They released their debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down - which contains the UK Top 10 hit 5 Years Time - in August of 2008.
A year later, following the end of a relationship between Charlie Fink and Laura Marling, the band released The First Days Of Spring, a concept album written about Laura. It came with a film to accompany the album, written and directed by Charlie.
The band's third album Last Night on Earth was released in March 2011. This album produced a hit single with L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N., which sold over 242,000 copies in the UK that year.
In 2013 their fourth album, Heart of Nowhere, was released. This release was also accompanied by a short film of the same name.
The band announced their split on 1 April 2015, stating that the band members would pursue solo musical projects.
Shape of My Heart
Noah and the Whale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's separated only by scars
That cut in and cut out
Oh and leave me without
Oh a heart that functions at all.
And when I look to the shape of the sky,
I give thanks for this hollow chest of mine;
The great weight of ordeals
That can make this life so unkind
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh when the wild was all covered by snow,
I forgot the colors that the grass tend to grow.
Oh the trees were all leafless,
And lifeless and black,
And I wondered if the leaves could grow back
For your heart is like a flower as it grows,
And its the rain, not just the sun that helps it bloom,
And you don't know how it feels to be alive,
Until you know how it feels to die
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow
Noah and the Whale's "Shape of My Heart" is a haunting track that deals with the scars caused by past emotional pain. When the singer looks to the shape of his heart, he sees it separated only by scars that cut in and cut out, leaving him without a heart that functions at all. He finds solace in the fact that he no longer feels the great weight of ordeals that can make this life so unkind. He prays that if there's any love in him, it won't show or grow, as he's afraid of getting hurt again. The song ends with a metaphor that compares the heart to a flower that needs the rain as well as the sun to bloom: "And you don't know how it feels to be alive, until you know how it feels to die."
The lyrics are very metaphoric and leave room for interpretation. The scars symbolize emotional wounds caused by past relationships or events that have left the singer feeling broken and damaged. He's afraid to show his vulnerability and let anyone get too close, fearing that history might repeat itself. He's learned to cope with his pain by compartmentalizing his emotions and keeping them hidden. The flower metaphor suggests that healing is a gradual process that requires both darkness and light, pain and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh when I look to the shape of my heart,
It's separated only by scars
That cut in and cut out
Oh and leave me without
Oh a heart that functions at all.
When I examine the condition of my heart, it's marked up with scars that cut in and cut out, leaving me heartless.
And when I look to the shape of the sky,
I give thanks for this hollow chest of mine;
That I no longer feel
The great weight of ordeals
That can make this life so unkind
When I see the sky, I'm grateful for my empty chest. This means I no longer carry the heavy burden of harsh difficulties that make life difficult.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
If there's any affection in my heart, I don't want it to be apparent or to develop.
Oh when the wild was all covered by snow,
I forgot the colors that the grass tend to grow.
Oh the trees were all leafless,
And lifeless and black,
And I wondered if the leaves could grow back
During the winter, when everything is covered in snow, I forget the beauty of nature's colors. The trees are bare and colorless, and I wonder if life will return to them.
For your heart is like a flower as it grows,
And its the rain, not just the sun that helps it bloom,
And you don't know how it feels to be alive,
Until you know how it feels to die
As a heart grows, it's similar to how a flower blooms, and it needs both the rain and the sun to prosper. You cannot fully appreciate life until you understand death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES FINK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tropicwave1
Shape Of My Heart
Noah & The Whale
Oh when I look to the shape of my heart,
It's separated only by scars
That cut in and cut out
Oh and leave me without
Oh a heart that functions at all.
And when I look to the shape of the sky,
I give thanks for this hollow chest of mine;
That I no longer feel
The great weight of ordeals
That can make this life so unkind
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh when the wild was all covered by snow,
I forgot the colors that the grass tend to grow.
Oh the trees were all leafless,
And lifeless and black,
And I wondered if the leaves could grow back
For your heart is like a flower as it grows,
And its the rain, not just the sun that helps it bloom,
And you don't know how it feels to be alive,
Until you know how it feels to die
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it show.
Oh and if there's any love in me,
Don't let it grow
Songwriters
FINK, CHARLES
Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
@curryhobo
I love how they create both beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics. Most bands only have one or the other.
@thatlizzykid
This song puts me in a good mood, regardless of what's happened previously. NoahAndTheWhale<3
@bailily
This song has been stuck in my head for ages! Perfect summer anthem.
@colinerskine3768
hello from the future
@TheBlackLotus
I remember seeing this band live in high school 🖤 so many fond memories with their music when I was younger
@chesirecat2592
if noah and the whale get anymore amazing....my head is going to explode. im serious. listening to them has opened my mind to a whole new world of music. THANKYOU noah and the whale
@samonser
This band is just pure awesome. You'll definitely love the wit in all of their lyrics!
@littlebsue
Love these guys.....they are headed for greatness!!
@fridaynightfreakout
this and 5 years time brought a smile to my face. Great way to start a Sunday morning. 2 of the best music videos I've seen in a long time as well
@bobcy1989
nice song and a really talented band!