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.
Time we made time
Mandolin Orange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her depths hold no secrets
That's where you'll find my rage
Where the loss and the tears
Tucked away through the years
Rise and fall in waves
It's time we made time just for talking
But I know she'll be there
When I'm lonesome
To tell me just how I feel
Softly, tenderly
Using delicate voices
She'll lean in close and draw me near
And once I have heard
It's all I can hear
You may ramble, my darling
But I'll always be there
Lo, gently she flows
She'll drag you along
To a place just around the bend
Where rioter roam and nothing is sacred
And broken hearts never mend
How wonderful it is
How wonderful
How wonderful it is
How wonderful
It's time we made time just for talking
It's time we made time to heal
But I know she'll be there
When I'm lonesome
To tell me just how I feel
Softly, tenderly
Using delicate voices
The song "Time We Made Time" by Mandolin Orange is a reflection on the importance of communication and emotional connection in relationships. The lyrics use a metaphor of a flowing river to convey the depth of emotions that are often hidden beneath the surface. The first stanza of the song describes how the river holds the singer's "rage" and "tears" that have been tucked away over the years, and how they rise and fall like waves. The river, in this sense, is a symbol of emotional release and honesty.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the need for intentional communication in relationships. The repetition of the line "It's time we made time" emphasizes the importance of taking the time to talk and heal. The singer acknowledges that their partner will be there for them in times of loneliness, to help them process their emotions and connect.
The second stanza of the song describes the river's gentle and tender nature. The river is personified as someone who leans in close and draws the singer near with a delicate voice. The singer acknowledges that their partner may ramble, but they will always be there to listen and support.
Overall, "Time We Made Time" is a beautifully crafted song that uses rich metaphors to convey complex emotions. It speaks to the importance of communication and emotional intimacy in relationships, and encourages listeners to prioritize these aspects of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Lo, gently she flows
The river flows softly and calmly
Her depths hold no secrets
The river is transparent and reveals everything
That's where you'll find my rage
The river has witnessed and carries the singer's anger
Where the loss and the tears
The river is a place of sorrow and grieving
Tucked away through the years
The river has stored these emotions over a long period of time
Rise and fall in waves
The river experiences emotional fluctuations that affect its flow
It's time we made time just for talking
We need to take the time to communicate with each other
It's time we made time to heal
We need to take the time to heal and recover from past wounds and hurts
But I know she'll be there
The river will always be present
When I'm lonesome
During moments of loneliness
To tell me just how I feel
The river will remind the singer of their emotions and help them process them
Softly, tenderly
The river's approach is gentle and kind
Using delicate voices
The river speaks in a subtle and nuanced way
She'll lean in close and draw me near
The river will offer comfort and closeness to the singer
And once I have heard
Once the singer has listened to the river's message
It's all I can hear
The river's words will stay with the artist and resonate deeply
You may ramble, my darling
Despite the artist's wandering and restless nature
But I'll always be there
The river will always be a constant presence and source of comfort
She'll drag you along
The river's powerful flow can take you on a journey
To a place just around the bend
The river can lead you to a new and unknown destination
Where rioter roam and nothing is sacred
This new place can be chaotic and unpredictable
And broken hearts never mend
This place can also be a source of pain and heartbreak
How wonderful it is
Despite the challenges and difficulties of life
How wonderful
The artist acknowledges the beauty and wonder of life
How wonderful it is
Life is something to be grateful for and appreciated
Writer(s): ANDREW MARLIN
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nolanbaxter2883
Lo, gently she flows
Her depths hold no secrets
That's where you'll find my rage
Where the loss and the tears
Tucked away through the years
Rise and fall in waves
It's time we made time just for talking
It's time we made time to heal
But I know she'll be there
When I'm lonesome
To tell me just how I feel
Softly, tenderly
Using delicate voices
She'll lean in close and draw me near
And once I have heard
It's all I can hear
You may ramble, my darling
But I'll always be there
Lo, gently she flows
She'll drag you along
To a place just around the bend
Where rioter roam and nothing is sacred
And broken hearts never mend
How wonderful it is
How wonderful
How wonderful it is
How wonderful
It's time we made time just for talking
It's time we made time to heal
But I know she'll be there
When I'm lonesome
To tell me just how I feel
Softly, tenderly
Using delicate voices
@tiffanycopeland310
I can never get enough of this band. The music is simply calming, beautiful, the lyrics can be so deep and it brings me to so many moments and places while listening. Their songs are good to hear at any time, whether it’s in the tub with candles lit, cooking and dancing in the kitchen, driving through the county which the widows down and wind blowing through, taking in the nature. They are my perfect blend of perfection. Thank you Mandolin Orange. 🙏 ❤️
@ltodd6184
I love it when a certain song can set the stage, teleport your mind, ramp your imagination, and bring you back around feeling peace with the world- if not for only a few minutes. Their well said lyrics have depth, that compliment the intelligence of there lazy loops of tempo.... just leaves you wanting more and wondering what else they've created! That's how I felt when the wildfire song got wedged into my head so much i ran out and got the cd a few days later.... never heard them befor this. Blues and classic rock is more my style- this could actually actually convert me.... seems the older I get the more I need to listen to something with a real message attached. Excited to learn and love more of this incredible talent.
@Rufi0000o
This is Americana/Folk/Country with Simon and Garfunkelesque over and under tones. The melody/harmony coupled with acoustic guitar, bass, violin and percussion lend themselves to such a peaceful state of mind. The lyrics so poetic take you back to when things were more simple, with his sullen voice and her strong grasp of harmony and interweaving through violin and guitar, one can only imagine themselves either meandering through a field, sauntering through thick woods, or lazily floating down a river.
@rva
sublime ease
@midnightsun5711
Angelic sound + Heavenly music = peace within my weathered soul
@jnairac
2024 ...still here..
need this 😊
@joyceventuroli2811
Such a beautiful song, you really captured that old simple prairie wonderment and loss.
@Whitehawkvisionfilms
Every time I listen to Mandolin Orange everything in the world is lovely for almost 5 minutes! When y'all have 24 hours of songs I will put them on a loop and then we will have world peace! God Bless from Hawk in Texas!
@terrydahlin7413
Whitehawkvisionfilms ?.L
@distanceofage
Seems like they do have 24hrs of songs lol!