The crew augments Theo's book-open vocals and beautiful fingerpicking with a suitably eclectic array of instrumentation. Laura Carter and Robbie Cucchiaro, both formerly of Athens' legendary and notoriously horn-buoyed Neutral Milk Hotel, head up a brass-and-winds section comprised of Laura's celebratory trumpet, Robbie's Baritone Euphonium, a couple clarinets, harmonica, recorder and whatever else you can pack into a touring-trunk and bring along for a blast. Rhythmic backbone comes courtesy of Southern punkrock siren Madeline Adams' bass, Matte Cathcart's drumming and some right-on Fender Rhodes piano provided by Hot New Mexicans' mainman Patrick Jennings.
The catchy, heartfelt crunch of the album's opener, "Circles Round The Moon," segues seamlessly into the brassy, beautiful circus-lullaby, "Tambourine-n-Thyme." Things get sad and stripped down with "Tiny Rainbows" -- a gentle plaint nudged toward the light by the brilliant horns. And "Broken Cityscapes" gets positively naked: Theo's adamant vocal sounds above his acoustic guitar and a couple rattles.
Theo's lyrical voice is ruralist, lovelorn and punkrock in the most primal way: he looks to explicate a world gone way wrong on the most basic, inhumane levels. Experiences gained on the touring road and at his home at the Orange Twin Conservation Community have led him to question the empty life of the modern American, and the disquieting ways the inherent Dystopia have made itself manifest on our own interior landscapes."
-Orange Twin
Atoms
Nana Grizol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The moon over the ocean I've seen from a island evening
Progression that starts to lose it's meaning
If we have spent most of a lifetime dreaming
Then dreaming is the state we shall keep
Stories of our solitude will sing themselves to sleep
And we will sing to everything the stories of where we have been
The history that's coursing through our veins
So surely and so steadily
A slowly moving cloud will whisper "I am but for hours born to last"
Your sogging soaking future is my foggy fading past
And so now if you want to wish upon me, wish upon me fast
Whatever can be held in your heart is surely yours to grasp
So you wish for a picture of all of the people you have had the pleasure to know
Or a postcard from all of the places that you ever wanted to go
Saying "you are here now on this magical night"
The sun and sky at sunset, well, it's such a stunning sight
You can sleep safely and soundly and you are loved
And nothing ever does begin like nothing ever ends
Ask every atom in your body and they'll surely tell you
"friend, I am old as time and older still"
And you are made of everything you love, you feel, or kill
I will outlive you, and forgive you, and be just a baby still
The song "Atoms" by Nana Grizol expresses a sense of nostalgia, exploring the emotions and memories that we hold in our hearts as we grow older. The first verse paints a picture of a vivid and colorful afternoon, reminiscent of childhood, and the serenity of a moonlit beach at night. The progression of time is highlighted as the singer muses on how the passing of years can eventually render our dreams meaningless. However, they express a desire to hold onto those dreams and remain in a state of perpetual wonder.
The second verse contains a metaphorical conversation between a cloud and the listener, where the cloud reflects upon its fleeting existence and encourages the listener to seize the moment and make their wishes come true. The cloud also acknowledges the transience of life and the inevitability of death, reminding us of our mortality. The listener is encouraged to cherish the people and places that are important to them, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The chorus emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, as the atoms that make up our bodies have existed since the beginning of time and will continue to exist long after we are gone. The final line of the song speaks to a sense of rebirth and renewal, as the singer suggests that they will continue to be like a child, open to new experiences and learning from the world around them.
Overall, "Atoms" is a contemplative and introspective song that encourages us to appreciate the present moment and stay connected to what is meaningful to us.
Line by Line Meaning
The color of an afternoon just like when you were 5 years old
The singer reminisces about the hues of an afternoon that evoke childhood memories.
The moon over the ocean I've seen from a island evening
The singer recalls the sight of the moon over the ocean on a serene island evening.
Progression that starts to lose its meaning
The singer observes a development or change that gradually loses significance.
If we have spent most of a lifetime dreaming
The artist ponders about the possibilities if most of one's life is spent in a state of dreaming.
Then dreaming is the state we shall keep
The artist concludes that if one spends most of their time dreaming, it is likely to become their perpetual state of being.
Stories of our solitude will sing themselves to sleep
The singer believes that tales of their loneliness will eventually lose their relevance and fade away.
And we will sing to everything the stories of where we have been
The singer plans to recount their journeys to everything and everyone they encounter.
The history that's coursing through our veins
The artist acknowledges the impact of their personal history.
No, nothing factual is written on a page
The artist suggests that the most significant events and emotions are not documented in written form.
So surely and so steadily
The artist describes a movement that is both certain and constant.
A slowly moving cloud will whisper "I am but for hours born to last"
The singer reflects on the fleeting nature of even the most enduring natural phenomena.
Your sogging soaking future is my foggy fading past
The artist confesses that their past is indistinct and unclear, while the listener's future seems both uncertain and unpleasant.
And so now if you want to wish upon me, wish upon me fast
The singer urges the listener to make a wish quickly while they are still able to fulfil it.
Whatever can be held in your heart is surely yours to grasp
The singer encourages the listener to pursue their heart's desires and believe that they can attain them.
So you wish for a picture of all of the people you have had the pleasure to know
The singer suggests that the listener wishes to remember everyone who has brought happiness to their life.
Or a postcard from all of the places that you ever wanted to go
The artist imagines the listener holding postcards of all the places they desired to visit.
Saying "you are here now on this magical night"
The artist envisions a postcard luring the listener to stay in the present moment and cherish it as it is.
The sun and sky at sunset, well, it's such a stunning sight
The singer admires the beauty of a sunset and the colors it paints in the sky.
You can sleep safely and soundly and you are loved
The singer reassures the listener that they are safe, loved, and can sleep peacefully.
And nothing ever does begin like nothing ever ends
The artist asserts that beginnings and endings are often indistinguishable.
Ask every atom in your body and they'll surely tell you
The artist suggests that every atom in the listener's body carries knowledge and wisdom about the universe.
"Friend, I am old as time and older still"
The atoms in the listener's body claim to be ancient and eternal.
And you are made of everything you love, you feel, or kill
The singer asserts that the listener's existence is comprised of every experience, emotion, and action they have ever had.
I will outlive you, and forgive you, and be just a baby still
The atoms in the listener's body claim that they will outlast them, forgive them, and always retain their original essence, like a newborn baby.
Contributed by Natalie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.