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
Mt. Washington
Local Natives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why does it keep saying,
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
Digging like you can bury
Something that cannot die
We could wash the dirt off our hands now
Lazy summer goddess
You can tell our whole empire
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
The lyrics to Local Natives' song "Mt. Washington" are somewhat cryptic, but they seem to describe a feeling of regret and longing for someone or something that is now out of reach. The first verse refers to a face stained in the ceiling, which could be a reference to lying down and staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought. The repetition of the line "I don't have to see you right now" suggests that the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are okay without the person or thing they are missing, but it's not entirely convincing.
The second verse alludes to the idea of trying to bury something that can't die, which could be a metaphor for trying to forget about something or someone that still has a hold on you. The singer seems to be saying that they want to move on from this thing, but they can't. The third verse introduces the character of a "lazy summer goddess" who can "tell our whole empire" about the singer's current state of mind. This could be a reference to a person who has a lot of influence, or it could be a more abstract concept like the media or social media. Regardless, it seems to suggest that the singer's feelings are not confined to just themselves, but are spreading outward, affecting other people in their life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Mt. Washington" are open to interpretation, but they paint a picture of someone who is struggling to move on from something that they can't let go of. The repetition of the line "I don't have to see you right now" gives the song a hypnotic, mantra-like quality that draws the listener in and makes them feel the singer's sense of longing and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Face stained in the ceiling
Lost in thought and staring at the ceiling, contemplating something with focus and intensity.
Why does it keep saying,
Questioning a persistent thought or feeling that keeps surfacing.
I don't have to see you right now
Desiring separation or distance from a person, allowing for space and independence in the relationship.
Digging like you can bury
Attempting to hide or conceal a problem or issue that cannot be resolved through avoidance.
Something that cannot die
Acknowledging an issue or problem that is long-lasting and cannot be easily solved or ignored.
We could wash the dirt off our hands now
Suggesting that the problem could be addressed directly rather than avoiding or hiding it.
Keep it from living underground
Preventing the problem from continuing to exist below the surface, unresolved and unseen.
Lazy summer goddess
Describing a blissful or carefree state, possibly associated with a person or experience.
You can tell our whole empire
Sharing a moment or experience with others, conveying a sense of belonging or shared experience with a community.
I don't have to see you right now
Repeating the desire for space and distance from a person or situation.
I don't have to see you right now
Reiterating the need for separation or space.
I don't have to see you right now
Emphasizing the importance of space and distance to address a problem or issue.
I don't have to see you right now
Concluding the repetition of the desire for space and distance to address a problem or issue.
Lyrics Ā© Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Kelcey Paul Ayer, Matthew James Frazier, Ryan Clinton Hahn, Taylor David Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jut
on Shape Shifter
Just my opinion, but i think "the king" might be his ego and what he's singing are his internal thoughts.