Since taking out the US-based Harmony sweepstakes – becoming the first international group to take out the world’s largest open a cappella singing competition – The Idea of North has continued to go from strength to strength, capturing the attention of audiences, critics and industry colleagues.
Australian jazz legend James Morrison, who makes a guest appearance on Evidence playing on the Gershwin track But Not For Me, says they are “the best contemporary vocal group in the country”, and that “when you can sing & entertain like The Idea of North, a band would just get in the way!”
The Evidence track list includes covers of classic pop, jazz and gospel songs such as Isn't She Lovely, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, Corcovado, No More Blues, as well as stunning original tracks by original group member Trish Delaney-Brown, which herald her as an important young writing talent to emerge on the Australian music scene. Songs that appear on this album snared her nominations in three different categories in the Australian Songwriters Association Inc Awards.
Since recording Evidence, The Idea of North have recorded 'The Gospel Project' CD & 'Live at The Powerhouse' DVD, as well as producing an audio-only CD version of 'Live at The Powerhouse' .
But Not for Me
The Idea of North Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When fresh and steel are one
Drying in the colours
Of the evening sun
Tommorow's rain
Will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetimes argument
But nothing comes from violence
And nothing ever could
For all us born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star x2
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are x2
--Scatting solo(s)--
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star x2
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are x2
(Repeat chorus)
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
(Repeat to end...)
The opening lines of the song "But Not For Me" by The Idea of North present a powerful and vivid image: "If blood would flow / When fresh and steel are one / Drying in the colours / Of the evening sun." The implication is that violence and conflict are ultimately self-destructive, leaving physical and emotional scars that cannot be easily erased. The subsequent lines, "Tomorrow's rain / Will wash the stains away / But something in our minds will always stay," suggest that even when the wounds are physically healed, the memory and trauma will linger on.
The chorus of the song reinforces this theme of fragility and vulnerability: "On and on the rain will fall / Like tears from a star / On and on the rain will say / How fragile we are." The "tears from a star" image is particularly poignant, evoking the idea of something distant and ethereal weeping for humanity's struggles and suffering. The repetition of the phrase "how fragile we are" underscores the song's message of the essential precariousness of human existence.
In the final verse, the song suggests that violence is ultimately futile and self-defeating: "Perhaps this final act was meant / To clinch a lifetime's argument / But nothing comes from violence / And nothing ever could." The idea here seems to be that even when we feel justified in resorting to aggression to protect ourselves or our beliefs, we are ultimately only perpetuating a cycle of pain and harm.
Line by Line Meaning
If blood would flow
If only we could see the real consequences of our actions
When fresh and steel are one
When people become weapons and merge with their weapons
Drying in the colours
The blood drying in the colours of the evening sun is a symbol of the end of a life
Of the evening sun
The evening sun is an omen of death because it sets every day
Tomorrow's rain
Days go by and time brings new things
Will wash the stains away
The natural progress of time will eventually erase the visible traces of violence
But something in our minds will always stay
The emotional damage and memories of violence will forever remain in our minds
Perhaps this final act was meant
Maybe violence is the last resort, the ultimate form of communication
To clinch a lifetime's argument
Violence is the last attempt to solve the problem once and for all
But nothing comes from violence
Violence will only make things worse, and leave hatred and scars behind
And nothing ever could
There is no justification for violence. It is never the answer or the solution
For all of us born beneath an angry star
All of us are born in this world full of problems, danger, and injustice
Lest we forget how fragile we are
We tend to forget how vulnerable we are and the fragility of life, and so we should not take life or each other for granted
On and on the rain will fall, like tears from a star
The rain is a symbol of sorrow and cleansing, and its repetitive nature is a reminder that life goes on and new hope arises
On and on the rain will say, how fragile we are
The rain reminds us of our vulnerability and that despite our technological advancements, we are still fragile creatures in the face of nature
How fragile we are
A reminder of how vulnerable we are
How fragile we are
A reminder of how vulnerable we are
How fragile we are
A reminder of how vulnerable we are
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.