Venable performed in numerous theatrical and musical productions as a youth with the San Francisco-based Young People's Teen Musical Theater Company. She was also in the cast of the Lewis Carroll-themed musicals "Right Mind" and "Right Mind is Nowhere" directed by George Coates.
Her original one-act play "Annie Beckstead Does Her Homework" won at the Rocky Mountain Student Theater Project in Telluride, CO. She attended Bennington College as a Dramatic Writing and then a Music major before deciding to pursue music as a career.
In 2004 Venable moved to Brooklyn where she continues to compose and perform with longtime-collaborators Todd Sickafoose and Alan Lin. Her songs are noteworthy for their striking melodies and complex subject matter, and she invites comparison with musicians Elliott Smith and Mazzy Star.
Her albums include You Talking to Me? (1996), No Curses Here (1998), Down Easy (2000), Boots (2002), The World Is Bound by Secret Knots (2003), and The Summer Storm Journals (2007).
Noe is rumoured to have a second new album in the works, "a concept album-rock-opera-story thing" (the first being the recently released SSJ, a collection of songs), as stated on one of her rant room entries on her website.
Ice Dragons
Noe Venable Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
whirling dervishing by
can you feel the white furry hooves of time?
catch me catch me
rocketing ever closer
closer to the bright white eye
when I dream I see the world turning oh
how we used to breathe and watch it oh
and feel such power and feel such joy
to be ice dragons and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie)
to be a dragon and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie awake)
who were we back then?
someone got left in the wet black dream pool--
shining tragic in the rhythm of the blackness
as again and again I reach for euphoria potent enough to distract
somethings howling like it's trying to drown me
once we were moving too fast to hear it
do you remember
how we used to breathe and watch it oh
and feel such power and feel such joy
to be ice dragons and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie)
to be a dragon and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie awake)
ice dragons ice dragons
who fly like arrows into the unknown
just show me where to go
steamy mouthed steamy mouthed
ice dragons wind tossed
hoping for a good gust
hoping but love I'm wingsoiled heart sore
wingsoiled heartsore
til I remember
how we used to breathe and watch it oh
and feel such power and feel such joy
to be ice dragons and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie)
to be a dragon and to be so free
(awake you lie awake you lie awake)
The song "Ice Dragons" by Noe Venable can be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the longing to recapture a sense of freedom and power. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and restlessness, as the singer rockets ever closer to the "bright white eye" of time. The image of "white furry hooves" emphasizes the swift and unavoidable nature of time's passage.
The second verse introduces a note of nostalgia, as the singer asks "who were we back then?" The reference to being "ice dragons" suggests a time when the singer felt empowered and transcendent. But something has been lost or left behind, represented by the "wet black dream pool" and the presence of a howling, drowning force. The sense of longing becomes more poignant in the final lines of the song, as the singer recalls the feeling of power and joy that came with being an "ice dragon."
Overall, the song is a meditation on the fragility of human experience and the desire to recapture a sense of wonder and transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
time keeps rushing
Time is constantly moving forward
whirling dervishing by
It moves quickly and in a chaotic manner
can you feel the white furry hooves of time?
Can you feel time passing by so fast it feels like a blur?
catch me catch me
I'm moving fast and want someone to grab onto
rocketing ever closer
Moving faster and closer towards something
closer to the bright white eye
Getting closer to something with a bright, intense energy
when I dream I see the world turning oh
In dreams, I experience the world moving forward
do you remember
Do you recall a past memory?
how we used to breathe and watch it oh
When we took deep breaths and observed the world around us
and feel such power and feel such joy
We felt empowered and blissful
to be ice dragons and to be so free
To be a mythical beast and feel unrestricted
(awake you lie awake you lie)
You are awake but not exactly present in the moment
who were we back then?
Questioning who we used to be
someone got left in the wet black dream pool--
A part of us was left behind in a dark and unclear emotional state
shining tragic in the rhythm of the blackness
The painful experience is shining through and echoes through our current state
as again and again I reach for euphoria potent enough to distract
Trying to find a source of happiness strong enough to ignore the pain
somethings howling like it's trying to drown me
An inner voice of sadness is constantly howling and trying to take over
once we were moving too fast to hear it
We used to move so fast that we didn't have time to validate these negative feelings
ice dragons ice dragons
Calling out to the mythical beasts once again
who fly like arrows into the unknown
They move quickly and without fear into uncharted territory
just show me where to go
Asking for guidance and direction in life
steamy mouthed steamy mouthed
Breathing deeply and quickly
ice dragons wind tossed
The dragons are moved and influenced by the wind
hoping for a good gust
Hoping for a sign or event that will push them in a positive direction
hoping but love I'm wingsoiled heart sore
Despite their hopefulness, they feel weighed down and emotionally hurt
til I remember
Until I remember something important
how we used to breathe and watch it oh
Until I remember a time when we were free and happy
and feel such power and feel such joy
When we felt confident and joyful
to be ice dragons and to be so free
To be mythical creatures and feel completely unrestricted
(awake you lie awake you lie)
Still struggling to focus on the present moment
Contributed by Chloe D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Terry West
I love this! the creativity is awesome. The song is so good too. Have to listen a few more time to pick up your lytrics but i love it and your voice is perfect for it. Watching it is like a journey into the fantasy world of a manikin
pfalzdxii
Hauntingly beautiful music. Thank you so much. My compliments, Noe
Sharon Lewis
I just love this. So magical with a hint of Kate Bush. Beautiful marionette ❤️
Noe Venable
Thank you so much, Sharon. Kate is one of my very favorite artists, so your comment means a lot to me! 😊💗🌿
robert bristow-johnson
i love this dreamy song
Noe Venable
Thank you, Robert.