“Aument writes her songs with an understanding of heartfelt emotions… through her wavering, Feist-like vocals” (20 Watts).
“We are happy to inform you that Sarah Aument’s debut album, Vertical Lines, is wonderful.” (WERW Radio).
A singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania, Sarah Aument combines her unique voice, natural style of music and introspective storytelling to fashion a creative style of rock. Often compared to singers like Feist and Cat Power and highly influenced by a spectrum of talents stretching from Wilco to Carole King to Bjork, her sound is best described as Folk Rock with a twist of Indie Pop and Freak Folk.
Currently based out of Syracuse, NY, Sarah Aument continues to play shows including 2010 CMJ Music Marathon in NYC, while simultaneously pursuing her degree at Syracuse University. Performing at venues throughout the Northeast, she has shared the stage with the likes of Dawes, Erin McCarley, The Spring Standards, Sharon Van Etten, and Ari Hest among others.
With the recent release and success of her debut album, Vertical Lines, she is off to a momentous and promising start.
Long Road
Sarah Aument Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Streams of water underground
My face is wrinkled from a drought
Freckles dimples hiding out
Hardest feelings, spotted cows
Hoping wishing for the doubt
No one's leaving your mind now
[Chorus]
I don't know where the milkmen go
I don't know where the green hides gold
I don't know
I don't know where the spirit shows
I don't know if I wanna know
I don't know
Hardest feelings, spotted cows
Hoping wishing for the doubt
No one's leaving your mind now
No one's leaving your mind
[Chorus]
But the milk ain't love
The milk ain't love no
The milk ain't love no
Going bad as the winter goes
That ain't love, no no no
That ain't love, no
In Sarah Aument's song, Long Road, she uses powerful and vivid imagery to convey a sense of struggle and confusion. The opening lines "Raining lilacs from the clouds, streams of water underground" are particularly striking, as they give a sense of something unnatural happening. Lilacs are a type of flower that do not typically fall from the sky, and water flowing underground is not something that people can see. These images suggest that there is something surreal about the situation the singer finds herself in.
The next line, "My face is wrinkled from a drought, freckles dimples hiding out," adds to the sense of surrealism. A drought would typically leave someone's face dry and cracked, not wrinkled. And freckles and dimples are not things that would typically go into hiding. These contradictions add to the sense of confusion and unreality.
The chorus takes on a more contemplative tone, as the singer admits to not knowing where certain things are or what they mean. "I don't know where the milkmen go, I don't know where the green hides gold, I don't know where the spirit shows" all suggest a sense of lostness and confusion. However, the singer is not sure if she even wants to know the answers to these questions.
Overall, Long Road is a powerful song that uses vivid imagery and a contemplative tone to convey a sense of confusion and lostness. The surreal elements in the opening lines suggest that the situation may be more complicated than it appears, adding an extra layer of mystery to the song's meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Raining lilacs from the clouds
An unusual occurrence is happening, like a metaphorical rain of flowers from the sky.
Streams of water underground
There is unseen movement underneath the surface, like a flowing river hidden beneath the earth.
My face is wrinkled from a drought
The singer is feeling strained and stressed, as if they haven't had enough rest or relief for a long time.
Freckles dimples hiding out
Despite the emotional struggle, there are still features that make the artist unique and beautiful.
Hardest feelings, spotted cows
The artist is experiencing intense emotions or pain, amplified by the image of cows with visible spots on their hides.
Hoping wishing for the doubt
The singer is uncertain and yearning for clarity or answers, even if that means doubting the truth they know.
No one's leaving your mind now
Memories, thoughts, or worries are stuck in the singer's head, perhaps causing distress or anxiety.
They're haunting, they're aching
The thoughts in the artist's head are causing torment and pain, like a ghostly presence.
I don't know where the milkmen go
The artist is unaware or uncertain about what happens to something simple and familiar, like milk delivery.
I don't know where the green hides gold
The artist is contemplating the mystery of nature's hidden gems, like the value in something that appears ordinary or plain.
I don't know where the spirit shows
The singer is curious and uncertain about the signs or manifestations of spirituality or personal belief.
I don't know if I wanna know
The artist is hesitant to explore or learn the answers to these questions, suggesting a fear of disappointment or disillusionment.
But the milk ain't love
Even something as simple as milk cannot substitute for the genuine feelings of love.
Going bad as the winter goes
The singer's emotional state is deteriorating, much like the quality of perishable items in a cold season.
That ain't love, no no no
Whatever is causing the singer pain or distress is not the same as real love, and cannot replace it.
That ain't love, no
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the idea that the artist knows the difference between true love and whatever they are currently facing.
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.