It’s fitting that The Family Crest was born in San Francisco, a city known … Read Full Bio ↴It’s fitting that The Family Crest was born in San Francisco, a city known for its rich history of experimentation, innovation and progressive thinking. In 2009, two young musicians -- Liam McCormick (lead vocals, guitar) and his friend, John Seeterlin (bass) -- settled in San Francisco to record a cycle of songs that McCormick had written. For McCormick, there was explicit intent to include as many people as possible in the music-making, based on his belief that everyone is inherently musical when given the opportunity.

Throughout the course of a year, McCormick and Seeterlin reached out into the city and proceeded to record people of all ages and musical backgrounds performing their songs. The project took the duo from churches to living rooms to cafes, even up the coast to Oregon and Washington, all in its mission to build community through music.

The resulting album, The Village, inspired the band to develop into a proper performing entity, adding four classically trained instrumentalists around the nucleus of McCormick and Seeterlin. This growth also inspired a continued mission of musical inclusiveness. At live shows and in the studio, The Family Crest set out to play with as many musicians as possible. Whether a fan took the stage to be part of a group chorus, or contributed an instrumental part to a recording, they were considered a part of “the extended family,” which now boasts over 300 members.

Once the band saw its vision taking hold, even beyond its hometown, it looked back to the city that supported the family for new musical inspiration. Over the course of a week, The Family Crest, in its usual fashion, recorded a plethora of instruments in various homes and churches, as well as John Vanderslice’s Tiny Telephone recording studio, to create The Headwinds EP.

The Headwinds EP introduces the grand sounds of band’s new full-length album, Beneath the Brine, a sweeping soundscape befitting the oceanic theme of the title. Beneath the Brine showcases an expansive breadth of arrangements – from dark, classical romanticism to brass-laden sounds reminiscent of the Roaring 20s.

The result is nothing short of epic, as The Family Crest has seamlessly wielded classical chamber sounds and pop music elements. It’s the sonic representation of what McCormick, and many pioneers before him, saw from the edge of the West Coast: the enormity of the sea, with its depths, dangers and possibilities.

More information is available at:
www.thefamilycrest.net
http://www.myspace.com/thefamilycrest

TO LOVE YOU
The Family Crest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And so, I was born to love this woman
And the hands outstretched about these ageing nights
And so, I was born to love this woman
From the dawning spark my love has held this heart of mine

I was born to love you
I was born to love you
I was born to love you

I was born
I was born to love you
I was born to love you

I was born to love you
I

Overall Meaning

interpret these lyrics as an ode to a lifelong love. The singer is proclaiming that they were put on this earth to love and cherish this one particular person. The verses describe the longevity of the love, with "ageing nights" implying that they have spent many years together. The singer also suggests that their love was present from the very beginning, indicated by the phrase "from the dawning spark my love has held this heart of mine."

The repetition of the line "I was born to love you" reinforces the idea that their love is a part of their very being. It's not just a feeling that came and went; it's an integral part of who they are. The simplicity of the lyrics and melody also suggest a deeply personal connection between the singer and their loved one. Overall, these lines are a beautiful tribute to a lifelong commitment to loving someone.

Line by Line Meaning

And so, I was born to love this woman
Right from the beginning of my life, I was meant to love this particular woman.

And the hands outstretched about these ageing nights
As time goes by, my love only grows stronger and spreads around me like my hands stretching out into the darkness of the night.

And so, I was born to love this woman
It was destiny for me to love her, and nothing could change that.

From the dawning spark my love has held this heart of mine
Since the first moment I caught a glimpse of her, my heart was set ablaze with love and it has never faltered since then.

I was born to love you
I was literally brought into this world to love you.

I was born to love you
It is my sole purpose in life to love you completely and unconditionally.

I was born to love you
Loving you is not just an act, it's a part of who I am.

I was born
My existence is tied to my love for you.

Writer(s): T. Liam Mccormick (ascap)

Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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