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.
Gray Eyes
Ravenna Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their system; oh…it’s hopeless.
Couldn’t ever rise up ‘cause there’s too much to lose
Would a little hope help turn those gray eyes blue – a second? Just one second…
We’ll build a boat with the ruins of this city that we used to live in; we used to care about
And when it’s finished we can all launch it through the Ballard locks
And go any old place; west, north or south.
Yeah I can see it now…
Will you promise just to keep my memory alive through music and stories?
Wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo woooooooo!
The song Gray Eyes by Ravenna Woods is a powerful commentary on the human condition, specifically the struggle to maintain hope and optimism in the face of overwhelming despair. The lyrics speak to the idea that we are constantly bombarded with lies and messages of hopelessness that make it difficult to fight against the system. Despite this, the singer urges us to hold onto even a glimmer of hope, as it could be enough to turn our "gray eyes" (representing sadness and hopelessness) blue.
The second half of the song offers a more uplifting message, as the singer imagines a world in which we can rebuild from the ruins of our past and embark on a new journey. The boat represents a symbol of hope and freedom, a way for us to escape the confines of our current situation and explore new possibilities. The final lines of the song suggest that even if the journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty, the singer's memory can live on through the art of music and storytelling.
Overall, Gray Eyes is a poignant and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to find hope in the face of adversity and to keep fighting for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Lies inc. running through our heads at night and lies inc. convincing us that we can’t fight
We are plagued by thoughts of deceit as they convince us that we are helpless.
Their system; oh…it’s hopeless.
The system in which we live seems to offer no hope for change.
Couldn’t ever rise up ‘cause there’s too much to lose
We are reluctant to rise up as we believe there is too much at stake.
Would a little hope help turn those gray eyes blue – a second? Just one second…
Could a glimmer of hope be enough to make us feel less hopeless, even for a moment?
We’ll build a boat with the ruins of this city that we used to live in; we used to care about
We will use the remains of the city we once loved to build a means of escape.
And when it’s finished we can all launch it through the Ballard locks
Once it is complete, we can release our vessel through the Ballard locks.
And go any old place; west, north or south.
We will journey anywhere, whether it be west, north or south.
Yeah I can see it now…
We can visualize this escape and it brings us a sense of hope.
If I lose my life someday along on the ride,
In the event that I lose my life during our escape,
Will you promise just to keep my memory alive through music and stories?
Will you ensure that I am remembered through the telling of our shared experience?
Wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo wo-ooo woooooooo!
Vocals without a specific meaning.
Contributed by David B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.