James Newbiggi… Read Full Bio ↴Marsicans is a British indie band from Leeds comprising:
James Newbigging - lead vocals and guitar
Oliver Jameson - guitar and vocals
Rob Brander - bass, keys and vocals
Matthew McHale - drums and vocals
Upbeat indie meets dirty pop from the north of England
File next to: Foals, Circa Waves, Gengahr
Influences: Classic Pop, Rock, Indie, Samba, The Beach Boys, Paul Simon's 'Graceland'
Their infectious pop hooks, strong harmonies, quirky lyrics, Yorkshire accents, offbeat northern humour and energetic performances have earned them glowing reviews and a growing fanbase since they first formed at high school in 2011.
Marsicans regularly sell out gigs at home, tour up and down the UK and have graced bigger stages at festivals like Reading & Leeds and Live At Leeds. Along the way they've supported the likes of Catfish & the Bottlemen, The Pigeon Detectives and Embrace.
Absence
Marsicans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess to see that one of us will have to wander
They say distance will make our love grow stronger
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess we'll see if it can change how much I want you
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Oh this distance has made my love slow
And I know this is difficult darling, but it's hard for me as well you know
And I've got these commitments, but you know I had to go
These things you said are so unkind, they got me going out my mind
But I'm trying not to let it show
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Absence, woah
Absence, woah
The Marsicans's song "Absence" is a heartfelt ballad about the challenges of long-distance relationships. The lyrics explore the various cliches and unhelpful platitudes that people often throw around when trying to offer advice on maintaining a relationship despite the physical distance between partners. The song's opening lines, "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder / Well that don't make much sense to me," set the tone for the rest of the piece, which is characterized by a sense of frustration and confusion.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that distance and time can indeed have a transformative effect on relationships, but that the process is far from easy. The lyrics are full of conflicting emotions - on the one hand, there is the thrill and excitement of being deeply in love with someone, but on the other hand, there is the sadness and anxiety that come with missing them dearly. The line "Now I don't know what to do with my time" effectively communicates the overwhelming nature of this emotional landscape.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine" twice, adds a touch of irony to the song. On the one hand, it's clear that the singer is deeply enamored with their partner and wants to make things work, but on the other hand, it's equally clear that the distance between them is taking a toll. The song ends on a wistful note, with the simple repetition of the word "absence," which captures the feeling of longing and distance that pervades the entire piece.
Line by Line Meaning
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder
It's said that the distance between us will intensify my feelings for you
Well that don't make much sense to me
However, I find it hard to believe
I guess to see that one of us will have to wander
Maybe we need one of us to go away to know if it's true
They say distance will make our love grow stronger
Also, distance is said to make love more resilient
Well that don't make much sense to me
Though I'm not sure it's accurate
I guess we'll see if it can change how much I want you
I suppose we'll find out if it affects how deeply I desire you
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
People say it's crucial to be patient, but they don't know our situation
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
It's our choice to determine when we'll keep discussing this
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
I'm completely in love with you, and I'm okay with that
Now I don't know what to do with my time
However, I'm at a loss of how to occupy myself without you
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Being apart from you makes me behave in strange ways
Oh this distance has made my love slow
This separation has made my love feel less vibrant
And I know this is difficult darling, but it's hard for me as well you know
I understand this is challenging, but it's tough for me too
And I've got these commitments, but you know I had to go
I have responsibilities, but I still had to leave
These things you said are so unkind, they got me going out my mind
The things you've said have hurt me deeply and troubled my thoughts
But I'm trying not to let it show
Regardless, I'm doing my best to conceal it
Absence, woah
Absence can be tough
Absence, woah
Absence can be difficult
Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Space Jumper
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess to see that one of us will have to wander
They say distance will make our love grow stronger
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess we'll see if it can change how much I want you
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Oh this distance has made my love slow
And I know this is difficult darling, but it's hard for me as well you know
And I've got these commitments, but you know I had to go
These things you said are so unkind, they got me going out my mind
But I'm trying not to let it show
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Absence, woah
Absence, woah
Kean Gomez
This band needs more recognition!
Alberte Karlsen
The lyrics are just so amazing! ❤
Harriet Sykes
Gosh the feels, absolute banger of a song!
Space Jumper
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess to see that one of us will have to wander
They say distance will make our love grow stronger
Well that don't make much sense to me
I guess we'll see if it can change how much I want you
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Oh this distance has made my love slow
And I know this is difficult darling, but it's hard for me as well you know
And I've got these commitments, but you know I had to go
These things you said are so unkind, they got me going out my mind
But I'm trying not to let it show
They say patience is a virtue without knowing what we're going or we've been through
You know it's up to us to, to decide when this debate will be continued
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
Now I don't know what to do with my time
'Cause I'm head over heels for you, and that's fine
It's now you're not by my side, I don't know why I act this way
Absence, woah
Absence, woah
Ella Playford
Amazing! What a tune 💞
KrissLx
This is so underrated
ivyraffe
Playing this on repeat
Tom Hesky
love this song live
Bram Weston
Another solid tune, made my day, thanks
Little Brother Eli
Great stuff! 😀