Crest
The Antlers - Lyrics

The lyrics to The Antlers’ Crest seem to carry a somber and melancholic tone. The first two lines, "Bathe in the dark for me, wait 'til you hear my feet," set the mood for a dark and haunting experience that is about to unfold. It appears that the singer of the song is inviting someone to join him in a mystical, almost mystical experience. When he says "wait 'til you hear my feet," it implies that his footsteps will be audible and will create a rhythmic pattern; it is as though he’s trying to evoke a sense of a journey to another place or something introspective.

The next two lines in the song, "Through and through, they want to walk all over you, gone where they can't follow," suggest that the singer has endured a lot of hardships and is trying to help the listener follow the same path to redemption. The phrase "they want to walk all over you" can be interpreted in many ways, but it may be implying that society or other people may want to take advantage of them. At the same time, the line "gone where they can't follow" may suggest that he took matters into his own hands and went on a journey of self-discovery.

The chorus in Crest implies a journey between the singer and the listener, "Put on your bag, take me, closer to trawl, but much, much further." The line "Put on your bag" could mean that they’re about to embark on a journey together. "Take me, closer to trawl, but much, much further" insinuates that this journey will be difficult and require perseverance, while the lyrics "I'm the ocean under you" portray an even deeper level of challenge; the ocean can be calm and soothing, but it can also be dangerous and overwhelming, which may be linked to the experiences they’re about to face.