The first seeds of the band were originally planted on Canada’s salty-aired East Coast in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Young Warren C. Spicer and Matthew ‘the Woodman’ Woodley had begun playing together in high-school bands. The sea winds eventually carried them through the vast plains of Quebec to Montreal (a journey they would come to know intimately as the years wore on). It was in the now hallowed halls of Concordia University’s music department that they would come upon Nicolas Basque, a strange francophone native that shared their musical inclinations (and a trappeur’s finely-tuned taste in cuisine). It wasn’t until then that the three boys became men, signified their union with a name, and that Plants and Animals emerged from the wildlife.
In 2003 they bat out an instrumental menagerie of song-like folk-beasts, and put some of them to tape in the form of a recording that local label Ships at Night would later release. By 2005 the three young men were taming the sprawling wilderness of their sound and sculpting real songs, as Spicer also lead the way to a (hitherto unheard of) vocal domination of their material—as if he had been possessed by the ghost of some recently departed soul singer. During this time Spicer and Woodley would occasionally stop by to care for some of the neighbours—Timber, Socalled, and Katie Moore—and play. All the while, the Halifax-born were jamming and pruning with Basque, harnessing the band and its songs like a wild horse. Some called it post-classic-rock. Some called it folk-prog. Those who knew better didn’t say anything at all.
In about the summer of 2005 they carried a 24-track Studer “bull” up the stairs of Spicer’s apartment and split their time between their new makeshift studio there (aka Le Carillon Tropical), and the Treatment Room. By fall 2006 the foundations of what would later become Parc Avenue were layed, the band was playing shows (and singing), and a relationship with Montreal label Secret City Records was formed. By summer 2007 the once-monster was complete, temporarily tamed, housed, and ready to be unleashed. While the band awaited the release of Parc Avenue, they kept busy touring in the US, Canada, and Iceland, working on their album art and recording with/avec EP that was released in Canada in October 2007.
Since Parc Avenue was released in early 2008 the band has played over 175 shows, circling the Western world more than once, including appearances at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago, Primavera in Barcelona, Central Park Summer Stage with the National, and even one night in Columbus opening for Gnarls Barkley, after Danger Mouse discovered Parc Avenue and invited them out.
In January 2010 Plants and Animals announced their latest offering, La La Land, due out on April 20th on Secret City. The album was recorded at the band’s home-base studio in Montreal, The Treatment Room, and at Studio La Frette outside Paris, a brokedown old mansion filled with vintage gear and a killer board in the cellar instead of wine. Spicer says, “the Paris stuff is like a nice Bordeaux and the Montreal stuff is more like a baked potato. Sessions in Paris ended by 10pm, sessions in Montreal by 6am.” Rum and cokes supposedly inspired the initial Treatment Room sessions in late 2008. The album’s first track, “Tom Cruz,” eventually came out of these late nights. As the Woodman tells it, “it was December, pre-Christmas, so we fuelled the session with rum and cokes. They made us feel like Tom Cruise. It gave us killer smiles and made our enemies wither.”
Early in the Morning
Plants and Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the kids have woken up
We listen to the baby.
A flower opens up.
You're so fine and lovely
Doing it up with the ribbons and bows.
Trying not to wake me
I know you love me.
I know you love...
So fall in love, love.
The song "Early In The Morning" by Plants and Animals appears to be a poetic invocation of the beauty of life as it often goes unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of everyday routine. In the first verse, the lyrics seem to portray the idea that life is a precious and delicate thing, just like the flower that opens up early in the morning. The reference to children that have not yet woken up represents the innocence and purity of life, as well as the idea of new beginnings. The second verse seems to suggest the beauty of a romantic relationship between two people with the use of words like "fine," "lovely," and "ribbons and bows." It also implies that the relationship is something to be cherished and protected, as suggested by the line "Trying not to wake me, tipping on your toes." The final line brings it all together, highlighting the importance of falling in love and its transformative powers.
The song's lyrics may also hint at the importance of mindfulness and the power of being present in the moment. By drawing attention to the early morning and the quiet beauty of nature, the lyrics encourage the listener to slow down and appreciate life's wonders. This focus on the present moment is also reflected in the repeated refrain "I know you love me" and "fall in love, love," emphasizing the importance of living fully in the present and not worrying about the future.
Overall, the lyrics of "Early In The Morning" offer a poetic and uplifting meditation on the beauty of life, love, and mindfulness.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning
At the start of the day, when the sun rises
Before the kids have woken up
At a time when the children are still sleeping and not causing any disruption
We listen to the baby.
We pay attention to nature and appreciate its beauty
A flower opens up.
We witness the awakening of new life and growth
You're so fine and lovely
You are attractive and charming in every way possible
Doing it up with the ribbons and bows.
Wearing clothes and accessories that enhance your beauty
Trying not to wake me
A subtle attempt to avoid disturbing someone sleeping nearby
Tipping on your toes.
Walking lightly and carefully in order to avoid making any noise
I know you love me.
I am aware of the depth of your affection for me
I know you love...
I have an understanding of your emotional attachment towards me
So fall in love, love.
Allow yourself to fully embrace the feelings of love that exist between us
Contributed by Zachary F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.