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.
We Fell
S. Carey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And love sounds it's own
Your arms wrapped around home
All the in-betweens
Lay so blue beside me
We fell
More than skin and bones
No we're not alone
Like stones
Between
The lyrics to S. Carey's song "We Fell" speak of a deep and powerful connection with someone else. The "consonance of drone" and "love sounds" are a metaphor for the way that two people can come together and make beautiful music. When their arms are wrapped around each other, they are truly at home. The "in-betweens" of life, the moments that are often forgotten or overlooked, are suddenly imbued with a sense of meaning and importance. The blue that lies beside them is a gentle reminder that even in difficult times, they have each other. The phrase "we fell" is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the intensity and depth of their connection. By the end of the song, they are like stones, bound together and unbreakable.
Overall, the lyrics to "We Fell" are a beautiful testament to the power of love and connection. They are poetic, yet grounded in real emotions and experiences. S. Carey is a master at creating music that is both intimate and grand, and this song is a perfect example of his talent.
Line by Line Meaning
The consonance of drone
The harmonious hum of our surroundings
And love sounds it's own
But the sounds of love are unique and personal
Your arms wrapped around home
Your embrace makes me feel safe and content
All the in-betweens
Every moment that's not a clear beginning or end
Lay so blue beside me
These transitional moments can be melancholic
We fell
Despite the uncertainty, we surrendered ourselves to love and connection
More than skin and bones
Our relationship is deeper than just physical attraction
No we're not alone
We are supported and understood by each other
We fell
Despite any doubts, we chose to be vulnerable and open
Like stones between
We became anchored to each other and found our footing
Contributed by Kaelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.