The band initially existed as a trio consisting of Halstead, Goswell, and McCutcheon (hence the "3" in their name). After Slowdive were dropped by Creation Records, the trio decided to change musical direction to a country rock or folk music style, and were signed by 4AD. Rowe (formerly of Chapterhouse) and Forrester joined shortly after the release of their first album.
Both Halstead (the main songwriter for the band) and Goswell have released solo albums, also for 4AD. McCutcheon founded and is currently playing with his band called The Loose Salute who are signed to Heavenly Records.
The band went on hiatus in 2008, but returned to playing live gigs in 2011, including a handful of concerts supporting Band of Horses.
With Slowdive returning to live performances in 2014, Mojave 3 has been put on indefinite hiatus.
Candle Song 3
Mojave 3 Lyrics
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And we tried to pretend that your room was a palace
But we can't seem to shake off the fear
That nothing is different, that no-one has changed
Nothing has changed
I stand by my lover as she stands by me
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
We've been trough the past and the pain
The love that was lost
And we know all the answers
We've taken all our chances and let them drift by
It's time to be free yeah it's time to be free
Standing so close I can't see you at all
I stand by my lover as she stands by me
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
But your books don't say much about
Living your life like a thief
Yeah we've handcuffed and chained
We play games and play them out slowly
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
The song Candle Song 3 by Mojave 3 is a poignant portrayal of the bittersweet moments of Christmas amidst the realization that nothing has changed. The lyrics lead to a feeling of nostalgia and reminiscence as we see the characters attempt to create a magical atmosphere by lighting up candles as though it were a palace. However, the underlying sense of fear still exists, and the characters are unable to shake it off.
The next verse is about the commitment in the relationship between the characters. They have been through the ups and downs and the pain of the past is still alive within them. They have taken their chances and have realized that they need to be free from the chains that bind them. The phrase "Standing so close I can't see you at all" conveys an emotional distance that both parties have, despite being physically together.
The final lines talk more about being chained together and the despair that comes with it. They are aware that they are living their lives like thieves, handcuffed and chained, but they are playing a game that they cannot win. The overall emotion that these lyrics evoke is an awakening to the realization that even when you try to create enchanting, magical moments, life can still be ordinary, dull or mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
It's christmas again so we lit all the candles
Although it's Christmas time again, we light all the candles to pretend that we're in a palace
And we tried to pretend that your room was a palace
We're trying to make ourselves believe that everything is perfect and beautiful, like a palace
But we can't seem to shake off the fear
Despite our efforts, we can't get rid of the anxiety within us
That nothing is different, that no-one has changed
We feel like nothing has changed, and no-one has progressed or evolved
Nothing has changed
Everything is still the same, with no progress or evolution
I stand by my lover as she stands by me
Me and my lover stand together, supportive of each other
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Me and my lover are bound together, in both good times and bad
We've been trough the past and the pain
Together, we've been through difficult times and sufferings
The love that was lost
We've experienced the pain of losing love
And we know all the answers
After experiencing so much, we feel like we have all the answers to life's problems
We've taken all our chances and let them drift by
We've taken risks in life but watched them go by without making much progress
It's time to be free yeah it's time to be free
It's time to break free from the chains that bind us and live a free life
Standing so close I can't see you at all
Despite being very close, we're unable to see and understand each other
But your books don't say much about
The books we've read so far fail to explain
Living your life like a thief
Living life without being true to yourself or others, like a thief
Yeah we've handcuffed and chained
We're victims of our own self-inflicted constraints
We play games and play them out slowly
We engage in games and take our own sweet time to finish them
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Me and my lover are bound together, in both good times and bad
Chained to my lover as she's chained to me
Me and my lover are bound together, in both good times and bad
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NEIL HALSTEAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind