In 2004, Elverum abandoned the "Microphones" name to begin recording as Mount Eerie, briefly returning in December 2007 when he began selling a new 7" single by the Microphones ("Don't Smoke" / "Get Off the Internet") on his website and at concerts.
In 2020, Elverum returned to the Microphones name once more to release the project's 14th album Microphones in 2020. Microphones members/collaborators include Karl Blau, Dennis Driscoll, Kyle Field aka Little Wings, Mirah, Khaela Maricich aka The Blow, Adrian Orange aka Thanksgiving, Adam Forkner and K Records' founder, Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and the Halo Benders.
Ice
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there was water in your hair
and the sun came out, we had to get back in
the fog burned off and finally i felt near
sunlight made reflections on your skin
to the place i like to stay but the year went on and it got too cold to swim
so i stayed beneath as the water above me froze
from under the ice i saw you in warm clothes
The Microphones' "Ice" is a song about the changing seasons, as well as the changes that people go through emotionally. The lyrics describe a moment in time where the singer is with someone they care about, likely a romantic partner, as they both experience the last moments of summer. The heat slowly fades away, the fog clears, and they decide to go for one last swim before it gets too cold. But as the seasons change, so do their feelings. The singer stays submerged under the frozen water, watching as the person they care about moves on and wears warm clothes, signaling the end of their time together.
The lines "so i stayed beneath as the water above me froze / from under the ice i saw you in warm clothes" can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling trapped and unable to move on from someone, even as they move on and continue to live their life. The singer is stuck underneath the ice, unable to resurface and join them, while they're able to move on and stay warm. The final line, "and now i'm thawing out while the fire you made grows," suggests that the singer is slowly starting to move on and heal from their heartbreak, but at the same time, they're witnessing the person they care about continue to grow and move on with their life without them.
Overall, the song is a poignant and introspective look at the nature of love, loss, and the passing of time. The simple, almost childlike melody only adds to the melancholic mood of the lyrics, and gives it a timeless quality that speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the pain of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
the heat came down and breathing got clear
The oppressive heat dissipated, allowing us to breathe clearly.
there was water in your hair
You were drenched in water, probably from swimming or playing in the water.
and the sun came out, we had to get back in
The sun emerged, prompting us to jump back into the water after probably taking a break.
the fog burned off and finally i felt near
The fog lifted, and I felt closer to you both literally and emotionally.
sunlight made reflections on your skin
The sunlight was reflected on your skin as you basked in it.
to the place i like to stay but the year went on and it got too cold to swim
The waterbody where we liked to swim became too cold to continue swimming due to seasonal changes.
so i stayed beneath as the water above me froze
I stayed submerged in the waterbody as the surface froze above me.
from under the ice i saw you in warm clothes
From under the frozen surface, I saw you comfortable and warm, while I stayed submerged in the cold water.
and now i'm thawing out while the fire you made grows
I am now warming up, while the fire you started continues to get bigger.
Contributed by Gianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.