The album was recorded between May 2007 - March 2009, mostly at the Oxford Hotel in Toronto, by Bryar Gray and Jordaan Mason. The Horse Museum on this record include members of Sarah D., Whatever Jailer, I Am Not Dynamite, Klessa, the Owle Bird, Richard Laviolette, Chris Yang, and the Hidden Cameras.
Avalanches
Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum Lyrics
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We don′t have mouths to talk about it
Between avalanches we can find our language
Between fire blankets we can speak our language
But if snow is like skin
It pulls away so easy
What if all stripped wood is branches
And all frozen lakes are water
Then our bodies will be avalanches
Then our bodies will be avalanches
The lyrics of Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum's song "Avalanches" are characterized by their poetic, introspective, and metaphorical language. The opening line, "If snow is flesh in gardens," sets the tone for the entire song, which goes on to explore the themes of communication, language, and the transience of life. The first two lines suggest that while snow is a powerful force in our world, we lack the ability to truly communicate or articulate its significance.
As the song progresses, the theme of communication becomes more central. The lines "Between avalanches we can find our language / Between fire blankets we can speak our language" suggest that it is in moments of crisis or danger that we are most able to connect with one another on a deeper level. The language we use in these moments may be different than our everyday speech. It may be more raw, more honest, and more heartfelt.
The final lines of the song tie together many of the images and themes that have come before. "Then our bodies will be avalanches" suggests that we, too, are like snowflakes - unique and fragile, yet capable of great power and destruction. The image of stripped wood turning into branches, and frozen lakes melting back into water, speaks to the transience of life and the cyclical nature of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
If snow is flesh in gardens
If snow were a living thing that grows in gardens
We don't have mouths to talk about it
We cannot speak about snow as if it were alive
Between avalanches we can find our language
During periods of calm between snow slides, we can communicate effectively
Between fire blankets we can speak our language
When huddled together for warmth, we can use our own communication methods
But if snow is like skin
However, if we compare snow to human skin
It pulls away so easy
We see that snow melts and disappears easily, just as skin can be damaged and torn easily
Right from the body
From the living organism or environment from which it comes
What if all stripped wood is branches
Consider that all the stripped wood we see was once part of a larger structure
And all frozen lakes are water
Similarly, all frozen bodies of water were once fluid
Then our bodies will be avalanches
We will be like snow slides, easily breaking apart and disappearing
Then our bodies will be avalanches
We will be like snow slides, easily breaking apart and disappearing
Contributed by Kylie H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.