Lindsey Jordan released her self-recorded solo EP Sticki in 2015 and played several live shows with her new band as Snail Mail. She was joined by Ryan Vieira playing bass and Shawn Durham on the drums. After completing one short DIY tour in 2016, Jordan released the EP titled Habit on Sister Polygon Records, which gained traction after being featured on several major US music sites, and they signed with Ground Control Touring. Pitchfork added the EP's opening track "Thinning” to their Best New Track series.
Snail Mail, with bassist Alex Bass and drummer Ray Brown, toured North America extensively 2017 supporting Priests, Girlpool, Waxahatchee and Beach Fossils. Jordan signed with Matador Records in September 2017 and the group's debut full-length album Lush was released on June 8th, 2018. The Snail Mail band played their first headliner tour in the beginning of 2018.
In 2019, Habit was rereleased via Matador Records along with the song “The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl In The World”.
On November 5, 2021, Snail Mail released their second studio album, Valentine, via Matador Records. The album hit number 61 on US Billboard charts and number 35 on UK and Australian charts and it was nominated for two Libera awards in 2022.
On her 2018 debut album Lush, seventeen-year-old Lindsey Jordan sang “I’m in full control / I’m not lost / Even when it’s love / Even when it’s not”. Her natural ability to be many things at once resonated with a lot of people. The contradiction of confidence and vulnerability, power and delicacy, had the impact of a wrecking ball when put to tape. It was an impressive and unequivocal career-making moment for Jordan.
On Valentine, her sophomore album out November 5th on Matador, Lindsey solidifies and defines this trajectory in a blaze of glory. In 10 songs, written over 2019-2020 by Jordan alone, we are taken on an adrenalizing odyssey of genuine originality in an era in which “indie” music has been reduced to gentle, homogenous pop composed mostly by ghostwriters. Made with careful precision, Valentine shows an artist who has chosen to take her time. The reference points are broad and psychically stirring, while the lyrics build masterfully on the foundation set by Jordan’s first record to deliver a deeper understanding of heartbreak.
Current accompanying band
Alex Bass – bass
Ray Brown – drums
Benjamin Kaunitz - guitar, backing vocals
Madeline McCormack - guitar, keyboards
Past members
Ryan Vieira – bass
Shawn Durham – drums
Deep sea
Snail Mail Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got down, but you stayed alive
It's only you down there
You and the bends
Lose your mind
Lose track of breathing and time
It's only you down there
Sleep with the tides
We can be anyone
It took so long to know someone like you
And age in the dying sun
Wake only to bathe in greens and blues
Die, my love
Breathe in twos and fours
To know what's worth breathing for
Some days it's easier than falling asleep
We can be anyone
It took so long to know someone like you
And age in the dying sun
Wake only to bathe in vivid greens and blues
Ah, ah
In the song "Deep Sea" by Snail Mail, the lyrics are a metaphorical reflection on the feeling of being alone in a vast, dark, and eerie ocean. The singer describes the act of diving deep into the sea and losing oneself in the experience while still managing to survive, accompanied only by the dangerous "bends" that threaten to end their life. The lyrics convey a sense of isolation and solitude, with "only you down there" and the loss of track of "breathing and time". The phrase "Sleep with the tides" portrays a peaceful acceptance of the tumultuous and unpredictable nature of life, an idea that is reinforced throughout the song.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more romantic theme. The lyrics encourage the listener to take risks in life and that it is worth it to “die, my love” to know what's worth living for. The singer extols the virtues of being true to oneself and taking the path less followed. The second verse contrasts the first and presents the idea of finding someone special who can make the journey worth it. The verses describe a life full of color and beauty, like "bathing in greens and blues" giving thoroughness to the theme of hopeful, yet lonely romanticism presented in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep sea dive
Plunging into the deep sea
Got down, but you stayed alive
You went down but managed to stay alive
It's only you down there
You are the only one diving
You and the bends
You are suffering from decompression sickness
Lose your mind
You lose your sanity
Lose track of breathing and time
You forget to breathe and lose track of time
It's only you down there
You are alone
Sleep with the tides
You sleep with the rhythm of the ocean
We can be anyone
We can pretend to be someone else
It took so long to know someone like you
It took a lot of time to truly understand you
And age in the dying sun
Growing old under the scorching sun
Wake only to bathe in greens and blues
Waking up to the sight of green and blue hues
Die, my love
My love, let's die together
Breathe in twos and fours
Breathing twice or four times
To know what's worth breathing for
Finding out what is worth living for
Some days it's easier than falling asleep
Some days are easy, while some are hard to keep up with
Wake only to bathe in vivid greens and blues
Waking up to the sight of bright and clear green and blue hues
Ah, ah
Ah, ah
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Lindsey Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind