Tear Ourselves Away embodies a passage of feelings that manifest themselves in a collection of bittersweet and thoughtful tunes. The album tells tales of the desire to run free from inhibitions, being keenly aware of surroundings, fears, desires, and compelling moments of inspiration.
The story of San Francisco’s LoveLikeFire began when two musicians, Ann Yu and David Farrell met at a show while playing in other bands. Their musical chemistry was undeniable, and they soon wrote a handful of songs that would become LoveLikeFire’s first self-released EP, Bed of Gold, immediately capturing the interests of the likes of Deathcab for Cutie, KEXP, Live105, WOXY radio, and MTV.com.
In 2007 they recorded their second EP, An Ocean In The Air, which reached the top 20 in the CMJ charts, the only self-released album among their peers in the group. The band toured across the country self-booking and financing 4 national tours spanning two weeks to two months.
Tear Ourselves Away is set for a UK release August 10, 2009. The single “William” was released digitally March 23, hard copy to be released April 7th.
LoveLikeFire is Ann Yu, David Farrell, Martin Mattern, and Eric Amerman.
Unlighted Shadow
LoveLikeFire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can hide the punishment you eject
Don't scare away the one that truly loves me
Unlighted shadow, fall below me now
Somewhere, there's a warm light
Glowing from the inside
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
Crooked finger never will be straighter
I spread my wings, but I'm nothing like a bird
The fear that lives is the only thing that's moving
The routine of an ordinary love
Somewhere, there's a warm light
Glowing from the inside
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
Somewhere, there's a bright sign
Radiating what's right
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
Fog of the night
King of the fatalist demise
Waiting in line
Somewhere, there's a warm light
Glowing from the inside
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
The lyrics to LoveLikeFire's song Unlighted Shadow describe the feeling of being trapped in fear and punishment, as represented by the "unlighted shadow" that the singer wishes would fall below their footstep. The singer implores the shadow not to scare away the one who truly loves them, showing the singer's vulnerability and need for love and support. However, the singer also acknowledges their own limitations and insecurities, comparing themselves to a bird that cannot fly despite its wings, and recognizing that the routine of an ordinary love is sometimes all that they can manage.
Throughout the song, the singer holds out hope for a better future, represented by the "warm light" and "bright sign" that they see in the distance. These symbols of hope give the singer the courage to face the fog of the night and the king of the fatalist demise, both of which represent the singer's fear and despair. Ultimately, the singer resolves to look towards the sun, to hang their eyes upon it as a symbol of hope and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Unlighted shadow, fall below my footstep
As I walk, I hope the metaphorical darkness that looms beneath me stays out of my way; it represents the negativity and punishment that I wish to avoid.
So I can hide the punishment you eject
I want to shield myself from the pain and hurt that the darkness tries to inflict on me.
Don't scare away the one that truly loves me
I fear that the darkness can drive away the person who genuinely cares about me and my well-being.
Unlighted shadow, fall below me now
I want the darkness to stay behind me, as I find my way towards a brighter future.
Somewhere, there's a warm light
I believe there is a shining beacon of hope and positivity waiting for me in the future.
Glowing from the inside
This light comes from within me; it represents my innate goodness and strength.
I will hang my eyes upon the sun
I will focus all my attention and energy towards reaching that positive destination; I will not be deterred by any negativity.
Crooked finger never will be straighter
I acknowledge that some things in life cannot be rectified or fixed; I cannot change what is already bent or broken.
I spread my wings, but I'm nothing like a bird
I try to take flight and soar like a bird, but I am not as free or untethered; I am still burdened by my earthly problems.
The fear that lives is the only thing that's moving
My sense of fear and worry is the only force driving me forward; it propels me towards my goals.
The routine of an ordinary love
My romantic relationships have been uninspired and generic, lacking any real passion or excitement.
Somewhere, there's a bright sign
Similarly to the warm light, I believe there is a hopeful and positive message waiting for me to discover it.
Radiating what's right
This message embodies what is true, good, and virtuous; it serves as a guiding principle for me.
Fog of the night
The darkness that surrounds me feels like a veil or obscurity; I am struggling to see the path ahead.
King of the fatalist demise
I feel trapped and ruled by the inevitability of death and decay, but I refuse to let it get the best of me.
Waiting in line
I am biding my time, waiting for a chance to break free and escape from the darkness.
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.