Band Members:
chris cunningham: guitar, piano, bass, violin, mandolin, x… Read Full Bio ↴Band Members:
chris cunningham: guitar, piano, bass, violin, mandolin, xylophone, paranoid words, intrusive gestures.
brantley duke: singing, xylophone, percussion, looking good
matt badger: Lt. Commander of percussion

Bio:

After teaching overseas in the Marshall Islands, Chris Cunningham returned to Seattle in 2008 and met Brantley Duke, a local record engineer and musician. Within two months of their introduction, the pair began writing and playing music together. They shared a common interest in darker sounding melodies combined with intricate vocal harmonies.

In the spring of 2009, a talented Seattle drummer by the name of Matt Badger was introduced to Chris at a show. After a 5 minute conversation, Matt was invited to join the project.

The trio spent the summer of ‘09 practicing and writing together, then began recording what would become their first full-length, a 14 track album titled “Demons and Lakes.”

Since the album’s release in January 2010, Ravenna Woods has been enjoying a large amount of local support, consistent airplay on Seattle’s KEXP 90.3, and very favorable press (local and international).
Ravenna Woods was awarded the title of ‘Best Acoustic Indie Band of 2010’ by Seattle Magazine, and got voted into KEXPs top 90 albums of 2010.

Ravenna is currently wrapping up their upcoming effort – “Valley of the Headless Men.”

The sound can best be described as innovative acoustic indie music that weaves together haunting vocal harmonies, complex finger picking, and unconventional percussion into complex song structures.

A Devil's Coming
Ravenna Woods Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We got miles to go before we reach the head of the shore,
And these figures crouching in shadows are twitching in time to my pulse.
We’ve gotta make clear to them that they can’t hurt us on my time;
On my watch, and – they can’t hear what we think, they can’t control us on my land -
In my world! Singing o-oo-ooooooooo
Lost in provinces of wild-eyed inhabitants that have all been calling your name and
I thought you’d help me (at least admit you know me) but, I see I’ve made a mistake…
Cause…

You are the liars I know, you are the liars I know – you’re getting into my head,
Confusing everything and – you are the liars I know, you are the liars that I’ve seen,
That I’ve loved! And now, you made a liar of me, you made a liar of them
We’re messing everything up, we’re fucking everything up

You made a liar of me, you made a liar of them!
The devil’s marching up! The devil’s coming for us – singing o-ooo-oooooooooo.

Overall Meaning

In "A Devil's Coming" by Ravenna Woods, the lyricist sings about a journey they must undertake with looming figures in the shadows that seem to move in time with the pulse. They must overcome the obstacles in their path and make it clear that they cannot be harmed on their watch or controlled by anyone in their land. They find themselves lost in a province of wild-eyed inhabitants that seem to call out their name. The singer had hoped for help or at least recognition from someone they once trusted, but instead, they realize that this person is a liar and has been controlling their thoughts and confusing them. The chorus repeats the line "You made a liar of me, you made a liar of them" to express the singer's frustration and regret. The song culminates with the devil's arrival, singing "the devil's marching up! The devil’s coming for us," as a metaphor for the lies and deceit that have plagued them.

Line by Line Meaning

We got miles to go before we reach the head of the shore,
We still have a long way to go before we reach our destination.

And these figures crouching in shadows are twitching in time to my pulse.
The dark, mysterious figures lurking around in the shadows seem to be in sync with my heartbeat.

We’ve gotta make clear to them that they can’t hurt us on my time;
We need to let them know that they cannot harm us while we're on my watch.

On my watch, and – they can’t hear what we think, they can’t control us on my land -
While we are on my territory, they have no power to influence or manipulate our thoughts.

In my world! Singing o-oo-ooooooooo
We are embracing our own world, free from the influence of outsiders, as we sing in unison.

Lost in provinces of wild-eyed inhabitants that have all been calling your name and
We are lost in a land inhabited by people with wild, intense stares who seem to know who you are by name.

I thought you’d help me (at least admit you know me) but, I see I’ve made a mistake…
I had hoped that you would be of assistance to me or at least acknowledge me, but it appears that I was wrong.

Cause…
This is the cause or reason for what follows.

You are the liars I know, you are the liars I know – you’re getting into my head,
You are the ones who constantly deceive me, and now you are infiltrating my thoughts.

Confusing everything and – you are the liars I know, you are the liars that I’ve seen,
You are causing chaos and disorder, and I have seen your deceitful ways before.

That I’ve loved! And now, you made a liar of me, you made a liar of them
I used to have affection for you, but now you have made me and others into liars because of your dishonesty.

We’re messing everything up, we’re fucking everything up
We are causing destruction and making a mess of everything we touch.

You made a liar of me, you made a liar of them!
You have caused me and others to become dishonest because of your own dishonesty.

The devil’s marching up! The devil’s coming for us – singing o-ooo-oooooooooo.
It appears that evil is on the horizon and approaching us quickly, as we sing in fear and trepidation.

Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS