The band formed in 2006, and appeared on a compilation, The Kids At The Club, later that year. In April 2007, Pocketbooks played the first ever Indietracks event on a 1950s steam railway in Derbyshire. This show coincided with the release of the band's debut single, Cross The Line, on Atomic Beat Records. A year later, Pocketbooks released an EP Waking UP on Make Do And Mend Records.
The band's first album, Flight Paths, was released in July 2009 on How Does it Feel To be Loved?. The album contains the single Footsteps and the track Fleeting Moments, which appears on the Rough Trade Shops Indiepop '09 compilation.
The second Pocketbooks album, Carousel, was released in September 2011 on Odd Box Records, preceeded by the single Promises, Promises. The band were joined for the album recording by violin players from A Little Orchestra.
Pocketbooks have played live shows across the UK, Europe and the United States, including festival appearances at Offset, Indietracks and Rip It Up, and popfests in London, Edinburgh, New York and San Francisco.
https://pocketbooksgroup.blogspot.co.uk/
Harbour Lights
Pocketbooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seven Sisters, gave me love and hurt in equal size
I’m afraid that I’ve strayed and there’s no turning back
I long for autumn, just to hide within a coat
I long for winter, just to have the streets all to myself
A hidden retreat or a stolen weekend
I’ll cling with weathered fingertips
Swap decades of hectic streets for
A weekend’s faded memories
Where west coast harbour lights keep on calling me back
The lifeboats bob on the turning tide
The carousel spins silently in black and white
And those east coast 45s in their polythene sleeves
The needle drops and I’m feeling seasick
Hypnotised by the hiss and clicks
And the tidal streams
I’m sleepwalking back to the sea
Well I know, the winter takes its toll on you
Those hectic scenes, those unforgiving streets
Drive-by soundbites, in fifteen words or less
Chequebook politics, always in lower case
Just dodge the bullets and try to think of somewhere else
Seven Sisters, I love you but that’s it
Swing Out Sister, take me anywhere just play the hits
I’m turning imperfect cartwheels on cold cobbled streets
I’ll cling with weathered fingertips
Soft-focused melodies and
Swap decades of hectic streets for
A weekend’s faded memories
Where west coast harbour lights keep on calling me back
Where the lifeboats bob on the turning tide
The carousel spins silently in black and white
And those east coast 45s in their polythene sleeves
The needle drops and I’m feeling seasick
Hypnotised by the hiss and clicks
And the tidal streams
I’m sleepwalking back to the sea
Well I know, the winter takes its toll on you
Those hectic scenes, those unforgiving streets
And I know, the temptation just to trade it in
Those hectic scenes, for a weekend’s faded memories
Where west coast harbour lights keep on calling me back
Where the lifeboats bob on the turning tide
The carousel spins silently in black and white
And those east coast 45s in their polythene sleeves
The needle drops and I’m feeling seasick
Hypnotised by the hiss and clicks
And the tidal streams
I’m sleepwalking back to the sea
The lyrics of Pocketbooks' song "Harbour Lights" evoke longing for escape from the hectic and unforgiving streets of the city. The Seven Sisters, a natural landmark in the UK, represent a place of love and happiness, but the singer has strayed from it and cannot turn back. They yearn for autumn and winter, seeking solace and privacy to hide within a coat and have the streets all to themselves. The imagery of a hidden retreat or a stolen weekend represents the idea of escaping into memories and taking refuge from the stresses of everyday life.
The chorus of the song paints a vivid picture of a coastal town, with its lifeboats bobbing on the turning tide, carousel spinning, and 45s in polythene sleeves playing on a record player. The singer feels seasick and hypnotized by the hiss and clicks of the music, sleepwalking back to the sea. The west coast harbour lights keep calling them back, offering a place of respite and calm from the chaos of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven Sisters, you showed me how to smile
The Seven Sisters (a group of cliffs in England) taught me how to be happy.
Seven Sisters, gave me love and hurt in equal size
The Seven Sisters provided me with both love and pain.
I’m afraid that I’ve strayed and there’s no turning back
I fear that I have moved away from where I should be, and cannot go back.
I long for autumn, just to hide within a coat
I want autumn to come so I can find comfort in covering myself with a coat from the cold.
I long for winter, just to have the streets all to myself
I want winter to come so I can have the peace of walking alone through empty streets.
A hidden retreat or a stolen weekend
I desire a secret place to hide away, or a weekend getaway that shouldn't be.
I’ll cling with weathered fingertips
I will hold on tightly, even if my grip is worn down by time.
Soft-focused melodies and
Gentle and soothing music that is calming to the senses.
Swap decades of hectic streets for
Give up years of chaotic city life for a different experience.
A weekend’s faded memories
Recalling previous weekends that have passed and are now just distant memories.
Where west coast harbour lights keep on calling me back
The bright and warm lights of the harbor on the west coast beckon me to return.
The lifeboats bob on the turning tide
The boats on the water are moving up and down with the changing tide.
The carousel spins silently in black and white
The carousel is moving quietly with no sound, with only black and white colors visible.
And those east coast 45s in their polythene sleeves
The vinyl records on the east coast are covered in clear plastic sleeves.
The needle drops and I’m feeling seasick
When the needle hits the vinyl, I feel nauseous and dizzy.
Hypnotised by the hiss and clicks
I am entranced by the sounds of the record player, especially the static and clicking sounds.
And the tidal streams
The flow of the water is connected to the movement and current of the sea.
I’m sleepwalking back to the sea
I am returning to the ocean in a trance-like state, without fully realizing it.
Well I know, the winter takes its toll on you
I am aware that the cold winter weather can be harsh and difficult for some people.
Those hectic scenes, those unforgiving streets
City life can be chaotic and harsh, with no mercy for the inhabitants.
Drive-by soundbites, in fifteen words or less
Short, quick news blurbs that are quickly forgotten and have little impact on people's lives.
Chequebook politics, always in lower case
Politicians are easily bought and sold for money, and their power is often diminished.
Just dodge the bullets and try to think of somewhere else
Avoid the negativity and try to focus on something more positive.
Seven Sisters, I love you but that’s it
I have affection for the Seven Sisters, but that is as far as it goes.
Swing Out Sister, take me anywhere just play the hits
The band Swing Out Sister can take me anywhere with their music and make me feel good.
I’m turning imperfect cartwheels on cold cobbled streets
I am clumsily moving around on the uneven, cold streets.
Contributed by Annabelle J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.