The Black Lillies is an American band from Knoxville, TN, founded in early … Read Full Bio ↴The Black Lillies is an American band from Knoxville, TN, founded in early 2009 by Cruz Contreras (formerly of Robinella & the CC String Band). Their present lineup includes Contreras (lead vocals, guitar, keys, mandolin), Sam Quinn (formerly of The Everybodyfields) on bass, Bowman Townsend on percussion, and Dustin Schaefer on electric guitar and vocals.

Founded by multi instrumentalist and vocalist Cruz Contreras, co-founder of Robinella & the CC String Band, and singer-guitarist Leah Gardner (Maid Rite String Band), The Black Lillies have created their own unique brand of country, roots, rock and blues via Appalachia. The group, formed in early 2009, also includes bassist Taylor Coker (Robinella & the CCstringband), electric guitar and pedal steel whiz Tom Pryor (the everybodyfields, Sam Quinn and the Japan Ten), drummer Jamie Cook (the everybodyfields), and vocalist Trisha Gene Brady.

The Black Lillies released Whiskey Angel, their debut recording. The album was recorded live in Cruz’s living room by Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor, and features Billy Contreras on fiddle. The Black Lillies received critical acclaim for their performances at the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival and on the live radio broadcast of Tennessee Shines. The host of Tennessee Shines, legendary songwriter and musician Jim Lauderdale, called The Black Lillies “a true Americana supergroup.”

The Black Lillies have developed their own style of Americana music in true East Tennessee fashion.

The Fall
The Black Lillies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am not a rich man, have no fortune but bare
I was born in desert, my flower is so rare

I am not a rich girl, I have no diamonds to share
I was born on the ocean, a thousand stars I wear

I am not a sailor, I am no captain at sea
I was born in the desert, my captain I'll not be

My captain I'll not be

I was born on the water, father sent me ocean wide
Burden, my mother, sail along with the tide
Sail with the tide

I am but a dreamer, I've seen you in between
Shadows and the sunshine, falling down on me
Falling down on me

Would you be my lover? Forgave you all my hand
Flowers from the desert, girl from the ocean sand
From the ocean sand

And I'll love you in the springtime
I'll love you through the fall
Hold your hand in the cold and rain
The first snowflakes fall
The snowflakes fall

I am but a dreamer, I've seen you in between

The shadows and sunshine, falling down on me
Falling down on me.

Overall Meaning

The Black Lillies's song "The Fall" seems to be about two unlikely lovers who were born in different places but are drawn to each other nonetheless. The first two stanzas introduce the characters - a man who was born in the desert and a woman who was born on the ocean. Although they are not rich and have no diamonds to share, they both possess something rare - the man has a flower, and the woman has a thousand stars. The repetition of "my captain I'll not be" emphasizes their individuality and the fact that they are not meant to conform to a certain stereotype or role.

The next stanza describes the woman's journey, as she was born on the water and her father sent her ocean wide. Her mother, Burden, sails along with the tide, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the way she navigates through life. The fourth stanza returns to the man, who describes himself as a dreamer who has seen the woman in between shadows and sunshine, falling down on him. The line "forgave you all my hand" is slightly ambiguous but could mean that he is willing to let go of any past mistakes or hurts and start fresh with her.

The final stanza solidifies their love, as the man declares that he will love her through all the seasons - springtime, fall, and even the cold and rain. The repetition of "falling down on me" throughout the song creates a sense of vulnerability and surrender, as if both characters are willing to let their guard down and be affected by each other. Overall, "The Fall" is a wistful and romantic song that celebrates the beauty of two people coming together despite their differences.

Line by Line Meaning

I am not a rich man, have no fortune but bare
I am not wealthy, I have nothing but my bare necessities.

I was born in desert, my flower is so rare
I come from the desert, where it's difficult for anything to survive. But I'm like a rare flower, I'm special and unique.

I am not a rich girl, I have no diamonds to share
I am not a wealthy woman, I have nothing extravagant to offer.

I was born on the ocean, a thousand stars I wear
I come from the ocean, and I'm adorned by the beauty and vastness of the stars above.

I am not a sailor, I am no captain at sea
I may come from the ocean, but I am not a sailor nor someone in power on the high seas.

I was born in the desert, my captain I'll not be
I may have been born in the desert, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to choose and decide for myself.

I was born on the water, father sent me ocean wide
My father sent me out to navigate the ocean, and that became my birthplace.

Burden, my mother, sail along with the tide
My mother tagged along with me, even though the journey may have been difficult and unpredictable like the ebb and flow of the tide.

I am but a dreamer, I've seen you in between
I may just be an idealist, but I envision being with someone who I've seen in my mind's eye, caught between the light and shadow of life.

Shadows and the sunshine, falling down on me
I've seen my potential loved one under different conditions, good and bad times.

Would you be my lover? Forgave you all my hand
I'm asking if you could be my partner, I'm already forgiving and giving myself to you entirely.

Flowers from the desert, girl from the ocean sand
I may have come from the desert, but I can offer a rare and delicate flower; You may be from the ocean, but you're like a girl who's been shaped by the seaside.

And I'll love you in the springtime
I'll love you during the time of renewal and rebirth, when everything's fresh and new.

I'll love you through the fall
I'll love you even during the times of decay and falling leaves.

Hold your hand in the cold and rain
I'll be there for you even in the harshest conditions, like when it's cold and rainy.

The first snowflakes fall
Even during the beginning of a difficult period, when things start to fall apart.

I am but a dreamer, I've seen you in between
I may just be an idealist, but I envision being with someone who I've seen in my mind's eye, caught between the light and shadow of life.

The shadows and sunshine, falling down on me
I've seen my potential loved one under different conditions, good and bad times.

Falling down on me.
These conditions, and my vision of love, are all affecting and influencing me in ways I can't ignore.

Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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