Their debut EP Taking Abalonia was released in 2007. It was re-released with seven new songs on June 3, 2008, in Canada as a full-length LP under the name Howe Sounds / Taking Abalonia.
On July 1, 2009, Said the Whale released the EP The Magician to drum up anticipation for the release of their second full-length album Islands Disappear on October 13, 2009.
In the spring of 2011, Said the Whale toured the U.S. for the first time. During this time they were the subject of the CBC documentary "Winning America" directed by Brent Hodge and Thomas Buchan. The movie documented the band's trip and performances along the West Coast of North America on their way to and from Austin, Texas' SXSW Music Festival and culminated when Said the Whale won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards. The documentary aired on July 23, 2011, in British Columbia, and on April 7, 2012, across Canada.
They released their EP New Brighton on November 8, 2011, in preparation for their third full-length album, Little Mountain, released internationally on March 6, 2012.
In early 2012, the band was awarded a spot on the Canadian music magazine Rockstar Weekly's list of the "Top 12 RockStars to Watch in 2012". The list also included Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Rush. The band performed at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in 2012 and 2013.
Said the Whale released their fourth studio album, titled hawaiii, on September 17, 2013.
On January 4, 2017, they announced their fifth album, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide. At the same time, they announced the departure of Spencer Schoening, and that they would move forward as a trio. The album was released March 31, 2017. The first single was "Step Into The Darkness."
On March 5, 2017, they posted an Instagram video with an email address which fans could contact in order to listen to the whole album for free before its release. Fans could stream the whole album on a personalized, private SoundCloud account from the 10th until the 15th of March without leaking or sharing the link. From the 15th until the 26th of March, the fans could invite their friends to listen to the album in a "listening party" in order to promote it but still not sharing the link to the album, keeping it strictly limited to those who were sent the link.
In September 2018, Said the Whale signed to Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts, and announced a new record to be released in early 2019. The band released a new single "UnAmerican" on October 12, 2018. They released their sixth studio album, Cascadia, on February 8, 2019.
Throughout 2021, Said the Whale released a number of singles and music videos from their upcoming album, including "Honey Lungs," "Everything She Touches is Gold to Me," "Show Me Everything," and "99 to the Moon." In May, Bancroft announced he was launching a new record label called EVERYTHING FOREVER. Said the Whale's seventh studio album, Dandelion, was released on October 22, 2021, via that label.
Dear Elkhorn
Said the Whale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard you met a doctor,
He done told you that your state will pass
As long as you would take your medicine
You'll find that salty lungs await your arrival
What you had:
You had a family that loves you, cared for you
Well it takes one to know one
So dear Abigail,
My sympathies to you
And all your survivors
Elkhorn, we passed you.
The opening lyrics of Said The Whale's song "Dear Elkhorn" give the listener insight into a person's life as they deal with illness. The line "Wednesday last, I heard you met a doctor" implies that the person is visiting their doctor and receiving medical advice. The following lines suggest that the person has a serious illness and they need to take medicine to overcome it. The phrase "salty lungs await your arrival" could be an allusion to death, as salty tears are often associated with mourning. The lyrics suggest that despite the seriousness of the person's illness, their state will pass with proper care and attention.
As the song progresses, the narrative shifts to "Abigail" and her family. It is unclear whether Abigail has passed away, but the line "watched you crash" suggests that she may have experienced some kind of trauma. The chorus changes from addressing Elkhorn to addressing Abigail, and the singer offers their sympathies to her and all her survivors. The final line "Elkhorn, we passed you" could be an acknowledgement of Elkhorn as a place or a cemetery, suggesting that Abigail is buried there.
Line by Line Meaning
Wednesday last
On a recent Wednesday
I heard you met a doctor,
I was told that you had a doctor's appointment
He done told you that your state will pass
The doctor informed you that your health condition will improve
As long as you would take your medicine
As long as you consistently take the prescribed medication
You'll find that salty lungs await your arrival
You will eventually be reunited with loved ones who have passed away (symbolized as 'salty lungs')
What you had:
You possessed something valuable
You had a family that loves you, cared for you
You had a support system of people who cared for you deeply
And watched you crash.
Unfortunately, they also had to witness your difficult struggles
Well it takes one to know one
I understand what it's like to go through painful experiences
So dear Abigail,
Addressing the person being spoken to as Abigail in a kind tone
My sympathies to you
I express my condolences to you
And all your survivors
Along with anyone else who is affected by the situation
Elkhorn, we passed you.
The singer and others have physically driven past a place called Elkhorn, perhaps referencing a sense of moving on and leaving something behind
Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.