Breathing In Backyards
Lazarus Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The elliptical patterns, they erupt into fragments
And the water drips gently upon my face
Off the trees in the backyard, i'm watching the birds fly, but they don't take notice as i quietly sing.

This isn't my home, i'm still yet to find one,
For a moment i seem to fall into this place.
Where my parents they sleep soundly,
They silently dream of the comfort of moments and the haunting of fate

I've returned from a journey from the vastness of highways,
All the sunsets and forests running through my brain
Now i look to the ocean where my breathren have spoken,
And i refill my voice on the salty winds

I am halfway to thinking i'll go back to the city
And i'll see all my friends upon the broken streets.
Its been two years since you left, its been the coldest of winters
As i take out your photo from inside my coat
So don't listen to me, i'm afraid of this house
I have listened carefully, but there was no healing sound.
I've put my thoughts in one place but they have scattered about
And so i chase after them, until i feel something strong.

Oh caroline you will be, an exception too fine,
If i make up your face, i will make up my mind
But this is surely a dream, and im certain you'll fly,
When i wake up today, i'll have your name in my eyes.

Its the friction of engines,
That puts strength in my fingers
So i press until meaning makes my voice appear

I'll go see jeremiah, at his house on the island, and together we'll tower over everything.
We put our words in the soil,
So perhaps they will splinter
And emerge on the day when we cannot sing,
Of what the truth has forgotten, blood will certainly spoil,
From its ashes another will take its place

Oh caroline, it will surely be soon,
And i will feel your breath
And we'll stare at the moon, until it burns our eyes,
And we are selfishly blind, and with our stolen love,
We'll find our way through the night

Oh caroline, you are everything true,
I want to lose my self, in everything that you do
Oh caroline, you are the sweetest of fruit,
And when i walk alone, i am walking with you.




Oh caroline, you are the sweetest of fruit,
And when i walk alone, i am walking with you.

Overall Meaning

In "Breathing In Backyards,” Lazarus describes an existential dilemma he faces as he struggles to reconcile his transitory state of being. The elliptical patterns that erupt into fragments signify the chaos and uncertainty he experiences in life. The gentle dripping of water on his face suggests that he is still connected to the things that ground him despite his feelings of displacement. He finds comfort in the simple things like watching the birds fly off the trees in the backyard. He sings quietly, and the birds don't take notice, further indicating that the world around him is unfazed by his presence, and he's still not sure where he fits in.


Lazarus's parents sleep soundly while dreaming of comfort and the haunting of fate. This line represents the dichotomy of wanting to find comfort in familiarity but being unable to escape the inevitable consequences of life. He has returned from his journey through the vastness of highways, and now he refills his voice on the salty wind. He contemplates returning to the city and seeing his friends but realizes it's been two years since they left, and it's been the coldest of winters. As he takes out Caroline's photo from inside his coat, he acknowledges his fear of being alone in this house, and despite listening carefully for a healing sound, he hasn't found one. He has put his thoughts in one place, but they have scattered about, and he must chase after them until he feels something strong.


Overall, "Breathing in Backyards" is a song about the search for belonging and the struggle to find meaning in the chaos of life. It's a song about accepting the inevitable and finding comfort in simple things, even if it's just watching birds fly off trees.


Line by Line Meaning

The elliptical patterns, they erupt into fragments
The circular designs break apart into pieces


And the water drips gently upon my face
A soft stream falls upon my cheeks


Off the trees in the backyard, i'm watching the birds fly, but they don't take notice as i quietly sing.
The backyard trees are my vantage point as I sing, a small observer ignored by the wildlife


This isn't my home, i'm still yet to find one,
I am searching for a place to call my own


For a moment i seem to fall into this place.
A fleeting sense of belonging comes over me


Where my parents they sleep soundly,
My folks are fast asleep


They silently dream of the comfort of moments and the haunting of fate
Their slumber includes both pleasant memories and anxiety-inducing uncertainties


I've returned from a journey from the vastness of highways,
I have just come back from an extensive road trip


All the sunsets and forests running through my brain
My mind is filled with beautiful images of sunsets and forests


Now i look to the ocean where my breathren have spoken,
I gaze at the sea where my like-minded companions have shared their words


And i refill my voice on the salty winds
The salty winds breathe new energy into my song


I am halfway to thinking i'll go back to the city
I am considering whether or not to return to the urban area


And i'll see all my friends upon the broken streets.
I will reunite with my pals on rundown roads


Its been two years since you left, its been the coldest of winters
You've been gone for two years and it's been a very frigid winter


As i take out your photo from inside my coat
I retrieve your picture from my coat pocket


So don't listen to me, i'm afraid of this house
Please don't heed my words, I'm scared of this home


I have listened carefully, but there was no healing sound.
I've paid close attention but I haven't heard any soothing noises


I've put my thoughts in one place but they have scattered about
I tried to organize my ideas, but they've dispersed all over


And so i chase after them, until i feel something strong.
I pursue them until I sense something powerful


Oh caroline you will be, an exception too fine,
Oh Caroline, you are a truly unique exception


If i make up your face, i will make up my mind
By conjuring your image, my decision will be made


But this is surely a dream, and im certain you'll fly,
This must be an illusion and you will certainly soar


When i wake up today, i'll have your name in my eyes.
Your name will be on my mind when I wake up


Its the friction of engines,
The engines' friction


That puts strength in my fingers
Gives me strength in my hands


So i press until meaning makes my voice appear
I keep pushing until the words have meaning and are voiced


I'll go see jeremiah, at his house on the island, and together we'll tower over everything.
I'll meet Jeremiah, at his home on the island, and the two of us will overcome all obstacles


We put our words in the soil,
We soil the land with our words


So perhaps they will splinter
Hoping that they will break apart


And emerge on the day when we cannot sing,
Only to surface on a day when we are unable to sing


Of what the truth has forgotten, blood will certainly spoil,
Forgotten truths will surely be stained with blood


From its ashes another will take its place
Another will arise from its remains


Oh caroline, it will surely be soon,
Caroline, it will happen soon


And i will feel your breath
I will sense your breathing


And we'll stare at the moon, until it burns our eyes,
We'll gaze at the moon until our eyes hurt


And we are selfishly blind, and with our stolen love,
We become arrogantly ignorant, and with our forbidden love


We'll find our way through the night
We'll navigate through the darkness together


Oh caroline, you are everything true,
Caroline, you embody all that's genuine


I want to lose my self, in everything that you do
I want to completely immerse myself in every aspect of you


Oh caroline, you are the sweetest of fruit,
Caroline, you are the most delectable fruit


And when i walk alone, i am walking with you.
Even when I'm by myself, I'm with you


Oh caroline, you are the sweetest of fruit,
Caroline, you are the most delectable fruit


And when i walk alone, i am walking with you.
Even when I'm by myself, I'm with you




Contributed by Gavin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@marrunslow3815

Laz is one of those guys who has subtle but concrete wisdom. A legend for the decades 🌲

@traceykerr572

Beware of the chair!!!It also causes their blood to pooling in their legs because they’ve been out so many hours they probably bitchy hydrated making the blood thicker causing more fatigue and weirdness. What a spectacular event to the very end though

@motohead8393

Love this. Having done ultra cycling racing it’s so true the hardest part is deciding to set off again after having a break.

@doernerrr

Haha “a little uncomfortable” maybe the biggest ever understatement.

@FindYourFeetFilms

Hahaha yeah, I agree.

@WestieRunner

Great short Aaron!

@FindYourFeetFilms

Cheers G!

@carlosparra85

Mental games, that's a big part of it.

@FindYourFeetFilms

Sure is.

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