Mandolin Orange’s music radiates a mysterious warmth —their songs feel like whispered secrets, one hand cupped to your ear. The North Carolina duo have built a steady and growing fanbase with this kind of intimacy, and on Tides of A Teardrop, due out February 1, it is more potent than ever. By all accounts, it is the duo’s fullest, richest, and most personal effort. You can hear the air between them—the taut space of shared understanding, as palpable as a magnetic field, that makes their music sound like two halves of an endlessly completing thought. Singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz have honed this lamp glow intimacy for years.
In the last three years, the group has toured throughout the U.S and Europe, including appearances at Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Pickathon, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Rooster Walk, and MerleFest and the Omagh Bluegrass Festival. Mandolin Orange was the featured artist on CBS This Morning's Saturday Morning Sessions on December 7, 2019.
They signed to Yep Roc Records in 2013 and have produced four albums under their umbrella, This Side Of Jordan, Such Jubilee, Blindfaller and Tides of a Teardrop.
Take This Heart of Gold
Mandolin Orange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll come around. I'll come around
I'm treading lightly in your eyes
And honey I can't live a lie
But a life without you could never steal me now
With so much time to spend
Why paint this house again?
Well I'd hold you 'til the end
But honey even oaks must bend
If we intend to stick with one another.
So take this heart of gold and melt it down
I'll come around. I'll come around
I'm treading lightly in your eyes
And honey I can't live a lie
But a life without you could never steal me now.
Out the door and down the drive
There's a part of me that tries
To keep that highway's call to me away
And another, further still,
That sadly never will
Feel at home no matter how long I may stay
So take this heart of gold and melt it down
I'll come around. I'll come around
I'm treading lightly in your eyes
And honey I can't live a lie
But a life without you could never steal me now.
In Mandolin Orange's song "Take This Heart of Gold," the singer is expressing his love for the person he is with. He acknowledges how important their relationship is to him and that he cannot live a lie, meaning that he cannot pretend that he does not love and need this person. The chorus of the song, "Take this heart of gold and melt it down, I'll come around," signifies his willingness to be vulnerable and let this person have his heart. He understands that their relationship requires effort, and that sometimes they may face challenges, as indicated in the line, "But a life without you could never steal me now."
The second verse of the song focuses on the idea of time and how it can be spent. The singer questions whether it's worth redoing something that doesn't necessarily need to be done when there are more important things to focus on, such as the relationship he shares with the person he loves. This is followed by the lines, "But honey even oaks must bend if we intend to stick with one another," which suggests that in order for their relationship to be successful, it may require some compromise and flexibility.
The final verse brings up the idea of home and where one truly belongs. The singer talks about feeling pulled to leave, symbolized by the "highway's call," but knowing that he ultimately belongs with the person he loves. On the other hand, there is a sense of restlessness that will always remain. While this person brings him joy and happiness, there is a part of him that will never feel completely at home, no matter how much he stays.
Overall, the song highlights the complexities of love and relationships, and how they require effort and compromise to keep them going. It acknowledges the inherent difficulties in relationships and the importance of vulnerability and authenticity when it comes to matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Take this heart of gold, and melt it down
Give me your love, intense and pure, and let it flow through me.
I'll come around. I'll come around
I'll be there for you, again and again.
I'm treading lightly in your eyes
I'm trying my best to love you without hurting you.
And honey I can't live a lie
I can't pretend to be someone I'm not for the sake of our relationship.
But a life without you could never steal me now
I can't imagine living without you, and nothing else can take your place.
With so much time to spend
We have all the time in the world, why bother doing anything else?
Why paint this house again?
Why bother with mundane tasks when we could be enjoying each other's company?
When the floorboards creak and pull you from your slumber
Even when things aren't perfect, we have each other to rely on.
Well I'd hold you 'til the end
I'll be there for you until the very end, no matter what comes our way.
But honey even oaks must bend
Even strong relationships can have their ups and downs, and we need to be flexible.
If we intend to stick with one another.
If we want to stay together, we need to be willing to compromise and work through challenges.
Out the door and down the drive
Sometimes I feel the pull of the outside world, but I know where my true home is.
There's a part of me that tries
I may be tempted to leave, but my heart belongs to you.
To keep that highway's call to me away
To resist the lure of the open road and stay by your side.
And another, further still,
But there's a part of me that will always feel restless and unfulfilled.
That sadly never will
Even if I stay with you forever, there will always be a part of me that longs for something else.
Feel at home no matter how long I may stay
Even if we make a life together, I'll always feel like I'm searching for something more.
But a life without you could never steal me now.
Even though I may question my place in the world, I know that you are the one thing that makes me feel truly alive.
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@systemsandhowtodestroythem474
@EXPLORING NORTH GEORGIA: I took a girl on a date to explore North Georgia with me back in 2002. I’m originally from Detroit but I moved to Marietta to try and go to school at Kennesaw. I was 22 and had to get financially/legally separated from parents status to even attend, since I wasn’t even in contact with them to get their tax returns.
I had already been exploring up there a lot on my own. We followed the railroad line from Kennesaw to Adairsville, and then explored Barnsley Gardens. It was a fun date. 3 days ago we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.
We’re looking to move from the West Coast back to North Georgia at the moment. It’s cool that in all this time that there are some parts that still haven’t changed much since 2002.
I’m looking forward to returning soon.
Cheers!
@jamespriddy8275
I’m 70…and old soft rock guy. I’ve really missed the good tones of solid earthy music. I’m so glad I found you guys. To be able to sit and enjoy this at home is a real pleasure. You have me hooked.
@debe8525
Mandolin Orange has been a saving grace during a very difficult time in my life. They are some kind of heaven.
@wesweldon8350
So soothing
@danielbrundidge8395
Have you listened to Robert Plant & Alison Krauss?
@user-ov3nm8fc8w
💯👍🥰
@brettsnoxall4488
They’re amazing Deb! I love them too.
@CitationZac
I didn't plan to be sitting here until 2am but here I am... This music is the freshest thing I've heard in years. I am saddened only by the fact that it took so long to find this, I can't get enough. I hope health and prosperity keep you on their wings for a very long time. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow so I can listen to some more of this. Great, now I'm getting teary thinking of all the mistakes I've made in life to lead me here. I'm lucky to get another go at it all tomorrow.
@Ratnoseterry
3:40 for me haha
@carlosm.devasconcelllos3939
I've seen myself in this situation already as well 😄
@tonymcrae6510
Wow.....this is serenity! There's nothing else I need to say....if you're here...you know how special this group is...