Ladyhawk's core is bracing rock. Neil Young's Tonight's The Night is the hailstorm on the hood of The Replacements Let It Be, while distorted guitars invoke the thread and swerve of Silkworm and Dinosaur Jr. Helped along the way by Amber Webber (vocals) and Josh Wells (percussion, organ, singing) of Black Mountain, it will be hard to find a more hauntingly beautiful set of rock music than this debut. It was recorded and mixed, with the help of Black Mountaineers Wells and Matthew Camirand, in the "Karachi Vice" clubhouse, in the back of a furniture factory, amongst chicken and fish processing plants. With some of the more "inexpensive" ladies of the night scattered about, it captures the bottlenecked frenzy of their much-loved live show. There, each night, these grown-up kids at heart fall over, get right back up, cry on shoulders and fold the day in halves, watching the sun come up over the dashboard.
Long 'Til The Morning
Ladyhawk Lyrics
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And dark is the water
And red is the moonlight
And long 'til the morning
And don't go (x2)
Sweet singing nightbirds
And slow swinging treetops
And long 'til the morning
And don't go (x2)
Lost are the lovers
And good are the children
And swift come the spirits
And long 'til the morning
And don't go (x2)
Tall is the tower
And dark is the water
And red is the moonlight
And long 'til the morning
And don't go (x2)
In Ladyhawk's "Long 'Til The Morning," the dark tone and imagery imply a sense of foreboding and melancholy. The title itself is suggestive of both longing and desperation. The theme encompasses feelings of nostalgia and a sense of time running out.
The opening lines "tall is the tower, and dark is the water, and red is the moonlight" create a stark, intimidating image, possibly suggestive of a castle or a looming presence. This image is enhanced by the repetition of the line, "and long 'til the morning," which underscores a sense of waiting and uncertainty.
The second stanza features softer images, such as the "sweet singing nightbirds and soft blowing breezes," and "slow swinging treetops," creating a sense of tranquility and peace, which is juxtaposed with the darker imagery of the first stanza.
The final stanza returns to the foreboding images of the opening, with the added line "lost are the lovers," suggesting a sense of heartbreak and the passage of time. The final repetition of "and don't go" could be interpreted in a number of ways, either as a prayer to a loved one not to leave, or possibly as a plea to the night itself, not to end.
Line by Line Meaning
Tall is the tower
The tower is tall which represents how much time it will take until the morning comes.
And dark is the water
The water is dark because it is nighttime and the darkness creates a serene atmosphere.
And red is the moonlight
The moonlight is red which creates an eerie and ominous feeling.
And long 'til the morning
The wait until morning feels long and distant, emphasizing the song's theme of patience and perseverance.
And don't go (x2)
The artist urges someone not to leave because the night is beautiful and peaceful, similar to the feeling of a dream.
Sweet singing nightbirds
The nightbirds are singing beautifully, creating a relaxing and tranquil environment.
And soft blowing breezes
The breezes are soft and gentle, furthering the mood of serenity.
And slow swinging treetops
The treetops are swaying slowly, creating a hypnotic atmosphere that supports the song's theme of dreaminess.
And long 'til the morning
The wait until morning feels long and distant, emphasizing the song's theme of patience and perseverance.
And don't go (x2)
The artist urges someone not to leave because the night is beautiful and peaceful, similar to the feeling of a dream.
Lost are the lovers
The lovers are lost, creating a sense of yearning and longing. This amplifies the gradual build to a climatic feeling throughout the song.
And good are the children
The children are happy and innocent which is a peaceful scene to compare with the adult feeling of being lost and in limbo of waiting for a new day.
And swift come the spirits
The spirits come swiftly, creating a subtle sense of fear and or letting go of the past.
And long 'til the morning
The wait until morning feels long and distant, emphasizing the song's theme of patience and perseverance.
And don't go (x2)
The singer urges someone not to leave because the night is beautiful and peaceful, similar to the feeling of a dream.
Tall is the tower
The tower is tall which represents how much time it will take until the morning comes.
And dark is the water
The water is dark because it is nighttime and the darkness creates a serene atmosphere.
And red is the moonlight
The moonlight is red which creates an eerie and ominous feeling.
And long 'til the morning
The wait until morning feels long and distant, emphasizing the song's theme of patience and perseverance.
And don't go (x2)
The artist urges someone not to leave because the night is beautiful and peaceful, similar to the feeling of a dream.
Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.