The nom de plume of Atlanta, Georgia-raised, Nashville-based singer/songwri… Read Full Bio ↴The nom de plume of Atlanta, Georgia-raised, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Ben Cramer, Old Sea Brigade emerged in 2016 with a critically lauded EP that featured a compelling, heartfelt, and atmospheric blend of folk, country, Americana, and indie rock that invoked names like Bon Iver, Iron and Wine, and the National. A string of singles and an EP for the Nettwerk label paved the way for his 2019 full-length debut, Ode to a Friend.

After several years playing in bands around the Atlanta area, Cramer decided to forge ahead as a solo act, adopting the Old Sea Brigade name in 2015. Self-released in 2016, his eponymous debut EP earned him enough buzz to land key support slots for Hiss Golden Messenger, Julien Baker, and Benjamin Francis Leftwich during his first U.S. tour. Later that year, he inked a deal with Nettwerk and began work on a follow-up release. Cramer's first single for Nettwerk, the rousing "All the Same," dropped in September 2016 and was later included on 2017's Wash Me Away, the first of three EPs he would issue that year. The song "Tidal Wave," from his next EP, Cover My Own, notched significant play on streaming networks. Cramer closed out a banner year with the Christmas EP Songs for the Holidays. Scattered throughout 2018 were the singles "Hope," "Feel You," and "Sinkhole," which preceded Old Sea Brigade's 2019 full-length debut, Ode to a Friend.

Resistance
Old Sea Brigade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

With steps all through the rain
You could call it anything
But the line drawn in the space
Will shake our coat away

If love is everything
God be alone without our prayer
But the words of yesterday

They rugged in the sun

Said you made
Said you made a different
Knowing all
Knowing all resistance

Subtle waves are strange
Strong enough to tilt my brain
And death is in the maze
Holistic as you came

Said you made
Said you made a different
Knowing all
Knowing all resistance

Get caught up in my brain
Shake what we became

Said you made
Said you made a different

Knowing all
Knowing all resistance

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Old Sea Brigade's "Resistance" express the idea that emotions and experiences are not always easily defined or understood by others. The imagery of "steps all through the rain" suggests a journey, a struggle against obstacles that could be interpreted in any number of ways. The line "But the line drawn in the space / Will shake our coat away" evokes the idea of a dividing line that separates people or ideas, but also hints at the possibility of shaking off the constraints of such divisions.

The second stanza brings in the theme of love and religion, with the idea that love is all-encompassing but still requires effort, like prayer. However, the "words of yesterday" - perhaps meaning old beliefs or traditions - are "rugged in the sun," suggesting that they may be outdated or no longer useful. The final stanza brings it back to the idea of resistance, with the "subtle waves" and "death in the maze" suggesting that even small things can have a powerful impact on one's worldview.

Overall, the lyrics of "Resistance" convey a sense of searching, questioning, and struggling to find meaning in a complex and uncertain world. The song encourages listeners to resist easy categorization or simplistic explanations, and to stay open to the possibility of change and evolution.

Line by Line Meaning

With steps all through the rain
Despite the rain, we move forward.

You could call it anything
Our journey can be interpreted in various ways.

But the line drawn in the space
Although invisible, there's a boundary that separates us from where we are headed.

Will shake our coat away
Overcoming this boundary means we must shed our old selves.

If love is everything
Love is the ultimate goal.

God be alone without our prayer
Our prayers are futile without true action.

But the words of yesterday
The past holds significant lessons.

They rugged in the sun
These lessons have been exposed to the test of time.

Said you made
You claimed to have created something.

Said you made a different
You claimed to have created something unique.

Knowing all
You are aware of everything.