Their seventh CD, Last Days of Wonder (June. 2006) was one of Mojo’s top ten American Albums for 2006 and called “an unqualified triumph” by Uncut. Of their sixth CD, Singing Bones, The UK’s Independent wrote, “Rarely, even in the fatalistic world of country music, has the precarious mystery of mortality been captured with such poetic grace as on Singing Bones.”
They have appeared in the movie, I’m Your Man (2005), a tribute to Leonard Cohen as well as Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2004). In 2004, a reader's poll in Mojo named The Handsome Family's third CD, Through the Trees one of the ten essential Americana records.
Last Days of Wonder is a collection of love songs sung in airports, garbage dumps, drive-thru windows and shark-infested waters. The CD celebrates the little miraculous moments of beauty found in everyday life: a golf course shining in the rain, hanging lights bouncing in the breeze, pigeons singing from billboards, trees blooming in squares of dirt. The songs linger on those moments when we’re pulled from the ordinary to feel awed by mystery, bewildered by beauty, terrified by the vast unknowable around us (whether we wander through shady groves or crowded parking lots).
Brett Sparks, who writes the music, draws from medieval melody, country-politan string arrangements, tin-pan alley crooners, and dusty hillbilly records to weave together the fabric of this record. Rennie Sparks, who writes the lyrics, makes magical realism from polar adventure stories, pagan hunting songs and her own time spent (like most people) riding up elevators, staring out hotel room windows, and driving interstate highways. The entire album was recorded over a year's time in the converted garage studio at the back of the Sparks' Albuquerque house. Brett recorded it all on a Mac and a whole mess of wires, microphones and little metal boxes. Alongside the usual guitar, bass and drums you will hear mellotrons, ukulele, banjo, bowed wine glasses, and trombone.
Brett and Rennie (The Handsome Family) have been married for 18 years. In their live performances The Handsome Family are sometimes up to a six-piece band and sometimes just Brett and Rennie with (or without) a laptop computer.
The Silver Light
The Handsome Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the forest of slot machines
Flashing lights and cigarettes
Free refills on your drink.
But if the golden deer of luck
Never leaps the black jack felt
Past old men with their oxygen
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it hiding
There in your empty hands?
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it shining
There in your empty hands?
Beefy nachos, chicken wings
All you can eat buffet.
A bar-shaped like a racing car
Neon glow stick in your drink.
And if the angels never come
Soaring down on golden wings
And anoint your shaking fist
With a pair of paper kings
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it hiding
There in your empty hands?
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it shining
There in your empty hands?
The Handsome Family's "The Silver Light" is a commentary on the allure and emptiness of gambling, specifically in the context of casinos. The opening lines set the scene with a description of the casino environment, where there is no distinction between day and night and the only indicators of time are the flashing lights of the slot machines and the constant availability of free drinks. The song then introduces the idea of luck, represented by the golden deer, which is sought after by the players but ultimately elusive. The image of old men hooked up to oxygen tanks feeding quarters into the slots reinforces the sense of desperation and futility.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Will you see the silver light?" with a haunting melody that suggests the possibility of redemption or enlightenment amidst the chaos of the casino. The "silver light" is the song's central metaphor, referring to the glimmer of hope that keeps gamblers coming back despite the odds against them. The question of whether or not the silver light is visible is a challenge to the listener to examine their own motivations and desires when it comes to taking risks and making bets.
The second verse describes the excesses and distractions that are common in casinos, such as all-you-can-eat buffets and themed bars. It also introduces the idea of angels, who might be seen as a symbol of divine intervention or as a wishful fantasy for those who are desperate for a big win. Ultimately, the song leaves the question of the silver light unanswered, suggesting that it is up to the listener to determine whether or not it exists and whether or not it is worth chasing.
Line by Line Meaning
There is no day or night
In the casino, time is irrelevant and everything is always open.
In the forest of slot machines
The casino is like a dark forest, where it's easy to get lost and lose yourself amidst the various machines and games.
Flashing lights and cigarettes
The atmosphere is characterized by lots of movement and activity, with lights and smoke filling the air.
Free refills on your drink.
The casino tries to keep you there as long as possible by providing an endless supply of free beverages.
But if the golden deer of luck
Even though you may try your luck, ultimately winning or losing is often a matter of chance beyond your control.
Never leaps the black jack felt
Some games may seem to favor the house and it's possible to have a losing streak.
Past old men with their oxygen
There are people who have become regulars and may have been there for years.
Feeding quarters to the slots
A common and addictive pastime is feeding coins into slot machines.
Will you see the silver light?
If you can recognize the futility of it all and walk away, you can see a different kind of enlightenment.
Can you see the silver light?
The song is asking you to question the choices you're making and realize that there's more to life than gambling.
Can you see it hiding
Whatever is actually valuable and meaningful in life won't be found in a casino, but within one's self.
There in your empty hands?
The song asks whether you will search within yourself and find purpose there instead of in empty pleasures like gambling.
Beefy nachos, chicken wings
The casino environment is meant to suck you in with sensory experiences, such as delicious food and drink.
All you can eat buffet.
The casino offers excess and indulgence with the promise of a good time.
A bar-shaped like a racing car
The design elements of the casino are meant to evoke excitement and thrill, just like being at a racetrack.
Neon glow stick in your drink.
The casino offers sensory experiences beyond the gambling itself, from colorful drinks to flashy decorations.
And if the angels never come
Even if you believe in divine intervention, there is no guarantee of a happy, lucky life.
Soaring down on golden wings
This is a metaphor for the divine intervention and extraordinary luck that the song implies you shouldn't count on.
And anoint your shaking fist
Even if you are a true believer, sometimes you will still shake and worry when you take risks.
With a pair of paper kings
This is a reference to a winning hand in poker, but the song seems to suggest that even this kind of success doesn't bring true happiness or enlightenment.
Writer(s): Rennie S Sparks, Brett Sparks
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lady Stardust
J'ai le vinyle j'adore cet album ❤🌴
Mathias Kinder
There is no day or night
in the forest of slot machines,
flashing lights and cigarettes,
free refills on your drink.
But if the golden deer of luck
never leaps the black jack felt,
past old men with their oxygen
feeding quarters to the slots
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it hiding
there in your empty hands?
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it shining
there in your empty hands?
Beefy nachos, chicken wings,
all you can eat buffet.
A bar shaped like a racing car,
neon glow stick in your drink.
And if the angels never come,
soaring down on golden wings
and anoint your shaking fist
with a pair of paper kings
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it hiding
there in your empty hands?
Will you see the silver light?
Can you see the silver light?
Can you see it shining
there in your empty hands?
GODRilla
Damn fine cup of song.
Lovingcanadian CAN
2:19