Sleepy Sun's miles, months, and days in the van are a tangible presence in Spine Hits, an LP of whimsy, restlessness, and urgency that leaps nimbly from landscape to landscape with ease, irreverence, and a catch-em-before-they-ain't changeling nature. For the most part, the sprawling Zeppelin-esque epics that defined much of Embrace and Fever have been traded in for a potent pop-compact framework. But never at the expense of the dodging, juking, and downshifting instincts that set their older long form pieces apart from a thousand other psychedelic drone warriors.
Recorded under the big skies of the California high desert with Queens of Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal alumnus Dave Catching, the jams on Spine Hits are alternatingly precision whittled and moodily muscular. Matt Holliman and Evan Reiss' guitars adroitly move from steamroller heavy to beachside airy and bouncing to interstellar- tinkering with texture and dynamics like never before. Vocalist Bret Constantino sings with a road-toughened, husky soul yowl and hush that occasionally betrays a society-weary frustration but more often hints at a way out. The rhythm section of drummer Brian Tice and Jack Allen is a super-cohesive, tricky, and tough-as-hell unit that keeps the Sleepy train on track as it teeters, creeps and runs wild across the land.
To any seasoned Sleepy Sun listener the new destinations will be surprises and revelations. "V.O.G." hints at a backstage conspiracy hatched on the Arctic Monkeys tour- buoyant and tight as a wire. "Boat Trip" moseys with a Lou Reed offhandedness- a postcard from Brian Wilson's forgotten vacation with the Velvets. "Still Breathing" is an elegiac nod to the band's early alignment with the Verve's dreamworlds.
For Sleepy spotters that came to love the band in its most massively rocking incarnations, there are the slow burns- "Stivey Pond" a sinister, stalking, and tender lurching beast bearing down on the subject of its obsession. And "Lioness (Requiem)" - a drifting, drowsy, late night lost in contemplation, dawn nowhere in sight.
Spine Hits isn't a portrait of a band in a moment. It's a box of snapshots spilled on the floor and blowing in the wind...left behind by a band that can't stop moving, but remembers what they left behind in a thousand colors.
Sandstorm Woman
Sleepy Sun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All for me
Let’s find a place to live in
Start again
On a train of your love
Winding down
Be my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
It’s you who dies
Give prayer and forgiveness
To all who shares
On a whim let us lay down
In the sun
Bye my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
Brace your love
Fortify your soul
The lyrics to Sleepy Sun's song "Sandstorm Woman" can be interpreted as a call to escape from the stress and struggles of everyday life and find solace in love and nature. The lines "Take time off your shoulders, all for me" suggest a desire for the singer's partner to prioritize their own well-being and take time away from the pressures of daily living. The line "Let’s find a place to live in, start again" further emphasizes this desire for a fresh start and a new beginning.
The image of a train of love winding down is a powerful symbol of the journey that the singer and their partner are on. Instead of a hectic and stressful pace, they are taking their time and enjoying the ride. The singer asks their partner to be their "sandstorm woman", someone who can ride the wind and navigate the challenges of life with strength and resilience.
The lines "Take time away from living, it’s you who dies" suggest that the singer believes it is important to take breaks and prioritize self-care, as this is essential to truly living. The idea of giving prayer and forgiveness to all who share reminds us to treat others with kindness and compassion, even when we may be struggling ourselves. The song ends with the request to "brace your love, fortify your soul", emphasizing the importance of love and inner strength in navigating life's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Take time off your shoulders
Relax and let go of your responsibilities
All for me
Focus on our relationship and happiness
Let’s find a place to live in
Start fresh and build a life together
Start again
Leave the past behind and start anew
On a train of your love
Let your love guide us forward
Winding down
Relax and enjoy the journey
Be my sandstorm woman
Be my strong and adventurous partner
Ride the wind
Embrace the uncertainty and adventure in life
Take time away from living
Take a break from the daily grind
It’s you who dies
Life is short and precious, make the most of it
Give prayer and forgiveness
Show compassion and understanding to others
To all who shares
To everyone who crosses our path
On a whim let us lay down
Let’s be spontaneous and enjoy the moment
In the sun
Under the warmth and light of the sun
Bye my sandstorm woman
Goodbye, my strong and adventurous partner
Brace your love
Hold onto our love and cherish it
Fortify your soul
Strengthen your spirit and inner self
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
moxa
Take time off your shoulders
All for me
Let's find a place to live in
Start again
On a train of your love
Winding down
Be my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
Take time away from living
It's you who dies
Give prayer and forgiveness
To all who shares
On a whim let us lay down
In the sun
Bye my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
Brace your love
Fortify your soul
moxa
Take time off your shoulders
All for me
Let's find a place to live in
Start again
On a train of your love
Winding down
Be my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
Take time away from living
It's you who dies
Give prayer and forgiveness
To all who shares
On a whim let us lay down
In the sun
Bye my sandstorm woman
Ride the wind
Brace your love
Fortify your soul
Desmond Wolf
This entire album Fever should be banned from the human ears for being so freakin good by far the best and most underrated album of 2010 entirely!
Karla Botta
Me encanta encontrar joyas como esta en YouTube. Saludos desde Argentina :)
junglewizz
Doesn't get any better than this nowadays. Guys, PLEASE don't EVER become famous and spoil this raw beauty ...
Leonardo Silva de Paula
Que Somzeira !
Charlotte Richards
Such a beautiful song, really powerful the way it transports me to such a fun time in my life, love it
Tudor
This song is an entire journey where the destination is not the peak, but the actual journey itself
Snobby Proletarian
When I listen to this song,what comes to mind are the sensual undertones of Led Zeppelin churned in the ephemeral sounds of Pink Floyd.
Dave Elm
Timeless music,great driving sounds..must be played at full volume!!
Dejan Markovic
I don't remember a single tone from this song, but I know it was an awesome journey....