Their songs are notable for their male/female vocal harmony, shifting rhythms, and quirky song structure- most tracks are composed of multiple distinct, almost disjointed movements. Both members sing with great intensity, often in the upper ranges of their voices, and often sing different (yet complementary) melodies simultaneously. Tempos are nearly always fast, with beats often resembling those found in electronic club or dance music.
The main instruments used by the band are drums and electric organ. Although both members started out playing the guitar, they found they ended up fooling around with the organ and drums in their practice space more often than with more traditional instruments.
The band recorded one album on Omnibus Records before moving to Polyvinyl Record Company for their second and third full-lengths. They have also released five 7-inch singles and two EPs. In December 2005, the band signed with Barsuk and since have released an album entitled Bring It Back. In May 2008, they released the album Re-Arrange Us.
Love Letter
Mates of State Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A plea, a petition, a kind of prayer
I hope it does as I have planned
Losing her again is more than I can bear
I kiss the cold, white envelope
I press my lips against her name
Two hundred words. We live in hope
The sky hangs heavy with rain
Love Letter Love Letter
Go get her Go get her
Love Letter Love Letter
Go tell her Go tell her
A wicked wind whips up the hill
A handful of hopeful words
I love her and I always will
The sky is ready to burst
Said something I did not mean to say
Said something I did not mean to say
Said something I did not mean to say
It all came out the wrong way
Love Letter Love letter
Go get her Go get her
Love Letter Love letter
Go tell her Go tell her
Rain your kisses down upon me
Rain your kisses down in storms
And for all who'll come before me
In your slowly fading forms
I'm going out of my mind
Will leave me standing in
The rain with a letter and a prayer
Whispered on the wind
Come back to me
Come back to me
O baby please come back to me
In the opening lines of Love Letter, the singer is holding a letter that serves as a form of prayer or petition. The letter represents a last-ditch effort to win back a former love, someone whom the singer cannot bear to lose again. The singer is seen kissing the envelope, which carries symbolism of holding the message inside in reverence. The letter itself is described as only two hundred words, yet the singer lives in hope that it will be enough to reconcile with the beloved. The storm in the background is a constant reminder of the turbulent nature of the situation.
The chorus provides a positive affirmation that the singer hopes will encourage themself and others to take action. It's an optimistic call to action; to be proactive, not to lose hope, and always keep trying no matter how difficult the situation may seem. But despite the singer's positive outlook, they struggle to say the right thing. A statement that was not meant to be said slipped out, and it could complicate things even further. All seems lost, for the singer, until the rain comes. The rain acts as a metaphor for the beloved's affection, which they hope will come and wash away their sorrows. In these last lines, the singer pleads for the return of their love, yearning for a reunion with the person they still love deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
I hold this letter in my hand
The singer has written a letter and is holding it, possibly feeling nervous or anxious about its contents.
A plea, a petition, a kind of prayer
The letter is an earnest request or supplication, almost like a prayer.
I hope it does as I have planned
The singer has a specific intention or desired outcome for the letter and is hoping it goes according to plan.
Losing her again is more than I can bear
The singer is expressing how difficult it would be to lose the person they are writing the letter to.
I kiss the cold, white envelope
The singer is showing affection towards the letter or the person it is addressed to by kissing the envelope holding it.
I press my lips against her name
The singer is symbolically kissing the person's name on the envelope, expressing intense longing or affection.
Two hundred words. We live in hope
The singer has limited space to convey all they want to say, but still has hope that the letter will be effective in its brevity.
The sky hangs heavy with rain
It is raining heavily and the singer may be feeling weighed down by their emotions or situation.
A wicked wind whips up the hill
The gusty wind may be symbolic of the singer's inner turmoil or impending sense of loss.
A handful of hopeful words
The singer's letter contains optimistic or positive language, even amidst a difficult situation.
I love her and I always will
The singer declares their unwavering love for the person the letter is addressed to.
The sky is ready to burst
The weather serves as a metaphor for the singer's own emotional state about to break into an outpouring of feelings.
Said something I did not mean to say
The singer accidentally expressed something they didn't intend to, possibly in relation to the contents of the letter.
It all came out the wrong way
The singer feels they may have misspoken or accidentally made things worse, further complicating their situation.
Rain your kisses down upon me
The singer is calling out for their love to shower them with affection and love.
Rain your kisses down in storms
Even tumultuous or difficult moments can be filled with love and affection if the singer's love showed it.
And for all who'll come before me
The singer is asking their love to continue to love and show affection for future generations or relationships.
In your slowly fading forms
While things may change over time, the love will endure in some form, even if it fades or transforms.
I'm going out of my mind
The singer is feeling overwhelmed or possibly losing perspective about their situation, possibly due to their emotions.
Will leave me standing in the rain with a letter and a prayer
Even if the letter may not be effective, the singer is hoping it will have some sort of impact, even if it only leaves them standing alone in the rain.
Whispered on the wind
The singer is hoping their message will be carried and heard, despite the odds or obstacles in their way.
Come back to me
Ultimately, the singer is pleading for their love to come back to them and be reunited, even amidst a difficult situation.
O baby please come back to me
The singer is using an endearment to emphasize their love and desire for the person to return.
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
scarlettrose5
Wow! This was a brilliantly conceived and directed video, and of course the song is incredibly well done too!
Ingimar Bjarnason
Fantastic cover of a fantastic Nick Cave song!
Tomas Castro
beutiful Video, I love Mates of State, and I've listened to them for years :D Fan #1 from Mexico!!, but i don't like to see them sad, Kori and Jason please don't cry T-T. great work anyway !!
Nik Lee
man i can't wait for this album to drop...
danonedanone2000
The song means so much to me. Thank you.
Erin Butcher
Never cease to amaze me.
a2g
Here i am this kid that grew up listening to gangster rap and hardcore punk.... But these guys music went from great to borderline making me cry... Fuck the're good!!!
fraction meister
Ausgezeichnet! Da hat mich sehr tief verspurt. Ich bedanke mich, ihr seid schoen!!
curiouscabaret
AMAZING! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Heather Jennings
powerful