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.
You'll Be in the Air
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in some hours you'll be over the sea
lost in the other passengers on the plane
but if you just moved your arms then you could tell
that you are in the air
you'd feel the yawning gulf grow wider
and you'd feel the dwindling fuel for your lungs
so your breaths would slow
you'd feel the hot blowing rock filled winds
the clouds of ash would fill your skies
as you smoothly glide
over the cold river basin where we spend the night
again your gaping gap is pink in foggy light
when I wake up your pet will pounce i'll meet the day
i'll be in your bed, you'll be in the air when i'm awake
can you tell that i'm down here
can you feel my hot lung wind
when you smelled my skin did you lose yourself
i'll look pinkly out your window in the fog
loud and clear i'll make out your resounding roar
you'll be in the air
you'll bear fruit, your bare feet
your bare arms in the heat
you'll be able to feel your might
The song "You'll Be in the Air" by The Microphones captures the feeling of being left behind by someone you care about, as they embark on a journey without you. The lyrics start off by acknowledging that the person in question will soon be up in the air, flying over the sea, disconnected from the other passengers on the plane. However, the singer urges them to imagine what it would be like if they were to move their arms around, as they would then feel the sensation of being in the air, of the "yawning gulf grow[ing] wider" beneath them. The imagery of dwindling lung fuel and hot blowing rock-filled winds alludes to the difficulty and danger of this imagined flight, yet it also carries a certain allure.
The chorus repeats the idea that the person will be up in the air while the singer stays behind, both literally and metaphorically. The line "when I wake up your pet will pounce i'll meet the day" implies that the singer will return to their daily routine without the person, while they continue on with their life elsewhere. The verse that follows is almost a plea, asking if the person in the air can feel the singer's presence down on the ground, and if they remember the intimate moments they shared before their departure. The song ends on an optimistic note, envisioning a future where the person "bears fruit," inspired and invigorated by their journey and experience.
Overall, "You'll Be in the Air" is a beautiful, haunting meditation on the way people can become separated from each other, both physically and emotionally. The dreamlike imagery and ambiguous lyrics lend themselves to multiple interpretations, making it a powerful and versatile piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
you'll be in the air
You'll be flying in an airplane, above the ground
in some hours you'll be over the sea
After a few hours of flying, you'll be flying over the sea
lost in the other passengers on the plane
You'll be surrounded by other passengers on the plane and blend in with them
but if you just moved your arms then you could tell that you are in the air
If you move your arms, you'll feel the resistance of the air around you and realize that you're flying
you'd feel the yawning gulf grow wider
You'd feel the distance between the plane and the ground increase as you fly higher
and you'd feel the dwindling fuel for your lungs so your breaths would slow
As the air becomes thinner at high altitudes, you'll start to feel the impact on your breathing
you'd be in the air
You'll experience the sensation of flying
you'd feel the hot blowing rock filled winds
You'll feel the hot winds blowing over the rocky terrain below you
the clouds of ash would fill your skies as you smoothly glide
You'll see clouds of ash below you as you fly over a volcanic area
over the cold river basin where we spend the night again your gaping gap is pink in foggy light
As you fly over the cold river basin, the gap between you and the ground will be visible and look pinkish in the foggy light
when I wake up your pet will pounce i'll meet the day
When I wake up, your pet will jump on me and we'll start the day
i'll be in your bed, you'll be in the air when i'm awake
While you're flying, I'll be in your bed, asleep
can you tell that i'm down here
Can you feel my presence on the ground below you?
can you feel my hot lung wind
Can you feel the warmth of my breath as it rises up to you in the air?
when you smelled my skin did you lose yourself
Did the smell of my skin distract you and make you forget you're flying?
i'll look pinkly out your window in the fog
I'll be visible through your window and look pinkish in the foggy light
loud and clear i'll make out your resounding roar
I'll hear the sound of the plane's engine loudly and clearly from the ground
you'll bear fruit, your bare feet, your bare arms in the heat, you'll be able to feel your might
You'll be strong and capable, able to endure the heat and the physical strain of flying
Contributed by Bailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.