Midlake began in 1999 by a group of jazz students at the University of North Texas. The original lineup consisted of Tim Smith (vocals, guitars, keyboards), McKenzie Smith (drums), Paul Alexander (bass), Eric Nichelson (guitar), and Evan Jacobs (keyboards). Their initial work (under the working name The Cornbread All-Stars) consisted of funk/jazz explorations heavily influenced by Herbie Hancock.
Later the band began to lean more toward an indie rock sound. Tim Smith quit playing saxophone and began writing songs that were heavily influenced by bands such as Jethro Tull, Radiohead, Travis, and Grandaddy. Smith says about that: "We don't want to get called a Radiohead rip-off band. I think Radiohead is a lot closer to my natural tendencies as a songwriter than a band like, um, Jethro Tull. I listen to way more Jethro Tull than I do Radiohead these days, but I could write 10 Radiohead songs before I could write one Jethro Tull song. I want to sound more like Jethro Tull, but I just can't. That's a big struggle."
Jacobs left the band and Eric Nichelson took over on keyboard. Jason Upshaw joined the band as a guitarist. Live recordings from this period, recorded at Denton's Panhandle House studio, were never released as the band felt they had moved beyond the material.
Soon before their debut EP, Milkmaid Grand Army, was recorded, Upshaw was replaced on guitars by Eric Pulido, a longtime friend of drummer Smith, to form the current lineup. Their debut full-length album, 2004's Bamnan and Slivercork, was recorded at home in Denton, Texas and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. It showed a move in the direction of lo-fi psychedelic electronica, embracing influences such as Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips. The album even caught the ear of skateboarder-turned-actor Jason Lee, who produced and directed the music video for the song 'Balloon Maker', and who continues to support and promote the band.
In 2006, after nearly a year and a half of recording and re-recording, they completed their second release for Bella Union – The Trials of Van Occupanther. The album was met with generally positive reviews.
The 3rd album release by the band is called The Courage of Others. It was released on February 1, 2010. The album sleeve pays homage to Andrei Rublev, a 1966 film by Russian writer and director Andrei Tarkovsky.
In this album Smith focusing on the human condition, death, courage (as per the album’s title), and nature. The band put aside the wonderfully corny synthesizers they used on the last record in favor of a 100-percent organic approach that fits their bearded poets of the mountain image. The album received overwhelmingly positive review.
www.midlake.net
Branches
Midlake Lyrics
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I saw she was happy in her circumstances
I also live under branches
I'd rather not live in these places (in these places)
We won't get married
'Cause she won't have me
She wakes up awfully early these days, these days
And there's no one else so kind
There's no one else to find
It's hard for me but I'm trying
It's hard for me but I'm trying
I saw she was busy gathering wood for a fire
I'd like to help her some
But she replies it's done
We won't get married
'Cause she won't have me
She wakes up awfully early these days, these days
And there's no one else so kind
There's no one else to find
It's hard for me but I'm trying
It's hard for me but I'm trying
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
It's hard for me but
I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)
The song "Branches" by Midlake is a melancholic tune about unrequited love and the struggle to accept disappointment. The narrative describes a woman who lives under some branches and seems content with her situation, while the singer also admits to living under branches but would rather not. This juxtaposition highlights the different perspectives and preferences of individuals, even when they seemingly have similar experiences. The chorus repeats the phrase "We won't get married 'cause she won't have me" emphasizing the singer's inability to have a romantic relationship with this woman. Despite his aim to help her gather wood, she denies his assistance, further driving home the theme of rejection. The line "It's hard for me but I'm trying" repeated multiple times reflects the singer's attempt to come to terms with the rejection and move on, even though it is a difficult process.
The lyrics are poetic and full of imagery that creates a vivid picture of the characters and their environment. The woman's contentment in living under branches suggests a simple and uncomplicated life, while the singer desires more. The use of the line "It's hard for me but I'm trying" reinforces the idea of effort and struggle to overcome heartache. This song's gentle melody and mellow instrumentation create a wistful ambiance that complements the lyrics' emotional tone.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw she was living under some branches
I noticed that she was living a simple life, making do with little resources.
I saw she was happy in her circumstances
Although her living conditions were humble, she seemed content and fulfilled.
I also live under branches
I too have experienced times of hardship and been forced to live with limited means.
I'd rather not live in these places (in these places)
Although I have lived in similar circumstances before, given the choice, I would not choose to live in such conditions again.
We won't get married
'Cause she won't have me
She wakes up awfully early these days, these days
Our relationship will not progress to marriage because she does not want to be with me, and she seems preoccupied with her own tasks and routines.
And there's no one else so kind
There's no one else to find
It's hard for me but I'm trying
Despite the rejection, I am struggling to find someone who is as kind and special as she is.
I saw she was busy gathering wood for a fire
I'd like to help her some
But she replies it's done
While she was preoccupied with collecting basic resources, I offered to help, yet she had already completed the task on her own.
It's hard for me but I'm trying (It's hard for me but I'm trying)...
The repeated line emphasizes the difficulty of the situation and how the artist is persevering despite the challenges.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eric Pulido, Paul Alexander, Eric Nichelson, Tim Smith, McKenzie Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind