After two albums for Tooth and Nail where the band explored more anthemic avenues, the quintet found itself re-examining its hard rock and metal roots on its third record for the label. The resulting album is an 11-song sonic attack that knows when to slow down the pace and when to pounce back like a slap to the face. "We didn't intentionally go for a heavier sound," guitarist Jef Cunnigham said. "We just wrote what came to mind and I think it turned into some of our best material."
Late last year the band's hectic touring schedule slowed enough for them to start working on the record, though they had a few geographical obstacles to overcome before starting. With members spread across four states, each created a secret Myspace for a non-existent band where they would post song ideas for the others to listen to.
Singer Matt Baird would download these parts to his iPod, where he began to craft the lyrics for the record. His finished work centers on topics like redemption and restoration, and reaches its pinnacle on the album's tenth track, "When Hope is All You Have," which began as a phrase he used during his father's funeral just before recording began.
"There are songs about healing and hope and about moving on after we've made mistakes," Baird said. "I felt some pressure in writing, hoping my parts would turn out as good as the music. But I think it all came out better than I could've imagined." After their internet-aided pre-production, the band decided to set up shop in a one-room cabin in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee for over a month to mold those song ideas into the core of the album. After three weeks of work, Baird joined the band for the final two weeks to add his lyrics to the fray.
With songs in hand the band then headed to Lakeside Studios in Knoxville for a month-long session with producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Disciple), who also produced 2005's "Last Chance to Breathe," a record that helped the band expand its fanbase as it ventured into poppier leanings.
"I'm blown away by the finished record," Cunnigham said. "We wrote these songs to please ourselves, to write songs that we wanted to play live and we ended up with a few that were heavier and harder than anything on the last two records." Wyrick and the band have created a sound less reliant on overdubs and layering and more focused on bringing the band's live show to mind with a more sparse sound that still rocks as hard as ever. Maybe more so. "We wanted to experiment with heavier songs and think further ahead in the lifespan of the band," Baird said. "And with these heavier songs it really feels like a step toward the future and a reflection of the past."
Wind In My Sails
Spoken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Snow covered highway makes it so hard to see the road I'm driving
Sometimes it seems impossible to focus on anything other than you
Right now the world seems so silent because I'd rather think of you
You make me feel like I can do anything, everything
You are the wind in my sail, baby
You're everything I need, you're my love and understanding
6 AM 1.35; the sun rising from the horizon
Oh all of this that I wanted, to watch the snow fall down with you
The road is silent, now I'm headed home to you
You are the wind in my sail, baby
You're everything I need, you're my love and understanding
You are the wind in my sail, baby, you know you are
You're everything I need, you're my love and understanding
You make me feel like I can do anything
You make me feel like I can do anything, my love
Make me feel
like I can do anything
The lyrics of "Wind In My Sails" by Spoken describe a winter drive home while thinking about what seems to be the person he loves. The first snow of the season is falling on a Wednesday afternoon causing the highway to become blanketed by snow, making it hard to drive as he contemplates his thoughts. Despite the external distractions, he can't stop thinking about his loved one, who seems to provide him with the inspiration to do anything and everything. The world seems silent as he would rather think of this person, who is the wind in his sails, giving him the motivation and momentum to achieve his goals.
Despite the snow all around him, the world seems peaceful and still. It's an early morning drive and the sunrise is a spectacular sight. The colors of the sky take on a new life as the sun rises, and there is no sound except for his thoughts. He remembers the feeling of wanting to watch the snow fall with his loved one, and now he is headed home to her. This person is everything he needs as they provide him with love and understanding, and they are the wind in his sails, guiding and motivating him towards his goals.
Line by Line Meaning
The first snow of the season came on a Wednesday afternoon
It's the first snowfall of the season that occurred in the afternoon of a Wednesday.
Snow covered highway makes it so hard to see the road I'm driving
The snow-covered highway is making it difficult to see the road that I'm travelling on.
Sometimes it seems impossible to focus on anything other than you
At times, it appears to be impossible to concentrate on anything other than you.
Right now the world seems so silent because I'd rather think of you
At the moment, the world seems quiet because I prefer thinking about you.
You make me feel like I can do anything, everything
You give me a sense of confidence that I can achieve and handle anything that comes my way.
You are the wind in my sail, baby
You are the driving force behind my motivation and success, my love.
You're everything I need, you're my love and understanding
You are all that I require, my source of love and comprehension.
6 AM 1.35; the sun rising from the horizon
It is 1:35 in the morning and the sun is beginning to rise from the horizon.
Colors shoot across the sky, the road is silent
The sky is being painted with various colors as the sun rises, and the road is quiet.
Oh all of this that I wanted, to watch the snow fall down with you
All I ever wanted was to share the experience of snowfall with you.
The road is silent, now I'm headed home to you
The journey is quiet, and presently, I'm en route to you.
You make me feel like I can do anything, my love
My love, you instill in me a sense of capability in anything that I pursue.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruce M. Axtens
I35. The highway.