Goodness Gracious is a self-produced affair, written, recorded and mixed by Sowersby in his home studio before being mastered by John Lee (Laura Jean, Lost Animal, Totally Mild) at Phaedra Studios. Sonically, Goodness Gracious trades in Wonderer’s experimental headphone psychedelia for something at once more intimate and expansive, full to the brim with chiming guitars, glittering loops and warped, cinematic strings.
Sowersby says of Goodness Gracious: “I began working on this album in an exploratory way, recording for recording’s sake until an album began to naturally take form. Along the way I found some sounds that it feels like I’ve been hearing in my head for years. The result is 11 songs that document a period of change, about what we look to for guidance, comfort and stability in uncertain times”
Whistle While You Wait
Sunbeam Sound Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swimming on the edge on the burning love affair
Looking to the depths of an orphaned heart
Whistle while you wait
You'll find another way
This could be the end of the [?]
Counting to the days [?] feel the same
Standing on the edge of a long time play-by-play
The lyrics of Sunbeam Sound Machine's Whistle While You Wait are evocative and full of emotion. The singer seems to be recounting a relationship that is on the brink of destruction. He describes himself as "swimming on the edge on the burning love affair"and looking into "the depths of an orphaned heart." This suggests that he is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the relationship has failed.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant. He tells himself to "whistle while you wait," suggesting that he needs to find some inner strength and resilience in order to move on from the failed relationship. He also sings "you'll find another way/ This could be the end of the [?]." This last line is particularly interesting, as it hints that the singer is unsure if there is any hope for the relationship or if it is truly over.
The verses of the song are equally emotive, and the singer references the idea of counting down the days until he can feel differently: "Counting to the days [?] feel the same." This again suggests that he is in a state of limbo, waiting for something to change.
Overall, the lyrics of Whistle While You Wait are incredibly powerful and moving. They touch on themes of heartbreak, resilience and the struggle to move on from a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Swimming on the edge on the burning love affair
Being in a dangerous situation where love is intense and unpredictable
Looking to the depths of an orphaned heart
Searching for love and meaning in a world where one feels alone and vulnerable
Whistle while you wait
To make the best of a bad situation while waiting for something good to happen
You'll find another way
There are always alternatives and solutions to problems
This could be the end of the [?]
Uncertain about what the future holds, but potentially facing the end of a difficult situation
Standing on the edge of a burning love affair
Being on the brink of a passionate and emotionally intense relationship
Counting to the days [?] feel the same
Waiting for something to happen that will bring back the excitement and passion that was once felt
Standing on the edge of a long time play-by-play
Being in a relationship that has become routine and predictable, lacking the spark and spontaneity of the early days
Contributed by Josiah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.