Crafted from a shared interest of the odd folk nature of Britain and the re… Read Full Bio ↴Crafted from a shared interest of the odd folk nature of Britain and the resultant dark strangeness, Throwing Snow and Augustus Ghost pool their individual inspirations, ideas and styles as Snow Ghosts.

Throwing Snow, aka Ross Tones, first started working with Augustus Ghost, aka Hannah Cartwright, after she first arrived in England in 2008. Hannah comes from a songwriting background, having previously collaborated with Phaeleh as well as singing in the band Masakichi, while Ross possesses more electronic influences - his work as Throwing Snow has gained plaudits from all sides, manifested most recently through invitations to support Bonobo on his forthcoming tour, as well as Thom Yorke’s Atoms for Peace project. Together, the pair shared a mutual influence of the shadowy elements of folk and metal, and it is through these reference points that Snow Ghosts took shape.

They first found an outlet for their music through Black Acre Records in 2011 on the "Lost at Sea EP", and the pair have spent the subsequent two years compiling their debut album through short bursts of writing. Summer 2013 sees the release of the album "A Small Murmuration" on Houndstooth.

Vetiver
Snow Ghosts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I build myself a small cocoon
To stop my heart from craving you
Of sandalwood and vetivert
Of silkworm spit and mother's hair
The inside made of rosemary
The kind that won't bend easily
Or break beneath his bane of trust
Or turn that awful shade of rust

These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed

I cut my teeth when I broke out
Spread my wings to flee the doubt
The dust lay silent in the air
But I have all my back to bare

These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed
These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed

I build myself, I build myself
I build myself, I build myself
I build myself, I build myself
I build myself, I build myself

I build myself, I build myself
I build myself

Overall Meaning

The opening verses of Snow Ghosts' song "Vetiver" express the overwhelming pain of a heartbroken lover who resolves to protect herself from the agony of her unrequited love. She creates a "small cocoon" out of vetivert and sandalwood, building a barrier between her and her unattainable love that can prevent her fragile heart from "craving" for her beloved. The cocoon is made up of rosemary, a hardy plant that signifies resilience and strength in the face of adversity. By choosing this herb, the singer is expressing her determination to weather the emotional turmoil and not let the pain change her. She wants to maintain this courage and fortitude, resisting the urge to give in to heartbreak.

Furthermore, the lyrics show the distance and detachment the singer feels towards her lover, a result of the hurt and rejection she has experienced. This disconnection is expressed in the lines, "These days, when you wear my skin, I feel somehow overdressed." The singer feels like a stranger in her own skin, and the presence of her lover feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. She associates herself with an insect that has just broken free from its cocoon, shedding its past self and emerging as a changed creature, with the determination to escape the negativity and doubts that bound her.

Line by Line Meaning

I build myself a small cocoon
I create a space for myself to escape from longing for you

To stop my heart from craving you
To prevent myself from yearning for you deeply

Of sandalwood and vetivert
Using fragrances of sandalwood and vetivert

Of silkworm spit and mother's hair
Incorporating silkworm spit and some of my mother's hair

The inside made of rosemary
Inside my cocoon, I use rosemary that won't easily bend or break

The kind that won't bend easily
The rosemary won't give way easily

Or break beneath his bane of trust
It won't be torn up by any lack of trust

Or turn that awful shade of rust
Or change to an unpleasant rusty color

These days, when you wear my skin
Nowadays, when you embody me

I feel somehow overdressed
It seems like I'm wearing too much

I cut my teeth when I broke out
I grow up and become strong when I escaped

Spread my wings to flee the doubt
Taking flight to escape all doubts

The dust lay silent in the air
There was peace in the atmosphere

But I have all my back to bare
But I carry all my burdens on my shoulders

I build myself, I build myself
I focus on building myself up

I build myself, I build myself
I keep building and rebuilding myself

I build myself, I build myself
I am constantly improving myself

I build myself, I build myself
I am always developing myself

I build myself, I build myself
I am continually constructing myself

I build myself
I am my own foundation

Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@augustusghost

7y↑15

Vetiver

I built myself a small cocoon
To stop my heart from craving you
Of sandalwood and vetiver
Of silkworm spit and mother’s hair
The inside made of rosemary
The kind that won’t bend easily
Or break beneath this bane of trust
Or turn that awful shade of rust

These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed

I cut my teeth when I broke out
And spread my wings to flee the doubt
The dust lay stagnant in the air
But I have all my back to bare

These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed
These days, when you wear my skin
I feel somehow overdressed

I built myself….