The debut album is the result of a young lifetime spent immersed in music. As a band member of Bon Iver from the very beginning, Carey endured a flip of his formal training to step firmly into a worldwide-touring rock band. His performance degree in classical percussion from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and his love for jazz drumming prepared him for a central role in the inspiring force of the Bon Iver live show.
All We Grow is a convergence of Carey's Waltz For Debbie era Bill Evans inflected jazz tendencies, and traditional rock band experience, taking leads from Mark Hollis' Talk Talk. It also retests the waters of modern classical composition, investigating the moodiness generated by percussive repetition in a manner familiar to fans of Steve Reich. In his downtime on tour with Bon Iver, Sean would spend time pining for his soul-mate's arms, and in that context, dreaming and composing. During infrequent tour breaks at home he would patiently record these pieces, adding layers each time. Two years later, the parts converged to make an album.
For as much room to breathe as Carey allows his compositions, there are incredibly dynamic moments of bombast held right next to moments of subtle depth and texture. Engineered by Jaime Hansen and Brian Joseph, intermittently at home and at April Base (Justin Vernon's studio outside Eau Claire), All We Grow is an all-encompassing headphone experience as intimate as chamber music and as ambitious as a symphony.
While many are familiar with the cabin mythology of Bon Iver, the story behind Sean joining the band is equally kismet. After hearing through mutual friends that Justin was looking to put together a band, he spent two weeks in his bedroom listening to For Emma, Forever Ago on Myspace, dissecting and learning the drum and vocal parts so well that Justin invited him to join the band upon Sean's approach.
All We Grow is a classic album born without expectation and met with adoration - a cathartic result of Carey's extraordinary and vibrant life experiences that resonates loss, dreams and heart in a manner so instantly relatable, you feel as though you can touch it.
Chrysalis
S. Carey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She can see the forest from new eyes.
Perfect in her form to intertwine.
Wouldn't you hide in the fog?
Woudn't you the fog?
Brave new world was stepping on a slide.
We can check the falls from the other side.
Perfect in her form to intertwine.
The rain came, brought new life.
We shedded shells and we blast it more for a night.
And wouldn't you hide it in the fog?
And wouldn't you hide it in the fog?
And wouldn't you hide it in the fog?
The lyrics of S. Carey's song Chrysalis are evocative, poetic reflections on the transformative power of nature. The opening lines speak to the power of observation and perception: "She can see the clouds approach for miles. She can see the forest from new eyes." This initial perception then gives way to the central theme of the song: the ability to transform and adapt. The subject of the lyrics is "perfect in her form to intertwine," suggesting a personal transformation that allows her to better fit into and coexist with her environment.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Wouldn't you hide it in the fog?" three times. This evokes the idea of transformation being something that is hidden, obscured, or difficult to see clearly. The fog becomes a metaphor for the transformation process: something that is mysterious, unpredictable, and difficult to navigate. With this phrase, Carey encourages the listener to consider their own transformative possibilities, and the fear or apprehension that may accompany that process.
The final lines of the song bring the metaphor full circle, as the subject of the song experiences a physical transformation, shedding their former selves and emerging anew: "The rain came, brought new life. We shedded shells and we blast it more for a night." This image of transformation offers a sense of hope and possibility, even in the face of the unknown or the frightening.
Line by Line Meaning
She can see the clouds approach for miles.
She is able to foresee distant troubles and hardships.
She can see the forest from new eyes.
She is capable of perceiving the beauty of the forest from a fresh perspective.
Perfect in her form to intertwine.
She is perfectly designed to connect and bond well with others.
Wouldn't you hide in the fog?
Wouldn't you be tempted to run away and hide from difficult situations?
Woudn't you the fog?
A repeated question of whether one should hide in the fog, emphasizing the desire to escape challenges.
Brave new world was stepping on a slide.
A new and challenging world is beginning to unfold, but it feels like everything is shifting and unstable.
We can check the falls from the other side.
We could have a better view of the challenges if we look at them from a different angle.
And woudn't you hide it in the fog?
Rephrasing the earlier line with emphasis on the need to escape and avoid obstacles.
The rain came, brought new life.
After a difficult period, there is a sense of renewal and new beginnings.
We shedded shells and we blast it more for a night.
We let go of our old selves and celebrate the new start, but it may not last long.
And wouldn't you hide it in the fog?
Repeating the question of whether we should hide from adversities, after experiencing some kind of personal renewal.
And wouldn't you hide it in the fog?
Repeating the same question again, suggesting how persistent the urge to escape and avoid can be.
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.