Local Natives (formerly cavil at rest) is an indie rock band based in Silve… Read Full Bio ↴Local Natives (formerly cavil at rest) is an indie rock band based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
After the three founding members originally met in high school, a bassist and a drummer were found, and they all moved to a house in Silver Lake in 2008 to record their album. Their debut album as Local Natives, "Gorilla Manor", was released in the UK on November 2nd, 2009, and saw a US release date of February 16th, 2010. The band's sound has been described as "afropop-influenced guitars with hyperactive drumming and hooky three-part harmonies". They started to attract the attention of the music press after playing nine shows at the 2009 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Initial reviews of Local Natives have drawn favourable comparisons to Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend.

Utilizing lots of vocal harmonies and drifting, dreamlike melodies, Local Natives have an intricate sound based around the delicate interconnectedness of all of their parts. This gives the band a sound that is able to be orchestral while still feeling understated, evoking the carefully assembled pop of Grizzly Bear. Their debut, Gorilla Manor, arrived in 2009 through U.K. label Infectious Records (with a domestic release coming by way of Frenchkiss in 2010). In 2011, Andy Hamm left Local Natives, leaving them to continue on as a quartet. In 2013, the band returned with its sophomore album, Hummingbird, featuring the single "Breakers".

Official website: http://www.localnatives.com

Black Spot
Local Natives Lyrics

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Oh no,
I'm dying wrong
I can read it in
The whites
And the thing is
I knew it before
I re-open my eyes
And if I didn't know

To be afraid
The faces made me sure that I do now
As I sit and wait
As I sit and wait

Oh no,
I'm dying wrong
But I'm still laying here
Alive
With a black spot
On my arm
And so calm, I look inside

And I see the things
I always knew
But wasn't sure until now
That if it comes to claim
That if it comes to claim

I won't run
I won't run

I won't run
I won't run

Overall Meaning

In "Black Spot," Local Natives delivers an intense and introspective ballad about facing one's mortality. The opening lines "Oh no, I'm dying wrong / I can read it in the whites" set the tone for the rest of the song, conveying a sense of dread and acceptance at the same time. It's as if the singer had an inkling of their impending doom but didn't act on it until now. The repetition of "I won't run" at the end serves as a declaration of courage and resignation in the face of death. The black spot on the singer's arm is perhaps a physical manifestation of the disease that's slowly taking them away, but it could also be a symbol of the fatal flaw or sin that has been haunting them all along.

One can interpret "Black Spot" as a meditation on the inevitability of death and the importance of living in the present moment. The fact that the singer is "still laying here / Alive" highlights the paradox of being both alive and dead at the same time. The verses suggest that the singer has come to some sort of epiphany while waiting for death to claim them, as they "look inside" and see "the things I always knew / But wasn't sure until now." This could mean that they have gained a new perspective on life, or that they have finally found the courage to face their fears and regrets. The repetition of "As I sit and wait" creates a sense of timelessness, emphasizing the idea that death is an unavoidable fate that we all have to face.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh no, I'm dying wrong
The singer feels like something is not right with their current state, like they are not living their life to the fullest.

I can read it in The whites
The singer can see it clearly in people's eyes, maybe that they lack passion and drive.

And the thing is I knew it before
The singer had a hunch that they were not living to their fullest potential.

I re-open my eyes
The artist had an opportunity to reevaluate their situation and think about what they are doing wrong.

And if I didn't know To be afraid
The artist was not aware of the possible consequences of not living life to their fullest potential.

The faces made me sure that I do now
Seeing other people's disinterest and lack of drive made the singer realize that they need to make a change.

As I sit and wait
The singer is reflecting on their situation and contemplating the changes they need to make.

But I'm still laying here Alive
Despite feeling like something is wrong, the artist is still alive and has a chance to make changes.

With a black spot On my arm
The black spot is a symbol of something that is not right and needs to be addressed.

And so calm, I look inside
The artist is calm and reflective as they evaluate their situation.

And I see the things I always knew
The singer has known deep down what needs to change in their life.

But wasn't sure until now
The artist was not confident enough to make the necessary changes until now.

That if it comes to claim
The singer realizes that if they don't make changes, they will never reach their full potential.

I won't run
The singer is committed to making changes and facing their fears.

I won't run
The singer is determined not to shy away from the changes they need to make.

I won't run
The artist is resolute in their decision to face their problems head-on.

I won't run
The artist is committed to making the necessary changes to their life even if it's challenging.

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Kelcey Paul Ayer, Matthew James Frazier, Ryan Clinton Hahn, Taylor David Rice

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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