There are at least three bands called The Dodos.

1. an indie folk ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands called The Dodos.

1. an indie folk band from San Francisco, CA, United States, formed in 2005
2. a short-lived British punk/rock band that evolved out of Swansea punk band The Urge in 1979
3. a short-lived British rock band that relelased one single in 1967

1. The Dodos are an indie folk band from San Francisco, CA, United States, formed in 2005. Almost all of their albums (except the very first one) are credited to Dodos (without 'The'), but they made their recording début as The Dodos and are listed as such on streaming platforms, which is why most of their scrobbles end up here. The Dodos is the preferred spelling. The band has two core members: Meric Long (vocals, guitar) and Logan Kroeber (drums). They have released eight studio albums since mid-2006: Beware of the Maniacs (2006), Visiter (2008), Time to Die (2009), No Color (2011), Carrier (2013), Individ (2015), Certainty Waves (2018) and Grizzly Peak (2021).

2. Having evolved in late 1979 out of Swansea punk band The Urge, The Dodos were named after the ephedrine-laced asthma tablets, consisting of Dickie Evans (vocals), Phil Roberts (guitar), Anthony Reed (bass) and Steve 'Gagsy' Garland (drums). They contributed a song (1981's 'Blind To Fiction') to a rare compilation called Sex, Violence and the Eternal Truth.

3. The Dodos were a very short-lived British rock band of the late 1960s. They released just one single: 'I Made Up My Mind' b/w 'Can't Make It Out' (Polydor, 1967). Both sides were penned by the band's main songwriter, Alan Hawkshaw.

Darkness
The Dodos Lyrics

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I can hear outside
The wind at my window
In case someone should arrive
Please show them reflections
Who could have been there
At least who was pretending

Darkness was overheard

Darkness was overheard
These are not my eyes
But I know how to close them

Erase all that I write in perfected endings
Who was it in there
Covered and protected

Darkness was overheard
Darkness was overheard

Overall Meaning

In "Darkness," The Dodos explore themes of isolation, introspection, and emotional turmoil. The song opens with the singer hearing the wind at their window and hoping for someone to arrive, reflecting a sense of loneliness and desire for connection. The lyrics "please show them reflections" suggest a need to present oneself in a certain way to others, perhaps out of fear of rejection or judgement. The lines "who could have been there/ at least who was pretending" hint at the singer's skepticism about the authenticity of their relationships and the people in their life.

The chorus repeats the phrase "darkness was overheard," which creates a haunting and somewhat ominous atmosphere. The following line, "these are not my eyes/ but I know how to close them," implies a disconnect between the singer and their own emotions or experiences. The lyrics "erase all that I write in perfected endings" suggests frustration with the pressure to present oneself as perfect or have everything figured out, and the line "who was it in there/ covered and protected" further explores the theme of hiding one's true self.

Overall, "Darkness" is a thought-provoking and emotionally layered song that speaks to the universal experience of struggling with vulnerability and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I can hear outside
I am conscious of the external sounds around me.

The wind at my window
I can hear the sound of wind hitting my window.

In case someone should arrive
I am anticipating the arrival of someone.

Please show them reflections
I request that they are shown reflections.

Who could have been there
I want to know who was there previously.

At least who was pretending
I want to know who was pretending to be something they weren't.

Darkness was overheard
There is a sense of darkness present that has been noticed.

Darkness was overheard
The darkness mentioned previously is still present and noticed.

These are not my eyes
The eyes I am currently seeing through do not feel like mine.

But I know how to close them
Despite the unfamiliar eyes, I still know how to close them.

Erase all that I write in perfected endings
I want to eliminate all my attempts to create a perfect ending.