In 2002, Halstead released his debut solo album, Sleeping on Roads. A second solo album, Oh! Mighty Engine was released on July 29, 2008. Halstead's third solo album, 'Palindrome Hunches', was released on September 11, 2012.
Hi-Lo and Inbetween
Neil Halstead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and they closed the roads into your heart
You came home like a dead star
no light left, no loving anymore
Years ago you sent a postcard,
it's the one that always made me laugh
It said "send for reinforcements
What would they say
What would they say to make you feel OK
What would they do
What would they do to make you feel OK
Years ago I read a story
about a man who had a plan
Tied himself on to a balloon
yeah, cut the ties and tried to reach the moon
Rescued by an airline pilot
15,000 feet above the world
Dragged him down, they wished him luck
they'd hoped that he learned his lesson well
What would they say
What would they say to make him feel OK
What would they do
What would they do to make him feel OK
Kathy I can still see stars
the same ones that we wished upon
I know you know your way around
but I can tell you're losing ground
I can see you on the radar
but you know I could never bring you back
You cut the ties, you're floating free yeah, hi and lo and inbetween
you cut the ties, you're floating free yeah, hi and lo and inbetween
The song "Hi-Lo and In between" by Neil Halstead is a timeless piece that is rich in melancholic emotions. The song seems to be about a loved one who has drifted away, both geographically and emotionally. The song starts with the line, "One day it just snowed I guess, and they closed the roads into your heart." This could be interpreted to mean that the person has become distant, their heart is closed off, and they have become isolated from the world.
The second verse of the song talks about a postcard received from this loved one. The postcard said "send for reinforcements cause there's too much here for me to love." This line could mean the subject is overwhelmed with life's demands and cannot keep up with their loved ones' needs. The chorus of the song talks about what others could do or say to make the subject feel okay. But it seems like nothing can help, as the next verse talks about a man's attempt to reach the moon but fails.
The song's final verse talks about the singer's helplessness in trying to reconnect with the subject, saying "you know I could never bring you back." The person has cut the ties and is "floating free," in-between "hi" and "lo," seemingly unsure about what to do with their life. Overall, the song seems to be about the strain that distance can put on a relationship and the difficulty in reconnecting once that connection is broken.
Line by Line Meaning
One day it just snowed I guess
Something unexpected happened, possibly making it difficult to reach the person's heart
and they closed the roads into your heart
Metaphorically speaking, the person's heart became inaccessible
You came home like a dead star
The person returned devoid of energy, feeling lifeless
no light left, no loving anymore
The person's heart had grown cold, devoid of love and care
Years ago you sent a postcard,
The artist reminisces an old memory triggered by a postcard received from the person long ago
it's the one that always made me laugh
The postcard was humorous and always brought joy to the singer
It said "send for reinforcements
The postcard expressed the person's feeling overwhelmed and needing outside help
cause there's too much here for me to love"
The person felt unable to handle or care for something/someone that they were expected to love
What would they say
The artist wonders what could be said to make things better
What would they say to make you feel OK
The artist wonders what can be done to reassure the person, make them feel better
What would they do
The singer wonders what could be done to remedy the situation
What would they do to make you feel OK
The artist wonders what actions could be taken to comfort the person and make things okay
Years ago I read a story
The singer brings up an old memory of reading a story
about a man who had a plan
The man in the story had a specific goal he wanted to achieve
Tied himself on to a balloon
The man in the story was attempting to fly using a balloon
yeah, cut the ties and tried to reach the moon
The man in the story cut himself loose from the ground and tried to reach the moon, which was impossible
Rescued by an airline pilot
Someone came to save the man in the story
15,000 feet above the world
The man in the story was high above the ground, in a dangerous situation
Dragged him down, they wished him luck
The rescuers tried to bring the man back to the ground safely but had no guarantees
they'd hoped that he learned his lesson well
The rescuers expected the man to have learned a valuable lesson from his dangerous pursuit
Kathy I can still see stars
The artist addresses someone named Kathy and reminisces about stargazing
the same ones that we wished upon
The artist and Kathy shared memories of making wishes upon the stars
I know you know your way around
The singer acknowledges that Kathy is independent and knows what she's doing
but I can tell you're losing ground
Despite being capable, the artist senses that Kathy is struggling
I can see you on the radar
The singer is trying to keep an eye on Kathy from a distance
but you know I could never bring you back
The singer is unable to directly help Kathy or bring her back to where she previously was
You cut the ties, you're floating free yeah, hi and lo and inbetween
The person being addressed (presumably Kathy) has cut loose from something and is now in a state of limbo or uncertainty, both high and low
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL HALSTEAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gregg Ferrie
Neil Halstead is such an underrated artist and this song proves it. Whether he is doing solo work, or with Mojave 3 or Slowdive he is brilliant.
EyesOnly34
this may be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
Ash83 T
I first heard this song on an NPR broadcast.... recorded it on a blank cassette. It's just as beautiful as I remember it.
Dixie Farthing
Brilliant song, superb artist.
themightybooshx19x
A Lovely Song with Lovely Lyrics!
EnosEverything
I remember when I bought the album and this song HI LO AND INBETWEEN came on - I just sat stunned listening to it - a truly beautiful work of art... Christ knows why this was never played morning noon and night on radio stations.... Oh, shit - we all know why don't we... Radio stations aren't interested in good taste - it's all about MONEY and IMAGE..
Shannon McCullough
Lyrics are amazing, song so beautiful
ana
I can still see stars
The same ones that we wished upon
Van Griffin
Love you forever, Avalon 💜
Johnson Cera
Story of my life.