"Smith's album was shepherded by T Bone Burnett and produced by Emile Kelman," Burnett's longtime studio veteran. Recorded at Electromagnetic Studios and Village Recorders in LA, Burnett's first-call session players on the release include guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Dennis Crouch, in addition to Bellerose.
Midnight Plane
Sahara Smith Lyrics
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the last sight of a bruised freighter as it gives it’s broken body to the grave.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
My skin is a dead language,
A birthmark and a lexicon of scars.
a breath between the streetlamps and the stars.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
My heart is a firedancer and it’s spinning in a cold, cold space,
and your eyes are the fire’s answer to the winter breathing darkly at the gates.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
The lyrics of Sahara Smith's song Midnight Plane are full of imagery and metaphorical language. The singer is ruminating on the passage of time and the impermanence of life. They express a fear of the cool river because it symbolizes the relentless force of time that drags everyone deeper into the unknown. The sight of the bruised freighter sinking to the bottom of the river emphasizes the idea that everything eventually disappears and becomes nothing.
The singer then talks about their own mortality, saying that their skin is a dead language, implying that their body will one day be gone and forgotten. They mention their birthmark and scars, which are physical reminders of their individual history and experiences. When they are gone, they will be unspoken, reduced to the space between streetlamps and stars, emphasizing the transitory nature of existence.
Despite these heavy themes, the singer also expresses a desire to ride through the desert on a road that knows their name and fly into Austin on a midnight plane. These lines suggest a longing for adventure and excitement, for something that will make them feel alive in the face of their own mortality. Perhaps the midnight plane represents an escape from the sobering reality of death, offering a chance to feel free and weightless, even if only for a brief moment.
Overall, the lyrics of this song convey a sense of existentialism, exploring the themes of life, death, and impermanence in a way that is simultaneously haunting and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m scared of the cool river cause it drags a little deeper everyday,
Everyday, the cool river grows stronger and deeper, which scares me.
the last sight of a bruised freighter as it gives it’s broken body to the grave.
The freighter is dying and its last sight is visible, as it makes its way to its final resting place.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I want to travel through the desert on a road that recognizes and remembers me.
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
I want to arrive in Austin at midnight, flying in the arms of an airplane.
My skin is a dead language,
My skin does not communicate or speak, it is still and lifeless.
A birthmark and a lexicon of scars.
I have scars and birthmarks that are like a language, telling the story of my life.
And when I go I’ll be unspoken,
When I pass away, I will leave without a word or sound.
a breath between the streetlamps and the stars.
My passing will be like a brief moment between the lights on the street and the stars in the sky.
My heart is a firedancer and it’s spinning in a cold, cold space,
My heart dances with fire but is surrounded by a cold and desolate environment.
and your eyes are the fire’s answer to the winter breathing darkly at the gates.
Your eyes are the answer to my fire heart, fending off the darkness of winter at my doorstep.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I want to go on a trip through the desert on a road that recognizes me.
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
I want to arrive in Austin at midnight, carried by an airplane.
I wanna ride through the desert on the only road that knows my name,
I want to ride on the road that recognizes me and runs through the desert.
I wanna fly into Austin in the cradle of a midnight plane.
I want to arrive in Austin at midnight on an airplane.
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.