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.
The Glow Pt. 4
The Microphones Lyrics
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I held onto your side
We swam ′till it got light
'Cause the blue was deep and wide
In sunlight our bodies glide
There was water in my eyes
We sank and we arrived
The light
The Glow!
The above lyrics are from the song "The Glow Pt. 4" by The Microphones. The song is about a shared experience that takes place between two people. The use of the metaphor of the tide is an excellent depiction of the strong, irresistible force of the experience that the singer is describing. It feels like they are being pulled, swept away by the current of something larger than them, beyond their control. Holding onto someone's side gives them a sense of grounding, a feeling that they are not alone or entirely adrift in the experience.
As the two of them swim, they find themselves immersed in a vast expanse of blue, and it is deep and wide, a manifestation of how the shared experience feels so unlimited and expansive. Even though it is early, they continue to swim, and as they do so, they come into the light. The light here may represent a spiritual awakening, a moment of clarity or realization, or an emotional realization. The water in the singer's eyes, likewise, emphasizes the profound effect that this experience has on them, affecting them physically.
In conclusion, "The Glow Pt. 4" by the Microphones depicts a shared experience that is beyond explanation, where people are swept up in a tide that is hard to resist, and find their way to a moment of clarity or realization.
Line by Line Meaning
And it felt just like being pulled out by the tide
The experience was akin to being swept away by a current
I held onto your side
Clung onto the support of another person
We swam ′till it got light
We continued swimming until daybreak
'Cause the blue was deep and wide
Because the water was vast and profound
In sunlight our bodies glide
Our physical forms moved effortlessly in the sunshine
There was water in my eyes
The singer's eyes were filled with tears or the salty water
We sank and we arrived
We descended and eventually arrived at our destination
And found ourselves inside the light
We discovered ourselves surrounded by radiant illumination
The light
The glowing brightness of the surroundings
The Glow!
An exclamation emphasizing the brilliance of the light
Writer(s): Phillip Whitman Elvrum
Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.