On July 16, 2013, 3 days after the band's first show, Smallpools released their eponymous debut EP. The record included Dreaming and 3 new songs, "Mason Jar", "Over & Over" and "No Story Time". Smallpools spent the summer supporting Australian indie popsters, San Cisco, on their first U.S. Headline tour. Later that year, Smallpools toured in support of Cincinnati, Ohio indie popsters and label mates Walk the Moon, and also in support of another Cincinnati indie pop group, twenty one pilots.
The group's debut album, Lovetap!, was released on March 20, 2015.
Killer Whales
Smallpools Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But could you let this go?
You keep your bones outstretched till the minute I turn around
How do I reach that soul?
You called to say
Can you live with my mistakes?
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
I am afraid I was made to be able to fall apart
And disconnect like so
I keep my chest locked tight till the minute you come around
How did you reach my soul?
I called to say
Can you live with my mistakes?
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
Save save save!
Alone in that motor suite tonight
I wonder who paints those faces on pesos
Intricate scenes beyond your mind
She was a concept
I was in love then
Alone in that motor suite tonight
I'm trying to paint your face in my brain so
I can get sleep and calm my mind
She was a concept
I was in love then
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
Save save save!
The lyrics to Smallpools's song "Killer Whales" seem to reference a tumultuous relationship where the singer and their partner both seem to have issues with vulnerability and trust. The first verse uses animal imagery to describe the partner as someone who can "play like [they're] willing to fall apart," but keeps their defenses up until the singer is no longer looking. They are wondering how to "reach that soul" and make a deeper connection. In the chorus, the partner is praised as "the one they spoke about," indicating that they are important and revered, but has been absent for a while, perhaps on a mission to save killer whales. The second verse then seems to describe the singer's own difficulty with vulnerability, comparing themselves to someone who can "fall apart and disconnect" easily until the partner comes around. They also call to ask if the partner can "live with [their] mistakes," implying that there is something specific that is causing tension in the relationship.
The outro of the song is a bit more cryptic, but seems to be exploring ideas of art and love. The singer is alone in a "motor suite" (which could refer to a boat or car) and is wondering about the people who paint on pesos. They describe the art as "intricate scenes beyond your mind" and seem to be pondering the idea of creating something meaningful through art. The final lines of the song ("She was a concept / I was in love then") could be interpreted in a few ways - perhaps the singer is reminiscing about a past love or just exploring the idea that love can sometimes be idealized and not quite live up to expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Submissive tone, you can play like you're willing to fall apart
The singer is speaking to someone who is pretending to be weak and helpless.
But could you let this go?
The singer is asking the other person if they can move past their issues and forgive.
You keep your bones outstretched till the minute I turn around
The other person is always ready to fight, even when the singer is not involved in the conflict.
How do I reach that soul?
The singer is struggling to understand the other person's emotions and thoughts.
You called to say
Can you live with my mistakes?
The other person is apologizing for their wrongdoings and asking if the singer can forgive them.
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
The other person was absent for a long time, and the singer wonders if they were doing something important or worthwhile during that time (such as saving endangered animals).
Save save save!
The singer is urging the other person to keep fighting for what they believe in.
I am afraid I was made to be able to fall apart
And disconnect like so
The singer is admitting that they have a tendency to isolate themselves and give up easily.
I keep my chest locked tight till the minute you come around
How did you reach my soul?
The other person has a positive influence on the singer and can help them open up emotionally.
Alone in that motor suite tonight
I wonder who paints those faces on pesos
Intricate scenes beyond your mind
She was a concept
I was in love then
The singer is thinking about the meaning behind the artwork on Mexican currency, and how he used to feel about a woman he was once in love with.
'Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I'd make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
The singer repeats this verse to emphasize his curiosity and skepticism about the other person's absence.
Save save save!
The singer repeats this refrain to encourage the other person to keep fighting.
Save save save!
The song ends with one final repetition of the refrain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL KAMERMAN, BEAU KUTHER, SEAN SCANLON, JOSEPH INTILE, BENJAMIN TIM BERGER, RYAN MCMAHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sfj_toph4586
Submissive tone, you can play like you're willing to fall apart
But could you let this go?
You keep your bones outstretched till the minute I turn around
How do I reach that soul?
You called to say
Can you live with my mistakes?
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
I am afraid I was made to be able to fall apart
And disconnect like so
I keep my chest locked tight till the minute you come around
How did you reach my soul?
I called to say
Can you live with my mistakes?
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
Save save save!
Alone in that motor suite tonight
I wonder who paints those faces on pesos
Intricate scenes beyond your mind
She was a concept
I was in love then
Alone in that motor suite tonight
I’m trying to paint your face in my brain so
I can get sleep and calm my mind
She was a concept
I was in love then
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
Were you saving all the killer whales?
‘Cause you are the one they spoke about
I never believed I’d make it out
You weren't around for quite a while
You were saving all the killer whales
Save save save!
Save save save!
@TheBaseballGuy9
This is one of those songs where if you listen to it once, you have to listen to it ten more times in a row. Unreal tune.
@whatthe999
Indeed
So catchy and upbeat
@chrisjamdan1
They're like a more fun and happy 1975. Smallpools is going places.
@kaylag6950
that's so accurate. I would've never looked at it that way. I love the 1975.
@WolfManDon93
Absolutely!
@zippyzooza
Definitely!
@jenniferkahulugan1943
But i like me some lonely and emo 1975 i love them just the way they are. i love both!
@amelialebaron2505
And a little less gruesome and dark! It's perfect
@mehya3266
In 2014/2015, I remember being obsessed with killer whales and just watching any video that even mentioned them. So I found this song by accident and I can easily say it is one of the best mistakes I've ever made ❤❤
@leonardojames5352
Smallpools deserve so much more attention, their music is so much better than the same old crap that radio stations play