(2) The Maccabees (2002-2016) were an indie rock band from London, UK. The line-up consisted of Orlando Weeks (vocals), Hugo White (guitar), Felix White (guitar, vocals), Rupert Jarvis (bass) and Sam Doyle (drums), who replaced Robert Dylan Thomas. Weeks stated once that the band came up with the name by flicking through the Bible and picking out a random word. Despite adopting a name with religious connotations, he affirmed that none of the band are religious.
Debuting in 2004 with the You Make Noise I Make Sandwiches EP (released on Haircut Records), they released their first single X-Ray on Promise Records on November 28, 2005. Receiving just little significant exposure - some evening play on XFM London radio station - the band however scored a minor indie hit with their second post-punk influenced single Latchmere released in April 2006 on Fierce Panda Records.
Then inking a deal with the Polydor imprint (and former home of The Cure) Fiction Records the bands first studio album, Colour It In, was released on May 4, 2007 .
To date (late September 2007) they have released three (widely available) singles from the album (First Love, About Your Dress and Precious Time) with a fourth and final single Toothpaste Kisses released on October 8, 2007.
On May 4, 2009 the band released Wall of Arms, their second album. Preceded by the single Love You Better on April 27th. Markus Dravs, who collaborated in the past with artists such as Björk, Arcade Fire and Coldplay, produced the album. The album has been recorded in various cities including Liverpool and Paris, unlike their first long-player which was recorded in "dribs and drabs" like frontman Orlando Weeks said.
On January 9, 2012 the Maccabees released Given To The Wild, their third album. The band worked on the album at both Rockfield Studios in Wales and their rehearsal space in London's Elephant and Castle district, before decamping to Suffolk to finish the record.
Marks to Prove It, their last album, was released in 2015.
Official Website
Guitarist Felix White was initially in a band called Jack's Basement with fellow friend Jack Peñate. Felix and Hugo White are brothers, along with Will White, who is the frontman of another band called Talk Taxis. Former drummer Robert Dylan Thomas left the band in 2008.
Ayla
The Maccabees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
listless I'm the blunt of the knife
Drifting to the corners of life, Ayla
I could make something right
Gentle with the kindness I'd like
So often it's a trick of the light, Ayla
in the shape of us
Until the wait is over Under halcyon skies
Until the wait is over for an innocent life
It's a weight off my mind I could trust you
You could tell me it's fine
I could sew you a stitch and save nine, Ayla
None more admired
and out of soft focused desire
From honeyed milk to funeral pyre, Ayla
And we'll wait for love
in the shape of us
But the state of us, Daedalus
The wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait is over for an innocent life
Until the wait is over, the wait is over.
The Maccabees' song "Ayla" is a poetic reflection on the search for love and purpose. The opening lines convey a sense of aimlessness and detachment, as the singer feels "listless" and "drifting to the corners of life." The repeated mention of "Ayla" suggests that this could be a person, place, or perhaps a symbol of something intangible that the singer is seeking.
Despite this sense of disconnection, there is a glimmer of hope in the line "I could make something right/Gentle with the kindness I'd like." This suggests that the singer has some agency in their life and the power to create positive change. However, there is also a sense of wariness: "So often it's a trick of the light," as if the singer is aware that their positive intentions might not always lead to positive outcomes.
The chorus brings in a theme of waiting for love, which could be interpreted in a romantic sense or as a more general longing for connection and purpose. The repeated refrain "Until the wait is over" suggests a sense of impatience or urgency, as if the singer is eager for this feeling of aimlessness to end. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of resolution, as the wait is finally over "for an innocent life" under "halcyon skies."
Line by Line Meaning
Aimless am I
I lack direction and purpose
listless I'm the blunt of the knife
I feel dull and powerless
Drifting to the corners of life, Ayla
I am wandering aimlessly through life
I could make something right
I have the power to fix things
Gentle with the kindness I'd like
I want to be kind and gentle
So often it's a trick of the light, Ayla
Things are not always what they seem
And we wait for love
We long for love
in the shape of us
That fits us perfectly
Until the wait is over Under halcyon skies
Until we find peace and happiness
Until the wait is over for an innocent life
Until we find a life that is pure and good
It's a weight off my mind I could trust you
I feel relieved knowing I can rely on you
You could tell me it's fine
You could reassure me
I could sew you a stitch and save nine, Ayla
I could help you now and avoid problems later
None more admired
No one is more respected
and out of soft focused desire
Driven by a strong longing
From honeyed milk to funeral pyre, Ayla
From purity to death
But the state of us, Daedalus
But our current situation
The wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait for happiness and peace is over
The wait is over for an innocent life
We have found a pure and good life
Until the wait is over, the wait is over.
We will not stop waiting until we find true happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Felix White, Hugo White, Orlando Weeks, Rupert Jarvis Shepherd, Sam Doyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tropicwave1
Ayla
The Maccabees
Aimless am I
Listless I'm the blunt of the knife
Drifting to the corners of life, Ayla*
I could make something right
Gentle with the kindness I'd like
So often it's a trick of the light, Ayla
And we wait for love
in the shape of us
Until the wait is over Under halcyon skies
Until the wait is over for an innocent life
It's a weight off my mind I could trust you
You could tell me it's fine
I could sew you a stitch and save nine, Ayla
None more admired
and out of soft focused desire
From honeyed milk to funeral pyre, Ayla
And we'll wait for love
in the shape of us
But the state of us, Daedalus**
The wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait is over for an innocent life
Until the wait is over, the wait is over.
Writer(s): Orlando Thomas Weeks, Hugo White, Rupert Alexander Jarvis Shepherd, Sam Doyle, Felix White
*Ayla is a common feminine given name in Turkish. In that language, it means "halo of light around the moon".
**Daedalus (Greek mythology) warned Icarus not to fly too high, because the heat of the sun would melt the wax holding his crafted wing feathers.
@MuSiCBoYaS
Aimless am I
Listless I'm the blunt of the knife
Drifting to the corners of life
Ayla
I could make something right
Gentle with the kindness I'd like
So often it's a trick of the light
Ayla
And we wait for love
In the shape of us
'Til the wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait is over for an innocent life
It's a weight off my mind
I could trust you, you could tell me it's fine
I could sew you a stitch and save nine
Ayla
None more admired and
Out of soft focused desire
From honeyed milk to funeral pyre
Ayla
Ayla
And we'll wait for love
In the shape of us
But the state of us
Daedalus
The wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait is over for an innocent life
The wait is over under halcyon skies
The wait is over for an innocent life
The wait is over, the wait is over
The wait is over
@SamuelEMPowell131
I remember first discovering The Maccabees in NME, they used to showcase such amazing bands, its a shame what it has become, my music producer friend in high school used to show me all these great bands but this is one of the first bands I showed him I'm proud to say, their music still gives me chills, my friend has just released a brand new banging indie track, try searching Lonely Gimmick - Beaches, brings back nostalgic indie memoires well worth checking out
@aylamorgan8870
I feel so special now knowing that this song is out there, and the fact that they pronounce Ayla right just fills my heart with joy 💕
@Arsenal52100
Ayla my beautiful daughter,who would have been 29 tomorrow RIP. daddy still loves and misses you,my own little angel.
@davrastdavrast9308
Sorry for the loss you've gone through, beautiful song for your beautiful daughter,. Please find peace. 🙏
@tiptoeshssssssssss
The light that surrounds the moon and sun my man ❤️
@BYEgime
this wrecked me, i hope the healing process has been kind on you 💛
@russmckernan8572
God bless..
@BrianMontesQ
The whole album is beautiful.
@aylatownsend514
Love for all the Aylas of the world :)
@omrirmo584
My daughter was born 2 weeks ago, she's Ayla too :)
most beautiful name