Cooper's sophomore album, "Family Tree: The Roots" was released in October 2011. It is the first of the trilogy record called "The Family Tree" which follows the story of a fictional family from 1800 to 1950. Following "The Roots" will be "The Branches" and "The Relatives" respectively.
In between his first two Radical Face records Ben released two EP's to fill the gap. The first was "Touch The Sky". In the summer of 2011 "The Bastards Volume 1" EP was released. Other volumes will compliment the fore-coming Family Tree trilogy.
Under his 'Radical Face' moniker his music features acoustic guitar, "found-sound" percussion, and many multi-layered tracks. The sound is incredibly unique, not only because of Cooper's originality and raw talent, but also because most of the music has traditionally been recorded in the shed in his backyard.
Website: www.radicalface.com
the strangest thing
Radical Face Lyrics
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It just rearranges thoughts and leaves me numb for weeks
But I'm okay, yeah I feel fine
Because I know there's more than one way to lose my mind
Lose my mind
Lose my mind
Lose my mind
They just sharpen all their claws and bear their twisted teeth
But I won't bend and I won't move
Don't have a lot left, just anger, and something to prove
So I can't lose
So I can't lose
So I can't lose
The cold spreads through the house
It bites my ears, I can't feel my hands or feet and I'm too scared to sleep
And now the ghosts are on the porch
Got knives in hand, oh no, I think I've seen this before
And I might lose
And I might lose
And I might lose
And all this time, I've been watching you sleep
And the strangest things have been happening to me, oh
And all this time, I've been watching you breathe
And the strangest things have been happening to me, oh
The lyrics in Radical Face's "The Strangest Things" are a reflection of the inner turmoil that the singer is facing. The song deals with themes of mental health as portrayed through vivid imagery of ghosts, crows, and the feeling of being numb. The first verse establishes the ghost inside the singer's head that never sleeps, but rather rearranges their thoughts and leaves them feeling numb for weeks. Despite this ongoing battle, the singer is okay and feels fine because they know there is more than one way to lose their mind. The repetition of "lose my mind" at the end of each line is a reminder of this constant fear.
The second verse uses the imagery of crows at the fence to illustrate the struggle with the outside world. The crows sharpen their claws and bear their teeth, but the singer won't bend or move. They only have anger and something to prove. The repetition of "so I can't lose" emphasizes the determination to not give in.
The final verse is filled with fear, as the cold spreads through the house and the ghosts appear on the porch with knives in hand. The singer acknowledges that they might lose and that there is a sense of desperation to the situation. The haunting and surreal imagery in this verse creates a chilling effect, making the listener truly feel the fear that the singer is experiencing. The last two lines of the song highlight the theme of the strangeness of life, as the singer reflects on their own experiences while watching someone else sleep and breathe. The song ends on a note of uncertainty and unease.
Line by Line Meaning
The ghost inside my head, it never sleeps
My recurring thoughts and worries never cease
It just rearranges thoughts and leaves me numb for weeks
It interrupts my thinking process, causing me to feel disconnected for a period of time
But I'm okay, yeah I feel fine
Despite my mental struggles, I'm outwardly functional and content
Because I know there's more than one way to lose my mind
I understand that mental instability takes various forms and can be experienced differently by different individuals
The crows are at the fence, they never blink
The ominous presence of danger is looming
They just sharpen all their claws and bear their twisted teeth
The threat is becoming more and more real and dangerous
But I won't bend and I won't move
I am steadfast in my determination to withstand adversity
Don't have a lot left, just anger, and something to prove
Despite being low on resources, I am fueled by a strong sense of indignation and a need to succeed
The cold spreads through the house
The haunting atmosphere is intensifying
It bites my ears, I can't feel my hands or feet and I'm too scared to sleep
The fear is becoming physical and I am experiencing bodily numbness and hypervigilance
And now the ghosts are on the porch
The supernatural threat is approaching and becoming more tangible
Got knives in hand, oh no, I think I've seen this before
The danger is escalating and I am recognizing patterns from past traumatic experiences
And I might lose
Despite my bravery, the possibility of defeat is ever-present
And all this time, I've been watching you sleep
The chorus reveals that the singer has been observing someone else's peaceful slumber throughout this ordeal
And the strangest things have been happening to me, oh
The singer is experiencing eerie and unexplained phenomena, which could be interpreted as paranormal or psychological in nature
And all this time, I've been watching you breathe
The artist has been taking comfort in the other person's calm and steady breathing
And the strangest things have been happening to me, oh
The inexplicable occurrences continue to persist alongside the artist's fixation on the subject of their intense gaze
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind