses to keep hidden, perhaps out of fear of being vulnerable or fear of judgment. The song ends with the image of the singer on the hill, singing his tune with his ear to the ground and his eyes on the moon, suggesting a continued search for understanding and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walkin' out on a dusty road
I'm leaving everything behind and setting out on a new journey.
The sky is blue and my t-shirts torn
I feel free and happy, but my life is not perfect.
Up on a hill I found my thrill
I found something that brings me joy and excitement.
And down in the valley I got my fill.
I experienced everything that I needed or wanted in the valley, but now I'm ready for something new.
Her skin was fair and her hair was long
She was beautiful and I was attracted to her.
Her body built with a frame strong
She was physically powerful and capable.
She broke down my front door at dawn
She came into my life unexpectedly and forcefully.
And now we're in bed and the day is done
We're together intimately and the day is over.
Oh, but a man he can't always pretend, that he does understand
Sometimes, even as a man, I feel confused or uncertain about things, and I can't pretend that I know everything.
So I'm gonna keep somethings well hid
I'm going to keep certain things secret or hidden.
In a wooden box with a tight lid
I'll store these secrets in a secure and protected place.
Up on the hill I'll sing my tune
I'll express myself and play music up on the hill, where I feel safe and comfortable.
With my ear to the ground and my eyes on the moon
I'll stay in tune with the natural world and its rhythms.
Contributed by Reagan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.