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.
Simple Fates
Ravenna Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With simple lives, simple plans, simple fates…
They never spoke a word
Of
Unfair treatment, protest or complaints; never tried to get out of their simple fates.
They never spoke a word…
Ooooooo-ooooooo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
I hear, I see, the Spirit of the North is calling through the woods!
Long term plans – we’ve been dreaming up
Bank accounts, safe investments and big ideas, we’ll forget about
Woo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Simple lives…
The lyrics of Ravenna Woods's song Simple Fates describe the simplicity and contentment of dogs, who lead uncomplicated lives with straightforward goals and destinies. In contrast to human beings, the dogs never complain about their lot in life or try to change their fate. The singer of the song then observes that the Spirit of the North is calling out to them, urging them to pay attention to the natural world and the forces that govern it. Despite their best efforts to plan and secure their futures through bank accounts, investments, and ambitious ideas, the singer notes that their homes and lives are still at risk of crumbling down.
Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the value of simplicity and the limits of human control over the world. By drawing a comparison between the peaceful lives of dogs and the tumultuous lives of humans, the singer suggests that there is something to be gained from embracing simplicity and accepting one's "simple fate" rather than always striving for more.
Line by Line Meaning
Dogs – running up and chasing all the little things -
Dogs are carefree and have a simple life, they enjoy the small things and are not bothered by the complexity of the world.
With simple lives, simple plans, simple fates…
The dogs have uncomplicated lives, without elaborate plans, and are content with their future.
They never spoke a word
Of
Unfair treatment, protest or complaints; never tried to get out of their simple fates.
The dogs have no voice to express their grievances about the unfairness of their lives, but they also don't try to change their fates – they accept it as it is.
They never spoke a word…
Ooooooo-ooooooo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The dogs' silence is echoed by the haunting melody of the forest, a reminder of the tranquility that can be found in simplicity.
I hear, I see, the Spirit of the North is calling through the woods!
The singer hears and sees a calling from nature, the Spirit of the North, which represents the wild, untamed side of life that seeks to rediscover the values of simplicity and harmony.
Our homes, our lives, are crumbling down in spite of all we’ve done to save them.
The world around us is complex and falls apart despite our efforts to control it – we lose sight of what's truly important in life.
Long term plans – we’ve been dreaming up
Bank accounts, safe investments and big ideas, we’ll forget about
Our long-term plans, focused on material wealth, become meaningless when we realize that true happiness can't be bought with money.
Woo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Simple lives…
The song ends with a call to simplicity - a reminder to focus on the simple things in life rather than becoming consumed by the complexity of the modern world.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.