The band's lineup has changed frequently during its career, with founding members Miller and Prystowsky being the only constants. Former members include Dan Lefkowitz (guitar) (2006–2007), Mat Davidson (bass) (2009–2011), Jocie Adams (vocals, organ, clairinet) (2007–2013), Mike Irwin (guitar, bass, trumpet) (2011–2013) and Tyler Osborne (guitar, bass). Adams, the longest serving member other than Miller and Prystowsky, amicably left the group in 2013 to focus on her other band Arc Iris.
Ben Knox Miller and Jeffrey Prystowsky met while DJing an overnight jazz show on a Brown University radio station, WBRU. They became friends and teammates for a local wood-bat baseball team called the Providence Grays. Miller and Prystowsky played in various ensembles together ranging from classical and jazz to electronica, and the Low Anthem was formed in 2006. In the fall of 2006, Dan Lefkowitz, a bluesman from Strasburg, Virginia, joined the band and contributed to its evolving brand of songwriting with his song “This God Damn House." Early in 2007, Lefkowitz left the band to pursue simple living in a yurt in Arkansas. The band became a trio again in late 2007 with the addition of classical composer and clarinetist Jocie Adams, a fellow student and former NASA employee, who joined the band after a late-night recording session for the band's album What The Crow Brings. She appears on vocals and clarinet on the album's closing track, "Coal Mountain Lullaby."
What the Crow Brings was recorded in Miller’s and Prystowsky’s apartments over several months and was then self-released on October 2, 2007. The band took on every aspect of manufacturing the album including dumpster diving for empty cereal boxes to fold into album sleeves to creating the silkscreens for the album art, to hand painting and serial-numbering 600 copies of the album.
The Low Anthem recorded and self-released its second album, Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin on September 2, 2008. The band traveled to Block Island in the middle of winter and spent ten days recording the tracks that would become the album, with engineer and co-producer Jesse Lauter. After the album was completed, the band returned to the island to handpaint and silkscreen the first 2000 copies of the album The band did a release tour booked by booking agent Jeff "The Scarecrow" Jones.
While touring, the Low Anthem first gained some recognition in the UK when Rough Trade Shops decided to make it an Album of the Month. End of the Road Festival then booked the band and released a 7” single of "Charlie Darwin" coinciding with the celebration of Darwin Day.
The band signed record deals with both Nonesuch Records and the UK label Bella Union and both rereleased Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin after Bob Ludwig re-mastered the disc. There was new artwork and the track order was resequenced.
In the summer of 2009, the band played US festivals Bonnaroo, Lollapalloza, the Newport Folk Festival, and Austin City Limits. In addition to headlining shows throughout Europe, The Low Anthem also played Glastonbury, Hyde Park Calling, Wireless, and End of the Road Festivals in the UK. Matt Davidson became a member of the band shortly before the band's Autumn 2009 tour.
In November, The Low Anthem released its debut music video for Charlie Darwin, a claymation work by Glenn Taunton and Simon Taffe. On November 20, 2009, The Low Anthem made its television debut on Later... with Jools Holland.
The beginning of 2010 saw the band's first US television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where it performed "Charlie Darwin", and a short tour in Europe, including its biggest headlining show at Shepherds Bush Empire. The band returned to the US to support The Avett Brothers and then completed its first headline tour of the USA.
From December 2009 until February 2010, the band recorded its fourth album, Smart Flesh, in the abandoned Porino’s pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, RI. The album was engineered by Jesse Lauter and mixed by Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes. The album was released February 22, 2011. The band released "Ghost Woman Blues", the first song on the record as a free download in December on its Web site. The band appeared again on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 12, 2011, performing "Ghost Woman Blues."
In July 2011, Matt Davidson played his final show with The Low Anthem. He has been replaced by Mike Irwin. Multi-instrumentalist Tyler Osbourne joined the band in December 2011.
On December 20, 2011, the band released an album for free under the alter-ego Snake Wagon, entitled "Have Fun With Snake Wagon". The album was recorded during the same sessions as Smart Flesh. The band has also recorded a soundtrack album for the upcoming film "Arcadia" for release in 2012.
Cage The Songbird
The Low Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the feathers run brown
God bar the windows
That we may though hollow be sound
And this island shall be shackled to her waters
Here we vow never to change
Here we will stand at last for something
Send up our prayers to gilded idols
Their names etched in heartwood of palm
And scatter the ashes of the contracts
Their freedom so hollow a song
God cage the songbird
Before the feathers run brown
God bar the windows
That we may though hollow be sound
Now the street lamp will be tethered to her station
As the poor man is tethered to the flesh
The wise man will be tethered to his wisdom
As the mother is tethered to her creche
Was your hunger your awareness of salvation
As your chances go slipping to the past
You're tortured by the changing of the seasons
And each grain of sand in the glass
God cage the songbird
Before the feathers run brown
God bar the windows
That we may though hollow be sound
The Low Anthem's "Cage The Songbird" is a hauntingly beautiful song that presents a description of human beings being trapped by their own limitations and fears. The song starts with a request for God to "cage the songbird" before the feathers run brown and to "bar the windows" so that hollow sounds may be generated. Here, the songbird may represent freedom and creativity that may no longer exist if society cages our inherent human traits. The line "Here we vow never to change" further amplifies this point of restrained growth and development.
Throughout the song, the lyrics explore the extent to which society constrains individuals, illustrated through the lines, "scatter the ashes of the contracts, their freedom so hollow a song". This suggests that contracts, which enforce legal obligations, are restricting individuals' ability to live freely, with freedom being a "hollow song". The "gilded idols" further emphasize society's constraints, with the need to worship and idolize false gods, which are a part of the structure in which we are confined.
Line by Line Meaning
God cage the songbird
Pray for protection for the innocent before they are hurt by the world
Before the feathers run brown
Before they are exposed to the harsh realities of life and lose their hope and innocence
God bar the windows
Keep us isolated and sheltered from the outside world, so that we can remain ignorant to its flaws
That we may though hollow be sound
Though we may be empty and lack substance, we can at least pretend to be content and at peace
And this island shall be shackled to her waters
We are trapped and bound to this place, unable to escape the struggles and hardships it brings
Here we vow never to change
We are stubborn and resistant to progress and growth, preferring instead to cling to familiar but stagnant ways
Here we will stand at last for something
We will finally take a stand for what we believe in, even if it goes against what is accepted or expected
With no desire to pretend
We will be genuine in our beliefs and actions, without any need to put up a false front to appease others
Send up our prayers to gilded idols
We give our worship and devotion to things that are ultimately worthless and superficial, rather than to what truly matters
Their names etched in heartwood of palm
Their false idols are made of materials meant to appear strong and sturdy, but are in reality fragile and fleeting
And scatter the ashes of the contracts
We reject the societal rules and obligations that try to bind us, burning them away and leaving them behind
Their freedom so hollow a song
The idea of freedom they promise is empty and meaningless, as it does not truly grant us the ability to fulfill our desires
Now the street lamp will be tethered to her station
We are forced to stay within the boundaries and limitations set before us, unable to escape our circumstances
As the poor man is tethered to the flesh
The impoverished are bound by their physical needs and desires, unable to rise above their basic survival needs
The wise man will be tethered to his wisdom
Even if we possess knowledge and intelligence, we are still limited by our own human failings and weaknesses
As the mother is tethered to her creche
A mother's love and devotion to her child keeps her tied to the obligations and responsibilities that come with caring for them
Was your hunger your awareness of salvation
Do we only seek fulfillment and satisfaction because we believe it will save us from the pains and sorrows of life?
As your chances go slipping to the past
As we continue to age and time passes by, our opportunities for change and growth become increasingly limited
You're tortured by the changing of the seasons
The passage of time and the cycle of life can be painful and difficult to accept, as it brings inevitable change and loss
And each grain of sand in the glass
Each moment that passes by represents a precious and irreplaceable piece of our lives, slipping away from us forever
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN KNOX MILLER, JEFFREY CARL PRYSTOWSKY, JOCELYN JAGER ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ImportMafia
saw them live.. they are amazing
Judy Gamboa
they are just so brilliant.
Arie Pieters
Great song!
SydneyEmily
Beautiful!
lumaz71
..great CD...it reveal all its beauty slowly..
cathyformusa
bateman, I understand this. It's poetry in myriad aspects..like the importance of the line in visual art, these folks have used efficiency of the line and created masterpieces .. I and my partner can't stop telling all about The Low Anthem. So, TLA, if your reading this, come to the northwest so we can eat you up. Applause and curtsy
misfitmanonadune
this is great.
Jason Liss
bateman05346 well said, I don't write music and yet I feel the same way! Why would I try, when these guys can do this.
offtheavenue
Hey we are a new studio in Florida. We have been getting the best bands in the area to perform live in our new web-series called off the avenue. Check it out!
scott l
Elton John has an old song "Cage the Songbird".