1) The Mag… Read Full Bio ↴There may be more than one artist with this name, including:
1) The Magic Lantern is experimental folk musician Jamie Doe (born 1985 in Canberra, Australia).
2) The Magic Lantern is a Swedish psychedelic band from Umeå, Sweden.
1) The Magic Lantern is experimental folk musician Jamie Doe (born 1985 in Canberra, Australia). Currently based in London, UK, he writes songs that sound deceptively spare and starkly beautiful, but which open up to reveal a warmth, humour and wisdom that belies his age.
Doe started writing songs and performing under the name The Magic Lantern while studying philosophy in Bristol from 2003-2006. Moving to London in 2006, he formed a quintet of musical friends coming from diverse musical backgrounds. During this time, The Magic Lantern evolved a unique, transporting sound inspired by the immediacy of Jamie’s songs and a shared love of both improvised music. The Magic Lantern’s debut album ‘A World In A Grain Of Sand’ was self-released in June 2011 on Hectic Eclectic Records, the label Doe set up and received much critical acclaimed from Late Junction’s Verity Sharp, Bob Harris and Tom Robinson (BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6 respectively) among others.
2012 was a year of change that saw The Magic Lantern return to its roots of Doe writing and performing solo, keen to focus on emotional intensity and directness. 2013 saw The Magic Lantern commissioned to write scores for a number of plays and films in addition to playing up down the country, almost always by bus. The second album ‘Love of Too Much Living’ was released in 2014.
http://the-magic-lantern.co.uk
2) The Magic Lantern is a Swedish band from Umeå, Sweden. The band plays psychedelic music, influenced by postrock and 70's kraut and spacerock. Most of the tracks are created live in the rehearsal room, with the tape rollin'. Then the best parts are reworked and some additions are made.
http://www.myspace.com/themagiclanternsweden
Harvest Moon
The Magic Lantern Lyrics
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Does it make a sound
And would anyone listen if it was booming all around
Like the last tree crashing down
From a forest one tree now
We can see, but can't hear ourselves falling
But we can see, but can't hear ourselves falling babe
We circle around each other
Were solitary creatures
We crave a warm embrace
And we all need to be looked after
And to feel the bomb of laughter
But in crowds I feel lonelier than ever
But in crowds I feel lonelier than ever babe
Please stay a while and hold me
Forget what's been and gone
It's from the death of innocense
That true love can be born
And if not now than someday soon
Oh beneath the harvest moon
We'll lie and love again
Like old lovers do
We'll lie and love again
Like old lovers do
We'll lie and love again
We'll lie and love again
We'll lie and we'll love again
The Magic Lantern’s song “Harvest Moon” is a beautiful meditation on loneliness, human connection, and the power of love to bring two people together even in the midst of heartbreak. The opening lines of the song pose a question: if a heart breaks all alone, does it make any noise? The singer seems to be contemplating the idea that our pain is often invisible to others, even when it feels like it’s consuming us entirely. The allusion to the last tree in a forest crashing down is particularly poignant, as it highlights the idea that we can feel isolated even when surrounded by others. We can see them, but we can’t hear them, just as they can’t hear us.
The singer goes on to explore the ways in which we crave human connection, even when we feel like we’re solitary creatures. The desire for a warm embrace, to be looked after, and to feel the bomb of laughter all highlight our need for love and intimacy. However, the paradox of crowds is that they can often make us feel even lonelier than when we’re by ourselves. It’s in this context that the chorus comes in, urging the listener to stay a while and hold the singer. They implore their lover to forget what’s been and gone, and to embrace the idea that true love can be born from the death of innocence. The final image of lying and loving again like old lovers do reinforces the idea that love can conquer all, even in the face of incredible heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
If a heart breaks all alone
Does it make a sound if nobody is there to hear it break?
And would anyone listen if it was booming all around
Even if the heartbreak was loud enough for all to hear, would anyone actually listen and care?
Like the last tree crashing down
A sudden and loud end, like the last tree standing suddenly collapsing.
From a forest one tree now
From a large group, now only a single being is left.
We can see, but can't hear ourselves falling
We can see our own downward spiral, but we are unable to hear the sound of our own decline.
But we can see, but can't hear ourselves falling babe
Reiteration of the previous line, emphasizing the inability to hear our own demise.
We circle around each other
We move in each other's orbits, but never really connect.
Like atoms bend through space
Our paths are like the unpredictable movement of atomic particles suspended in space.
Were solitary creatures
At our core, we are solitary beings, craving connection and intimacy.
We crave a warm embrace
We long for physical comfort and affection from others.
And we all need to be looked after
We all require the care and attention of others to thrive.
And to feel the bomb of laughter
We need to experience the explosive relief of laughter and joy.
But in crowds I feel lonelier than ever
Even when surrounded by people, we can feel more isolated and disconnected than ever.
But in crowds I feel lonelier than ever babe
Reiteration of the previous line, reflecting the pervasive sense of loneliness in our modern society.
Please stay a while and hold me
A plea for intimacy and physical closeness, even if only temporary.
Forget what's been and gone
Let go of the past; it no longer matters.
It's from the death of innocence
True growth and transformation often stem from the breaking of our own naivete and idealism.
That true love can be born
Only when we shed our illusions and egoism can we truly love and connect with others.
And if not now than someday soon
Even if we cannot experience love and intimacy now, perhaps there is hope for the future.
Oh beneath the harvest moon
A reference to the autumn season, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and renewal.
We'll lie and love again
Despite the pain and solitude, there is always the possibility of experiencing love and intimacy once more.
Like old lovers do
A reference to the comfort and familiarity of long-term intimacy and connection.
We'll lie and love again
Reiteration of the previous line, emphasizing the resilience of the human spirit and our capacity to love.
We'll lie and we'll love again
Final line of the song, underscoring the optimism and hope of finding love and intimacy once more.
Contributed by Asher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
taylor from earth
This guy is SO underrated. Wow.
JOHN ONKEN
Such great music- this is on my 6:00 in the morning commute along the Bay in my ears as the sun comes up
Kane
I love this song
Rose Marshall
the soundtrack of my study nights. love it ! the magic lantern rules !!
Themagiclantern
Thanks Marshall! Really glad you're enjoying the music! Hope you can it to a gig soon!
Steve McKenna
very fine. and the life going on in the background is perfect
JOHN ONKEN
And is that some very fast Travis picking Jamie's doing?