Labyrinth Ear are a UK electronic duo made up of Emily and Tom. Coming from… Read Full Bio ↴Labyrinth Ear are a UK electronic duo made up of Emily and Tom. Coming from different sides of London, they were brought together by mutual tastes in music, while each bringing their own set of influences. Emily’s folk-like lyrics invoke colourful, visual stories, while bringing together a wide range of musical influences, ranging from classic film scores, world music and vintage electronica. With songs that are both melancholic and euphoric, they combine samples with synths and psychedelic, worldly sounds along with child-like vocals to create fantasia pop music with a foot in the past, present and future.

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Urchin
Labyrinth Ear Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The acorn on a string was for you,
It was for you and only you,
Relinquished from my hand and I left it,
and it waited for you,

You small one,
We were the greyest of doves
You small one,

We were the greyest of doves

The strong knot was to show you that I cared,
I sent you off into the water there,
The strong knot was to show you that i cared,
I sent you off into the water there,

into the water there
into the water there
into the water there
into the water there
into the water there
into the water there
into the water there

Every now and then I take a peek,
I breath it in, I breath it in deep,
Every now and then I take a peek,
I breath it in, I breath it in deep

Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string

Acorn on a string
Acorn on a string

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Labyrinth Ear's "Urchin" are mysterious and intriguing, leaving a lot open to interpretation. The image of an acorn on a string immediately suggests a childlike innocence and playfulness, yet the lines "It was for you and only you" and "I left it, and it waited for you" give the impression that this seemingly harmless gesture has a deeper significance. The strong knot that the singer sends the listener off into the water with signifies a connection and a bond, a way of saying "I care about you and I want you to be safe". The repetition of "into the water there" emphasises this idea, as the water often represents the unknown and the unpredictable. This could be interpreted as a way of saying "I'm sending you out into the world, but I'm here for you and I believe in you".

The chorus of "You small one, we were the greyest of doves" adds another layer of complexity to the song. Doves are often seen as symbols of peace and innocence, yet the "greyest" of doves suggests a sense of melancholy or sadness. The repetition of "you small one" could be seen as a comforting gesture, and the use of the second person pronoun throughout the song creates a sense of intimacy and closeness.

Overall, the song seems to be about the delicate balance between trust and vulnerability, as well as the importance of showing someone you care about them. The acorn on a string and the strong knot could be seen as physical representations of these ideas, and the repetition of certain phrases creates a dreamlike atmosphere that emphasises the abstract nature of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

The acorn on a string was for you,
I wanted to give you something special, so I chose an acorn on a string just for you.

It was for you and only you,
I didn't intend this for anyone else but you, because you're special to me.

Relinquished from my hand and I left it,
I gave the acorn to you and walked away, leaving it with you to do as you please.

and it waited for you,
The acorn patiently waited for you to pay attention and appreciate the thought behind the gift.

You small one,
I address you affectionately as my 'small one'.

We were the greyest of doves
We were a pair of doves that weren't very colorful, but we found beauty in our simplicity.

The strong knot was to show you that I cared,
I tied a strong, secure knot to ensure the acorn wouldn't slip away, as an act of showing how much I care about you.

I sent you off into the water there,
I watched the acorn floating away into the water, as a symbol of setting you free to explore the world on your own.

Every now and then I take a peek,
Occasionally, I look back and reflect on the memories we shared, including the moment when I gave you the acorn.

I breath it in, I breath it in deep,
I cherish the memories and feel a sense of nostalgia, taking a deep breath and remembering the good times we had.

Acorn on a string
The acorn symbolizes the small yet meaningful gifts we exchange, that hold a much deeper significance than their literal value.

Acorn on a string
The acorn, tied to a string, represents the connection we share as individuals, and the bond we have created through our shared experiences.

Acorn on a string
The acorn on a string is a simple reminder of the love, affection and friendship we have for each other.

Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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