A pastiche of post-rock, chamber-pop and contemporary classical composition, the self-titled debut album is strongly influenced by Ludwig-Leone's background in classical music, which includes a job assisting composer/arranger Nico Muhly.
After finishing his musical studies at Yale, Ludwig-Leone wrote the album in six weeks while holed up in a studio on the mountainous border between Alberta and British Columbia. He focused on lifeʼs top-shelf issues – youth, nostalgia, anxiety, unrequited love – and tied these vast themes to different characters through vocal contributions from longtime friend Allen Tate, as well as Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius.
The first track released from the album, Sonsick, tackles many of these larger themes head-on. ”It’s like a panic attack disguised as a birthday party,” Ludwig-Leone says. ”I realized that the most intense moments are the ones in which conflicting emotional worlds exist inside you, equally, at once.”
San Fermin is not an album of singles but rather a sweeping, full-bodied listen with multiple distinct peaks and ambitious thematic connections. Ludwig-Leone composed all of the album’s arrangements and lyrics in full prior to collaborating and recording, noting that “writing for a large group of unknown musicians infused the writing process with a kind of operatic scope.
Since then, the band has coalesced into a core of eight members in addition to Ludwig-Leone: Allen Tate and Rae Cassidy, lead vocals; Eliza Bagg and Rebekah Durham, vocals/violin; John Brandon, trumpet; Stephen Chen, saxophone; Tyler McDiarmid, guitar; and Mike Hanf, drums.
Cairo
San Fermin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ribbon winner
Did everything so they could see
It turn out right?
You living with her?
Are you looking for a chance to leave?
Cairo come back home
Three is a crowd and two is in love
But I can′t sleep alone
Cairo, oh my soul
Twenty-eight nights and now I'm low
Can′t get by and I can't let go
And I can't sleep alone
You try too hard?
Your mind too meager
Two whispers follow when you leave
You read it wrong
A bold-face fever
You′ve stolen everything you believe
No face for feeding
Watch you grow thinner
No steady stream of human life
Now you′re leeching blood
You red-mouthed sinner
Chasing anything into the night
Cairo come back home
Twenty-eight days of delirium
Three is a crowd and two is in love
But I can't sleep alone
Cairo, oh my soul
Twenty-eight nights and now I′m low
Can't get by and I can′t let go
And I can't sleep alone
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo come back home
Twenty-eight days of delirium
Three is a crowd and two is in love
But I can′t sleep alone
Cairo, oh my soul
Twenty-eight nights and now I'm low
Can't get by and I can′t let go
And I can′t sleep alone
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo
Cairo
The song "Cairo" by San Fermin is a complex piece that offers deep insights into the human condition. The song is mainly focused on an individual, the restless son or the ribbon winner, who has seemingly achieved everything he wanted; however, he appears to be searching for something more. The opening line sets the tone of the song, which seems to suggest that no matter how much we achieve, there is always a sense of restlessness that lingers within us.
The central theme of the song revolves around the idea of not being able to let go of someone or something. The line "But I can't sleep alone" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the idea of loneliness and desperation. The use of Cairo as a metaphorical place adds to the intricate layers of meaning in the song. Cairo, in this context, seems to represent the place where the restless son longs to return to find peace and solace. The line, "You're living with her? Are you looking for a chance to leave?" further accentuates the sense of disconnection and entrapment that the subject feels.
Moreover, the song explores the concept of losing one's identity and being lost in a world without direction. The line "You've stolen everything you believe" implies that the subject has lost sight of his values and beliefs, which reflects a sense of confusion and disillusionment. The chorus, with its crescendo of voices, emphasizes the emotional intensity of the song, culminating in a plea for the subject to return to Cairo and find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You restless son
Are you an unsettled person?
You ribbon winner
Have you succeeded at everything you’ve set out to do?
Did everything so they could see
Have you done things solely for the attention of others?
It turn out right?
Has everything gone according to plan?
You living with her?
Are you currently cohabiting with someone?
Are you looking for a chance to leave?
Are you searching for an opportunity to escape?
Cairo come back home
Return to your roots, Cairo.
Twenty-eight days of delirium
An extended time of confusion and disorientation.
Three is a crowd and two is in love
A third person can create chaos in a relationship, but two people in love may thrive.
But I can′t sleep alone
I cannot find rest without companionship.
Cairo, oh my soul
Cairo is a vital part of the singer's wellbeing.
Twenty-eight nights and now I'm low
An extended period of darkness has left the artist feeling depleted.
Can′t get by and I can't let go
The singer is struggling to cope and move on.
And I can't sleep alone
The singer is unable to find rest without companionship.
You try too hard?
Are you putting in an excessive amount of effort?
Your mind too meager
Is your intellect lacking?
Two whispers follow when you leave
There is a sense of gossip surrounding the subject when they depart.
You read it wrong
Have you misunderstood a situation?
A bold-face fever
The subject is exhibiting signs of strong desire.
You′ve stolen everything you believe
The subject has taken things they once held dear.
No face for feeding
There is no one to turn to for support.
Watch you grow thinner
The subject is dwindling before their own eyes.
No steady stream of human life
There is a lack of consistent interaction with other people.
Now you′re leeching blood
The subject is exhibiting parasitic behavior.
You red-mouthed sinner
The subject is guilty of immoral behavior.
Chasing anything into the night
The subject is pursuing any and all distractions into the darkness.
Cairo
A repeated call to the subject to return.
Cairo
A repeated call to the subject to return.
Cairo
A repeated call to the subject to return.
Cairo
A repeated call to the subject to return.
Cairo
A repeated call to the subject to return.
Writer(s): Ellis Ludwig Leone
Contributed by Ava V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.