Lost In The Trees was known, until recently, as a folk orchestra from Chapel Hill, NC, led by composer and songwriter Ari Picker. Initially a bedroom recording project, Lost in the Trees grew from a solo effort to a full symphonic band, which sometimes numbered a dozen members. After releasing his self-titled album on Trekky Records, Ari attended the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA, further immersing himself in the realm of classical composition. While in Boston, Ari assembled a small group of players to help him record Time Taunts Me , an EP of giant orchestral pop songs, released in 2007 on Trekky Records. The short album received some generous acclaim from national critics, but as Ari hurried to finish school, he was unable to tour in support of the music.
After finally moving back to North Carolina, Ari began writing a new album and assembling a cast of musicians from the Trekky Records Collective and the University of North Carolina Orchestra program. With a vast and supportive team behind him, Ari completed the powerful All Alone In An Empty House . The album was released in a single three-format package in September of 2008, containing a vinyl record, a CD and an MP3 download. The compositions benefited from a dedicated live backing band, complete with full string section, horn section, accordion, mandolin, glockenspiels and more.In February 2010, Lost in the Trees signed to Los Angeles based Anti- Records, which released an enhanced version of All Alone In An Empty House, reworked by acclaimed North Carolina producer Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats, Spoon, St. Vincent).
In 2012 the band released A Church That Fits Our Needs, their highly acclaimed orchestral pop/folk album. The album met with great commercial as well as critical success.
Ari Picker decided, despite the success, to make some changes, pursuing a more minimalistic and electronic approach to the new material, and changing the lineup to a foursome. The album, Past Life, was released in February of 2014 to widespread acclaim.
Fireplace
Lost in the Trees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he's carrying a bag of bloody knives
Pass them out and say "hold them tight"
Here's a weight too sharp to hold
So I'll take true love
And I'll cut it up with scissors
And I'll throw it in the fireplace
Cut by a weight too sharp to hold
With a burnt soul, healing is painful
Asked to forgive when you're still angry
If I can't heal my heart, forgive me
So I'll take true love
And I'll cut it up with scissors
And I'll throw it in the fireplace
We can burn it out forever
Why is life so hard?
And I'll cut it up with scissors
And I'll throw it in the fireplace
We can disappear together
Cut by a weight too sharp to hold
So surround yourself with good people
I know it's painful but we can stand
And if this man can't walk, lend him a hand
With a burnt soul, healing is painful
Asked to forgive when you're still angry
If I can't heal my heart, forgive me
The song "Fireplace" by Lost in the Trees is a hauntingly beautiful yet melancholic piece that centers around themes of pain, forgiveness, and the symbolic image of a fireplace. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of an old man on the brink of the end of his life, carrying a bag of bloody knives and distributing them to those around him. The weight of the knives is described as being too sharp to hold, suggesting that the figurative weight of the old man's past is too heavy to bear.
The chorus features the singer declaring that he will take "true love" and cut it up with scissors, throwing it in the fireplace to disappear forever. This is a metaphorical representation of a decision to let go of something beautiful because the pain associated with it has become too much to bear. The sense of loss and regret is palpable in these lyrics, as the singer grapples with the reality of letting go of something he once cherished deeply.
The lines "Why is life so hard?" and "If I can't heal my heart, forgive me" serve as a plea for understanding and empathy. The singer acknowledges that healing is a painful process and asks for forgiveness from those around him if he is unable to heal his own heart. In the final lines, the singer encourages those listening to the song to surround themselves with good people and lend a hand to those who may be struggling.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fireplace" are incredibly powerful and emotive, touching on the difficult themes of pain, loss, and forgiveness in a way that is both raw and moving.
Line by Line Meaning
Like an old man walks to the end of his life
Life is like a journey that ends with death
And he's carrying a bag of bloody knives
Carrying the weight of past mistakes is like carrying a bag of sharp knives
Pass them out and say "hold them tight"
Sometimes people share their burdens with others who are also hurting
Here's a weight too sharp to hold
Sometimes the burden is too much to bear alone
So I'll take true love
Love is a powerful force that brings people together
And I'll cut it up with scissors
At times, love can be painful and difficult to hold onto
And I'll throw it in the fireplace
Burning love can represent the end of a relationship or a fresh start
We can disappear together
The idea of starting anew with someone else can be appealing
Cut by a weight too sharp to hold
Feeling burdened by past mistakes can be mentally and emotionally draining
With a burnt soul, healing is painful
Emotional healing can be as painful as physical healing
Asked to forgive when you're still angry
It can be difficult to forgive when you're still hurting
If I can't heal my heart, forgive me
Asking for forgiveness when you're unable to forgive yourself is a humbling experience
So surround yourself with good people
Having supportive people in your life can make dealing with burdens more manageable
I know it's painful but we can stand
Dealing with emotional pain is difficult but it's still possible to keep going
And if this man can't walk, lend him a hand
Sometimes helping others can help ease your own pain
Why is life so hard?
Life can be challenging and difficult to understand
We can burn it out forever
Burning out toxic relationships can be a necessary step towards healing and moving on
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
something64
This is a great piece. I personally was able to experience this in a meaningful way, toward myself and my loved ones living and lost. Ari: you are a great writer. I think writing songs is the most difficult craft. You do it well. That being said.... the drummer, mandolin, violins, violas, cellists, oboes, saxs, trumpets, tambos, vocals, just EVERYONE... I have so much love for this
Abel Pegueros
subtítulos al español, por favor. <3
hmon6588
The somewhat new movement of orchestrated, intricate pop. Good to hear some catchy songs with some talent.
Jeremy Hill
really like this band!
Brandon Kristopher Smith
Pretty amazing(=
lee cancino
i just found out about this band and i like it but its making me feel crazy
YellowLemonPatch
:)
lilylamchop
@WondrousBurrito do it. the albums great
JoGtrackriff
Nothing is pointless.