The timeless sound of the aptly named "The Deep Dark Woods" belongs to the depressing winters of the north. Pulsing with human warmth, these original songs echo through the lonesome night. Ryan Boldt's plainspoken lyrics offer a strong but gentle tone which understates poetry, oftentimes as startling as hot blood in fresh snow. Despite the dark themes, the heaviness never overwhelms the music's playfulness. An utterly fun rhythm section, brilliant guitar work, and eerily rich harmonies drive the songs. One could easily be forgiven for mistaking their songs as treasures of decades past, as The Deep Dark Woods approach their instruments with studied respect for the honoured traditions of the shadowy side of roots music.
The Deep Dark Woods' 2009 release "Winter Hours" is a collection of their best recordings yet. Working with Juno award winning producer/musician Steve Dawson at "The Factory" in Vancouver, they managed to truly bring out an energy that the new songs deserved, recording the album live off the floor. What was created was an album full of raw emotion, sadness, beautiful vocals and harmonies, new sounds, and well thought-out arrangements."Winter Hours" represents the ever changing sound of the band, and a step forward from their 2007 Black Hen release "Hang Me, oh Hang Me" (WCMA Nominated). "Winter Hours" recently won Best Roots Group at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards, and Ensemble of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Farewell
The Deep Dark Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said I'm leaving town and I hope to begin
Something up north where the wind blows cold
I'll be up there until I grow old.
All he had to his name was a suit case in hand
Five whole dollars and no place to land
Two shells in his rifle and a knife in his sack
Her name was Virginia, she came from the west
She took a train up from Baker to start something fresh
North Colorado she thought was the best
South California never stood the test.
They went for a stroll down Muddy Creek
Virginia sat down before she did speak
She said I can't go on with you no more
You have become such a bore.
He plunged a knife in her stomach and grabbed her feet
And threw her into the waters so deep
Now he's sitting in a cell and he's oh so cold
He's gonna be there until he grows old.
The Deep Dark Woods's song "Farewell" tells a gripping story of a man who leaves his town for the North, hoping to start a new life. He bids farewell to his friends with the hope of finding something new in a new place where the wind blows cold. The man has nothing but a suitcase, a few dollars, and two shells in his rifle. He eventually meets a woman named Virginia who came to the North from the West to start a new life.
However, the story takes a dark turn when Virginia decides she can no longer go on with the man because he has become a bore. He plunges a knife into her stomach and throws her into the water before sitting in a cold cell where he will spend the rest of his life.
The lyrics are emotionally charged and tell a gripping story that leaves the listener feeling that they have just lived through an intense experience. It's an example of what sets the group apart from others, their ability to combine vivid storytelling with haunting melodies.
Line by Line Meaning
He bid a long farewell to all of his friends,
He said goodbye to all of his friends and left town.
He said I'm leaving town and I hope to begin
He expressed his desire to start something new in a different place.
Something up north where the wind blows cold
He wanted to go somewhere cold and northern.
I'll be up there until I grow old.
He planned to stay there forever.
All he had to his name was a suit case in hand
He had nothing but a suitcase with him.
Five whole dollars and no place to land
He had only five dollars and nowhere to go.
Two shells in his rifle and a knife in his sack
He had a rifle with two shells and a knife in his bag.
He found a women that before he did lack.
He met a woman he had not known before.
Her name was Virginia, she came from the west
The woman's name was Virginia, and she came from the western region.
She took a train up from Baker to start something fresh
She came from Baker by train to start a new life.
North Colorado she thought was the best
She believed North Colorado was the best place to go.
South California never stood the test.
She did not like Southern California.
They went for a stroll down Muddy Creek
They took a walk down Muddy Creek.
Virginia sat down before she did speak
Virginia sat down before she spoke.
She said I can't go on with you no more
She told him that she could not be with him anymore.
You have become such a bore.
She said he had become boring.
He plunged a knife in her stomach and grabbed her feet
He stabbed her in the stomach and dragged her by the feet.
And threw her into the waters so deep
He threw her into the deep waters.
Now he's sitting in a cell and he's oh so cold
He is now in a cold cell.
He's gonna be there until he grows old.
He will remain there for the rest of his life.
Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Crucify
beautiful and tragic, I hope these guys make it huge one day
BodieMI6
in a class of their own.............