From Victoria, BC, Canada, but now calling Montreal their home, Caila Thompson-Hannant, Rory Seydel, Jon Crellin and Nathan Gage have shared stages with Frog Eyes, Silver Jews, The Thermals, Architecture in Helsinki, The Blow, Apples in Stereo, The National, Japanther and Yeasayer.
Wilderness
Shapes and Sizes Lyrics
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We come bearing gifts for you
We happen to like the city
We happen to like you too
Kisses are our friends my friend
And I know a lot about them
Kisses are our friends my friend
Susan, you can't be travel leader 'cause your personality's wrong
I tried, but I can't do it either so I'm stuck in the ranks below
Susan, you can't be travel leader 'cause your personality's wrong
I tried, but I can't do it either so I'm stuck in the ranks below
(Kisses are our friends my friend
And I know a lot about them
Kisses are our friends my friend
And I know a lot about them)
In "Wilderness," Shapes and Sizes convey the idea of being outsiders and the connection they feel to the city despite their unconventional upbringing. The opening lines of the song, “We come from the wilderness, we come bearing gifts for you,” create the image of the band members being from a remote or isolated place and bringing knowledge and insight to the city. They declare their appreciation for the urban lifestyle with the line “We happen to like the city, we happen to like you too.” It's like they're saying that the city, despite its fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle, has welcomed them with open arms, and they’ve fallen in love with city life as a result.
The song takes a personal turn with the second verse where the band members discuss their friend Susan, who can't be a travel leader because her personality is not suitable. It speaks of the innocence of youth in a sense of letting the members still need to learn and grow as a group, and Susan is not ready to lead. The chorus, “Kisses are our friends, my friend, and I know a lot about them” seems random at first, but it offers a connection to the earlier lines about bringing gifts to the city—the gifts could be seen as the love and affection they have for their surroundings, represented by the image of kisses.
Overall, the song "Wilderness" is about finding a place in the world and creating a sense of belonging, no matter where you come from. It speaks of how their unique origins from the wild only add to the richness and beauty of their identity, which they bring to the city as their offering.
Line by Line Meaning
We come from the wilderness
We were born in a wild and uncontrolled place.
We come bearing gifts for you
We arrived with presents to give to you.
We happen to like the city
We find the city appealing and enjoyable.
We happen to like you too
We also hold a favorable view of you.
Kisses are our friends my friend
We are very familiar with affectionate physical gestures.
And I know a lot about them
We have extensive knowledge of these acts.
Susan, you can't be travel leader 'cause your personality's wrong
Your character attributes are inappropriate for the position of being the leader of the trip, Susan.
I tried, but I can't do it either so I'm stuck in the ranks below
I attempted to take on the task, but I was unsuccessful, so I'm now in a lower position in the group's hierarchy.
(Kisses are our friends my friend
We are very familiar with affectionate physical gestures.
And I know a lot about them)
We have extensive knowledge of these acts.
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.