Their first release was a double-A-side 7" single on Off The Wall (later signed to Peacefrog) that had two tracks: "Twice" and "Test".
Nagano was born and raised in Göteborg to a Japanese father and American mother. She grew up listening to American folk, but always had an affinity for R&B. Keyboardist Wirenstrand spent his childhood in Småland before moving to Göteborg where listened to a lot of Swedish folk music before getting into electronic music. Bodin grew up listening to early hip-hop and jazz. Fredrik was influenced by experimental, noise and electro house.
Nagano and Bodin play live with José González. Bodin also drums with Peps Perrson, a Swedish blues/reggae artist. Swedish electronic jazz duo Koop's albums Waltz for Koop and Koop Islands feature Yukimi Nagano's vocals on several tracks.
The band collaborated with Gorillaz on two tracks ("Empire Ants" and "To Binge") from their 2010 released album, Plastic Beach. Little Dragon also collaborated with Maximum Balloon (the solo project of David Andrew Sitek, producer and member of TV On the Radio), for one track entitled "If You Return". In 2011, the band's collaboration with SBTRKT on "Wildfire" was released as the lead single from his self-titled début LP.
Feather
Little Dragon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rather be a man with the other
To run the mountain down, run it down
Rather be a whisper in heaven
Then a daughter locked in your prison
So run the mountain down, run it down
You've got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
(You are airborne)
(You've got silver rays)
(Will it ever float will it ever soar along)
Grip the crown like winner
Pretending like a beginner
So run the mountain down, run it down
You are airborne
You got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
You are airborne
You've got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
All for the feather
Did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
All for the feather
Did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
The lyrics of Little Dragon's "Feather" talk about the struggle between personal freedom and societal expectations. The singer makes it clear that she would rather be a bandit than a lover because she is willing to live life on her own terms, rather than being a slave to someone else's idea of love. The need for freedom is further emphasized in the line "rather be a whisper in heaven then a daughter locked in your prison." The singer values her independence so much that she would rather be silenced in the afterlife than be confined by the expectations of her earthly father.
Throughout the song, the idea of running down a mountain is mentioned repeatedly. This phrase can be interpreted in many ways, but it likely represents the difficulty that comes with breaking free from societal expectations. Running down a mountain could be a metaphor for overcoming obstacles as you strive for freedom. The lines "grip the crown like a winner, pretending like a beginner" reinforce this idea of struggle. The singer is pretending to be a beginner so that she can undermine the system from within, but she is still fighting to be seen as a winner.
The song ends with the repeated refrain, "All for the feather, did it all for your feathered hand. Will it ever float, will it ever soar along?" The feather is likely a symbol for individuality and uniqueness. The singer is asking if her efforts to break free and live her own life will ever be successful, or if she will always be tethered to a society that values conformity over individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Rather be a bandit than a lover
I'd rather live as an outlaw than be in love.
Rather be a man with the other
I'd rather be with someone who's the same gender as me.
To run the mountain down, run it down
I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my goals, even if it's challenging.
Rather be a whisper in heaven
I'd rather have a small impact in the afterlife than be controlled by someone else.
Then a daughter locked in your prison
I'd rather not be trapped in someone's expectations of me.
So run the mountain down, run it down
I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my goals, even if it's challenging.
You are airborne
You feel unstoppable, literally soaring through life.
You've got silver rays
You possess an aura or energy that's deeply attractive.
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
Will your success continue to grow or will it come to a halt?
Grip the crown like winner
You're determined to hold onto success and maintain your winning status.
Pretending like a beginner
You're acting like you're just starting out, despite already being experienced.
All for the feather
Everything you've done has been for a specific symbolic goal or reward, probably related to success or achievement.
Did it all for your feathered hand
You did everything you could to reach your goal and achieve success.
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
Will your success continue to grow or will it come to a halt?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Erik Oskar Bodin, Fredrik Daniel Wallin, Hakan Wirenstrand, Yukimi Eleanora Nagano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jorgedelgadotoxotrofogo
Lyrics
Rather be a bandit than a lover
I'd rather be a man with the other
To run the mountain down, run it down
Rather be a whisper in heaven
Than a daughter locked in your prison
So run the mountain down, run it down
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
Grip the crown like winner
Pretending like a beginner
So run the mountain down, run it down
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
All for the feather, did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
All for the feather, did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
@Phys1905
Rather be a bandit than a lover
Rather be a man with the other
To run the mountain down run it down
Rather be a whisper in heaven
Then a daughter locked in your prison
So run the mountain down run it down
You are airborne
You've got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
Grip the crown like winner
Pretending like a beginner
So run the mountain down run it down
You are airborne
You got silver rays will it ever float will it ever soar along
All for the feather
Did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
@superdiegoreyesnunez4432
Letter 🎶🎶🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵
Reather be a bandit than a lover Reather be a man with the other
To run the Mountain down, run the Mountain down,run it down
🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵
Reather be a whisper in heaven then a daughter locked in your prison
So run the montain down,run it down
🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵
You are airborne
You've got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along ×2
🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎶
Grip the crown like Winner
Pretending like a beginner
So run the Mountain down,run it down 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
You are airborne
You got silver rays
Will it ever float will it ever soar along
You are airborne
You've got silver rays
Will it ever soar along ......
@jorgedelgadotoxotrofogo
Lyrics
Rather be a bandit than a lover
I'd rather be a man with the other
To run the mountain down, run it down
Rather be a whisper in heaven
Than a daughter locked in your prison
So run the mountain down, run it down
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
Grip the crown like winner
Pretending like a beginner
So run the mountain down, run it down
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
You are airborne, you've got silver rays
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
All for the feather, did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
All for the feather, did it all for your feathered hand
Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along?
@1trillion420
Scotch tape
@chloe149
i could listen to this song on repeat forever and never get bored of it, it's so incredible
@clardanky9776
Same feeling here. From the moment i heard it years ago.
@synchronoise71
Fucking amen
@catland07
Such a superb song! Love that 70s Bowie/Eno vibe. I listened to this entire album before going to sleep and ended up having an amazing dream about flying! How cool is that!?
@Keralea
Toby Brunt so cool Toby ✨
@georgeloukidis2321
Right on, the Bowie/Eno influence is definitely there. In a good way.
@40zigzagzig
just say no
@thecapricorn11
which bowie album? eno?