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.
Methuselah
San Fermin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a dirty bouquet with your wine
I will tie to my body some roses
I will fly 'til I get you alive
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
When I'm lost with myself I see lions
Lying golden on beaches of white, I-I
I see men with their boats in the weather
Carry me as I drift in the night
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
The lyrics to San Fermin's song "Methuselah" express a sense of longing and distance between two people in a romantic relationship. The singer is trying to reach out to their lover, hoping to pass a message to them through a "dirty bouquet" of roses. The metaphorical distance between them is highlighted by the singer's reference to their own flying journey. As they travel to their lover, they wonder if their lover is thinking of them and if they have found a place "deeper than the corners of [their] mind" to settle down. The repetition of the line "I go, I go, I go alone" emphasizes the emotional distance between the singer and their lover.
The singer then delves into introspection, revealing that when they're lost in their own thoughts, they see golden lions on white beaches and boats drifting in the weather. These images suggest a feeling of wanderlust and a desire for adventure that is at odds with their longing for their lover. Despite this, the singer ultimately reveals that they don't think of their lover when they're missing them, further emphasizing the emotional distance between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Pass a message to you and your lover
Sending a message to both you and your significant other
Like a dirty bouquet with your wine
A less than ideal message, but one that must be delivered alongside a pleasant experience
I will tie to my body some roses
I will adorn myself with pleasant things in order to make the delivery of the less than ideal message easier
I will fly 'til I get you alive
I will do whatever it takes to deliver this message and ensure you receive it
Are you thinking of me now?
Wondering if you are currently thinking about me
Methuselah
Referencing the biblical character known for his longevity, asking if they have been thinking about the passage of time
I'm a passenger
Acknowledging a sense of powerlessness or lack of control in a situation
I go, I go, I go alone
Acknowledging that despite the lack of control, they still move forward and face challenges by themselves
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
Asking if they have found a source of comfort that runs deeper than their own thoughts and emotions
To settle down?
Asking if they have found a sense of peace or stability in their life
When I'm lost with myself I see lions
During times of personal struggle, they imagine themselves encountering powerful, strong creatures
Lying golden on beaches of white, I-I
The imagined lions are juxtaposed against idyllic surroundings
I see men with their boats in the weather
Imagining people facing challenges and elements outside of their control
Carry me as I drift in the night
Asking for help and support as they navigate their own struggles
I don't think of you
Acknowledging that they do not actively think about the person they are missing
When I'm missing you
Despite not thinking of the person, they still feel their absence and yearn for their presence
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@breisfm
Pass a message to you and your lover
Like a dirty bouquet with your wine
I will tie to my body some roses
I will fly 'til I get you alive
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
When I'm lost with myself I see lions
Lying golden on beaches of white, I-I
I see men with their boats in the weather
Carry me as I drift in the night
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
@thesinkingsloth
i put this on to study, and it was the best feeling...the sun was going down, i had my window open and a soft breeze was creeping in... i never enjoyed studying so much. it's like i finally felt relaxed and peaceful.
@kemiwel7607
Love the clips used for this music video - especially those transitions at 3:18 and 4:16. I think I first saw this video 5 years ago and I still keep remembering it and coming back. Even if I've long ago moved on from listening to San Fermin, this song with this film sticks in my mind
@breisfm
Pass a message to you and your lover
Like a dirty bouquet with your wine
I will tie to my body some roses
I will fly 'til I get you alive
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
When I'm lost with myself I see lions
Lying golden on beaches of white, I-I
I see men with their boats in the weather
Carry me as I drift in the night
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
I don't think of you
When I'm missing you
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
Are you thinking of me now?
Methuselah
I'm a passenger
I go, I go, I go alone
Have you found a place that's deeper than the corners of your mind
To settle down?
@bscnyc9948
to settle down!??? you better stop talking man..... you're always joking.... and if I say.... shall we settle down🤔!?? 👁️🍌🐒😜
@bscnyc9948
I don't G.... 🤐👁️🍌🐒😜
@coledailey4280
This band has blown me away since I found them on Monday. Phenomenal, so glad I found them.
@eileenbergin
Beautiful,warm, inspiring, soft, deep, soul filling,thank you.
@MrCrimzo
Beautiful the visuals really helped convey the simple dynamics of their song. Thank you for making.
@TowerOne88
Glad I found this I needed new music and listening to this is just simply amazing I use to be very picky about music now that am older I listen to anything this just stands out so much!
@RustyClover
San Fermin did a great show at Napa's Bottle Rock yesterday! This song was outstanding as was Jack Rabbit!