Orange has been recording and performing since his teen years within the Phil Elverum, Kyle Field, Calvin Johnson social circle. His debut, "We Could Be Each Other's Evidence" on Vit! Vit! Records, was released in 2002 when he was 16. His earlier recordings were experimental folk music in which he often accompanying himself on guitar. At this time, he was self-recording his albums using analog equipment. While Thanksgiving is essentially a solo act, Orange often collaborates with other musicians in his recordings and performances.
Orange co-founded Marriage Records, which presses albums and prints books by Thanksgiving, YACHT, Lucky Dragons, White Rainbow, Watery Graves, Privacy, Adrian Orange, A John Henry Memorial, and other Portland artists.
During 2006-07, he recorded as Adrian Orange & Her Band and, in 2007, as AOK.
Don't be Afraid
Thanksgiving Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll (eat) you and sing uselessly
Save me from my useless (stutter)
I'll say what I really am
You say if it's worth a damn
If I can make songs of your bones
You can call my whole world home
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
You hold right and I'll hold wrong
You hold night and I'll hold dawn
We will walk with balance (on)
Riches of the mountain's ghost
And if there is an avalanche
It will be our autumn dance
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
I will leave no work undone
Neither will you or your son
I will sing and play with you
Like the little children do
You don't need to buy anything
You don't need to do nothing
You can steal from the theives
Like a mother rest with me
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
You whose hearts are like the moon
Everything is good for you
The whole world is good enough
Your life will be long enough
And if you come into bad luck
Just try and give everything up
And if you hurt and feel bad
Just start kneeling down
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
You can steal my heart from me
Or you can set your own one free
I think that it's the same thing
And if we die you can blame me
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't
I beg you not to worry
See how all the flowers are lovely
I will jump into the waterfall
Like they do in the movies now
The lyrics to Thanksgiving's song "Don't Be Afraid" convey a message of hope and reassurance. The song acknowledges the challenges that life presents and invites the listener to face them without fear. The opening lines, "I'll (eat) you and sing uselessly, Save me from my useless (stutter)," suggest that the singer is feeling vulnerable and in need of support. The next line, "I'll say what I really am, You say if it's worth a damn," indicates a desire to be honest and authentic in relationships. The singer is willing to be vulnerable and hopes to find acceptance from the listener.
The lines, "If I can make songs of your bones, You can call my whole world home," suggest a deep level of intimacy and interconnectedness between the singer and the listener. The singer is willing to create art out of the listener's essence, and in exchange, the listener can be at home in the singer's world. The repeated refrain, "Don't be afraid," underscores the theme of the song and is a reminder to the listener to face life's challenges with courage.
The second verse continues the theme of balance and interconnectedness. The lines, "You hold right and I'll hold wrong, You hold night and I'll hold dawn," suggest that the singer and listener complement each other, and their strengths and weaknesses balance each other out. The image of walking with balance on the riches of the mountain's ghost evokes a sense of harmony and peace.
The lines, "And if there is an avalanche, It will be our autumn dance," suggest that even in the face of disaster or hardship, the singer and listener will dance together with grace and resilience. The rest of the song continues to reinforce the theme of interconnectedness, intimacy, and courage in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll (eat) you and sing uselessly
I will enjoy life to the fullest and make music just for the sake of making it
Save me from my useless (stutter)
Help me overcome my shortcomings and limitations
I'll say what I really am
I will be honest about who I truly am
You say if it's worth a damn
You can judge whether what I say or do is important or meaningful
If I can make songs of your bones
If I can create something beautiful and meaningful out of anything, even the mundane or grim
You can call my whole world home
You can be part of my world and share in my joys and sorrows
Don't be afraid
Trust me and don't be hesitant about embracing life
You hold right and I'll hold wrong
We can complement each other and find balance despite our differences
You hold night and I'll hold dawn
We can share the light and the darkness, the beginning and the end
We will walk with balance (on)
We will stay steady and not lose our footing, no matter what happens
Riches of the mountain's ghost
The treasures that linger in the past and in nature, waiting to be discovered and cherished
And if there is an avalanche
And if we face an overwhelming challenge or disaster
It will be our autumn dance
We will face it with grace and beauty, like the falling leaves of autumn
I will leave no work undone
I will be diligent and responsible, and try to accomplish everything I set out to do
Neither will you or your son
You and your family will also be dependable and reliable
I will sing and play with you
We will share our creativity and make beautiful music together
Like the little children do
With innocence, spontaneity, and joy, without any pretension or inhibition
You don't need to buy anything
You don't need material possessions to enjoy life or make someone happy
You don't need to do nothing
You don't need to force anything or strive too hard for anything, just let things flow naturally
You can steal from the theives
You can reclaim what is rightfully yours and not let anyone oppress or exploit you
Like a mother rest with me
Like a nurturing and comforting presence, I will be with you in times of rest and distress
You whose hearts are like the moon
You who are compassionate, radiant, and always changing
Everything is good for you
You can find beauty and goodness in everything, even the seemingly bad or ugly
The whole world is good enough
The world is full of wonders and possibilities, and you can appreciate and enjoy them to the fullest
Your life will be long enough
You don't need to worry about not having enough time to explore and make the most of life
And if you come into bad luck
And if you encounter unfortunate events or circumstances
Just try and give everything up
Just let go of attachment and expectations, and be content with what you have and who you are
And if you hurt and feel bad
And if you experience pain and sadness
Just start kneeling down
Just surrender and pray for guidance and comfort
You can steal my heart from me
You can win my love and affection, or you can inspire me to give it without expecting anything in return
Or you can set your own one free
Or you can pursue your own passion and fulfill your own dreams, without being held back by anyone or anything
I think that it's the same thing
I believe that giving and receiving love are equally valuable and mutually beneficial
And if we die you can blame me
And if we eventually part ways or face our mortality, you can hold me accountable for anything I did wrong or failed to do right
I beg you not to worry
I implore you not to be anxious or pessimistic, but to trust in yourself and in life
See how all the flowers are lovely
Observe how nature expresses beauty and grace in every detail and season
I will jump into the waterfall
I will take risks, embrace challenges, and fully immerse myself in life, like a character in a movie
Like they do in the movies now
Like they do in the contemporary culture that glorifies adventure, romance, and spectacle
Contributed by Joshua P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.