Orginally consisting of the duo DeLange and Waylon (who had known each other prior to performing together), they first performed in 2013 for a concert in Enschede. Subsequently, Waylon left the group in June 2014 and was replaced by American country singer Jake Etheridge.
Their song Calm After the Storm reached second place in the final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest (giving The Netherlands their best result since 1975) and was a hit throughout Europe. Released as their first single in March 2014, the song won two Marcel Bezençon Awards. The band's first (eponymous) album, which features Calm After the Storm, was released in May 2014.
When Love Was King
The Common Linnets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We could wash our hands of most anything
I inherited my fathers sin
I was born and raised in the midst of it
Before a preacher spoke those words in vain
And holy men would bow their head
For I was a I am
The older son of Abraham
The day I drowned in fire and storm
I found out, what I'd always known
I still remember, I still see
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
When pain didn't rain and love was king
My daddy was a gambler, drinking man
Showed his love with the back of his hand
Never saw him smile, not a flicker of graze
I think he buried him with momma in a Tennesse clay
The day I drowned in fire and storm
I found out, what I'd always known
And I still remember, I still see
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
When pain didn't reign and love was king
The day I drowned in fire and storm
I found out, what I'd always known
And I still remember, I still see
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
When pain didn't reign and love was king
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
Back when pain didn't reign and love was king
The Common Linnets' "When Love Was King" is a poignant song about the difficulties of life and how love can make things easier. The song begins with the singer lamenting the state of the world today, where there is so much pain and suffering. They reflect on a time when things were different, when love was king, and people could wash their hands of most anything.
The lyrics then take a personal turn as the singer reflects on their own life. They inherited their father's sin, born and raised in the midst of it. Though they were a "I am" and the older son of Abraham, they still feel weighed down by their past. This pain only compounded when they lost both of their parents. Their father was a gambler and drinking man who showed his love with the back of his hand. They never saw him smile, not a flicker of grace. They believe he buried their mother in Tennessee clay.
The chorus repeats the idea that the day they drowned in fire and storm was when they found out what they had always known. They still remember and still see a heart that trusts and avoids that sadness. The song ends on the same bittersweet note, with the singer longing for a time when pain didn't reign and love was king. "When Love Was King" is a beautifully melancholic song that captures a sense of loss and regret, but also a glimmer of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
When pain didn't reign and love was king
Back when sadness didn't rule and love was everything in life
We could wash our hands of most anything
We could forget about most things and move on without a burden
I inherited my father's sin
I took on my father's mistakes and flaws as my own
I was born and raised in the midst of it
I was brought up in the middle of all the troubles and hardships
Before a preacher spoke those words in vain
Before a religious leader said empty words without true meaning
And holy men would bow their head
And religious men would show respect and humility
For I was a I am
For I was who I was, without pretense or disguise
The older son of Abraham
The first-born child of a respected and important figure
The day I drowned in fire and storm
The day I was overwhelmed with intense emotion, heartbreak, and turmoil
I found out, what I'd always known
I finally discovered the truth I had always known deep inside
I still remember, I still see
I can still recall and visualize the memories and emotions from that time
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
A heart that believes in the good of others and avoids feelings of despair and hopelessness
My daddy was a gambler, drinking man
My father was a gambler and alcoholic
Showed his love with the back of his hand
He expressed his affection through physical violence
Never saw him smile, not a flicker of graze
I never once witnessed him show genuine happiness or joy
I think he buried him with momma in a Tennesse clay
I believe he died and was buried alongside my mother in Tennessee
A heart that trusts and avoids that sadness
A heart that believes in the good of others and avoids feelings of despair and hopelessness
Back when pain didn't reign and love was king
In the past when sadness didn't rule and love was the most important thing
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.