The band has released five studio albums: "Brave Worlds" (1987), "Submarine Bells" (1990), "Soft Bomb" (1992), "Sunburnt" (1996), "Silver Bullets" (2015) and "Snow Bound" (2018). The compilation "Kaleidoscope World" (1986) collects most of their single releases and EPs between 1980 and 1986.
The band is best known as apart of the Dunedin Sound style of indie pop music, which coalesced around the Auckland-based label Flying Nun Records. The band originally formed with the lineup of Martin Phillips (vocals, guitar), his sister Rachel Phillips (keyboards), Peter Gutteridge (guitar), Jane Dodd (bass) and Alan Haig (drums). By the time the band released their debut single "Rolling Moon" in 1982, the lineup had changed to Martin Phillips, Rachel Phillips, Terry Moore (bass), and Martyn Bull. The band disbanded when Bull died of leukemia in 1983.
After Martin Phillips reformed The Chills in 1984, the band never again had a constant lineup, with the only two members to last for more than two albums being bassist Justin Harwood and keyboardist Andrew Todd, who were both members of the group from 1986 to 1990. Terry Moore also rejoined the band sporadically between 1984 and 1992. The Chills disbanded in 1993, but reformed once more in 1995. Since then the band has sporadically toured and recorded.
I SOAR
The Chills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He doesnโฒt have a care
The southern wind is warm in his hair
Breathless at the sight
The mountains on his right are crimson
As the sunlight's fading
The cream of autumnโฒs violet skies
At dusk the land will quietly shed its disguise
As both moons rise
Feigning surprise at their meeting of eyes
He has to talk to someone
Has to talk to someone
He's choking with emotion but there's nothing to say
Thereโฒs nothing to say
Nothing to say
Below me on the land
The tide of silver sand
Stretches at the shade of my hand
An eyesore in the dust
The carcsses of rust
Are laughing at the careless parking
Eye to eye aglow with horizon
Time to fly away for a while
Chase my shadow over the valley below
I soar alone
Our crumbling homes are all overgrown
Theyโฒve gone
I saw them go
I watched them leave, my family have flown
I have to talk to someone
Describe it all the someone
Emotions are imploding but there's nothing to say
Thereโฒs nothing to say
They've all gone away
All gone away
Eye to eye aglow with horizon
Time to fly away for a while
Chase my shadow over the valley below
The lyrics to The Chills' song "I Soar" depict a person who is free-spirited and detached from the worries of the world. The singer is described as rising with the air, unaffected by any concerns. The warm southern wind embraces him as he takes in the breathtaking sight of the crimson mountains on his right. The setting sun casts a fading light over the landscape, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
As the lyrics continue, the focus shifts to the beauty of the surrounding environment. "Silver sisters" fill the horizon, referring to the stars that emerge as the sky darkens. The cream-colored skies of autumn are described, setting the stage for a quiet transformation that will take place as the land sheds its disguise at dusk. The meeting of the two moons is described as if they were surprised by each other's presence, adding a touch of mystique to the scene.
The singer's desire to communicate becomes apparent. He feels overwhelmed by emotion, but there is nothing specific to say. He yearns to talk to someone, to connect on a deeper level, but finds himself at a loss for words. This sentiment is further emphasized with the repetition of "there's nothing to say." The lyrics reveal a sense of isolation and a longing for companionship.
The second part of the song introduces a different perspective as the singer shifts from the first to the third person. The lyrics describe the singer looking down upon the land and seeing the tide of silver sand, symbolizing the passage of time. The decaying remnants, referred to as "carcsses of rust," are reminiscent of forgotten memories and abandoned dreams. The juxtaposition of beauty and decay highlights the transience of life.
The singer reveals that their family has left, their homes crumbling and overgrown. This sense of loss intensifies the singer's need to communicate, to describe their experiences to someone. The emotions are imploding within, but again, there is nothing to say. The feeling of isolation lingers, as the singer realizes that everyone has gone away.
Overall, "I Soar" captures a yearning for connection and a sense of detachment from the world. It paints a vivid picture of a person seeking solace in the beauty of nature but ultimately finding themselves alone and unable to fully express their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
He rises with the air
He elevates himself effortlessly, riding the currents of the atmosphere
He doesn't have a care
He is free from any worries or concerns
The southern wind is warm in his hair
The gentle breeze from the south caresses his hair, providing a comforting warmth
Breathless at the sight
Overwhelmed by the captivating view before him, leaving him speechless
The mountains on his right are crimson
The majestic mountains on his right display a vivid red hue
As the sunlight's fading
As the sun gradually sets, casting a dimmer light upon the surroundings
Silver sisters fill the horizon
The moon and stars emerge, adorning the sky with their shimmering presence
The cream of autumn's violet skies
The beauty of the autumn sky, with its soft violet tones, is unparalleled
At dusk the land will quietly shed its disguise
As evening approaches, the land will reveal its true nature, casting off any pretense
As both moons rise
With the appearance of two moons, a rare occurrence, the ambiance becomes more enchanting
Feigning surprise at their meeting of eyes
The moons appear as if they are pretending to be surprised when they come into each other's gaze
He has to talk to someone
He feels compelled to share his experiences and emotions with another person
Has to talk to someone
He absolutely needs to communicate and express himself
He's choking with emotion but there's nothing to say
Although overwhelmed with emotions, he finds that words are insufficient to convey his feelings
There's nothing to say
There are no adequate words or expressions to capture the depth of his emotions
Nothing to say
There are simply no words that can adequately convey his inner turmoil
Below me on the land
In the space beneath him, on the ground below
The tide of silver sand
The vast expanse of sand below him gleams with a silvery hue
Stretches at the shade of my hand
The land extends into the distance, under the shadow formed by his hand
An eyesore in the dust
Unpleasant and unsightly objects are scattered amidst the dusty landscape
The carcasses of rust
Decaying remnants, covered in rust, lie abandoned in the surroundings
Are laughing at the careless parking
These objects mock the haphazard and thoughtless way in which they were left behind
Eye to eye aglow with horizon
His gaze meets the horizon, with both his eyes and the horizon emanating a radiant glow
Time to fly away for a while
It is now the moment to take flight and temporarily escape his current situation
Chase my shadow over the valley below
He pursues his own shadow as it glides over the valley beneath him
I soar alone
He soars through the skies completely by himself, untethered and independent
Our crumbling homes are all overgrown
The houses we once called home have decayed and are now covered in lush vegetation
They've gone
They have vanished or departed
I saw them go
I watched as they left and disappeared from my sight
I watched them leave, my family have flown
Observing my loved ones depart, realizing that my family has left me behind
I have to talk to someone
I feel an overwhelming need to share my thoughts and experiences with another person
Describe it all to someone
I want to vividly portray and convey every detail to another person
Emotions are imploding but there's nothing to say
My emotions are intensifying internally, but I am unable to find the words to express them
They've all gone away
They have all departed or moved on
All gone away
Everyone has left or disappeared completely
Eye to eye aglow with horizon
Gazing directly at the horizon, his eyes emit a radiance that matches the glow of the horizon
Time to fly away for a while
Now is the opportune moment to take flight and escape from his current reality temporarily
Chase my shadow over the valley below
He pursues his own shadow as it moves across the valley located beneath him
Writer(s): Martin John James Phillipps
Contributed by Dylan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.