After their initial formation in 2008, their debut album "Passive Me, Aggressive You" was released on the "Somewhat Damaged" label during September 2010. The single "Young Blood" debuted at number one on the New Zealand chart - the first New Zealand artist to do so in three years. On 6 December 2010, the BBC announced that The Naked and Famous had been nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll.
Their second album, 2013's In Rolling Waves, reached the top 5 on the New Zealand Albums chart, and top 15 on the Australian Albums and US Billboard Top Alternative Albums charts. Their following album, Simple Forms, was Xayalith and Powers' first release as a two-piece. Their fourth album, Recover, was released in 2020, and peaked at 19 on RMNZ's New Zealand Artist Albums chart.
EYES
The Naked and Famous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You and I, we both agree
Better off without the tension
Eyes can see, eyes can see what we can't be
Take these stones
Now, we're falling
As it grows
Better all this intervention
Than another perfect night
Teary eyed, you tried, you mention
It's not alright
It's not alright
We're not alright
Take these stones
Now we're falling
Dearest hopes
We are calling
Faces frozen in the mourning
As it grows
We soaring down
See this now
As it dies
Take these words
As a sign
Take these stones
Now, we're falling
Dearest hopes
We are calling
Faces frozen in the mourning
As it grows
We are soaring down
We're soaring down
The Naked and Famous's song Eyes is a reflective piece with deep lyrics that explore themes of tension, desolation, and introspection. The lyrics paint a picture of two individuals who come to an agreement that they are better off without the tension that once existed between them. However, the realization is not without its consequences, as it results in desolation for both parties. The lyrics suggest that although both parties may be frightened by the desolation, it's better to intervene and try to resolve the tension than to live in a state of unease. The song explores the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of them breaking down.
The chorus of the song, "Take these stones, now we're falling," is an interesting metaphor that portrays the idea of what happens when a relationship has reached its limits. When there is nothing left to hold on to, the individuals involved in that relationship are left falling with no control. Additionally, the line, "Dearest hopes, we are calling," highlights the desperation of the situation as both parties hang on to the hope that they can salvage the relationship.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 2013 as a part of the album "In Rolling Waves." It was one of the album's singles, and it received critical acclaim for its introspective and reflective nature. Another fact is that the song was featured in the soundtrack of FIFA 14, a popular video game. The Naked and Famous performed the song at Glastonbury in 2014, among many other festivals.
The main chords used in Eyes are Am, F, C, and G. The song starts with Am and F chord progression in the verses, while the chorus follows a C and G chord progression. The instrumental piece at the end is a combination of all the chords used in the song. Overall, Eyes is a beautifully written and executed piece that explores complex themes with simple but effective metaphors.
Chords:
Verse/Chorus: Am, F, C, G
Instrumental piece: Am, F, C, G
Line by Line Meaning
Frighten me with desolation
The singer is willing to face anything, even desolation, if it means facing the truth.
You and I, we both agree
Both the singer and the other person acknowledge that their relationship is not working.
Better off without the tension
The singer believes that their relationship would be better if the tension between them disappeared.
Eyes can see, eyes can see what we can't be
The artist is acknowledging that their relationship is not perfect and they cannot achieve what they want together.
Take these stones
The artist is asking the other person to take responsibility for the failure of their relationship.
Now, we're falling
Their relationship is coming to an end.
As it grows
The tension between them is growing.
We are soaring down
Their relationship is falling apart despite their efforts to make it work.
Better all this intervention
The artist is ok with the idea of seeking help in order to save the relationship.
Than another perfect night
The artist would rather work on the relationship than keep up appearances in public.
Teary eyed, you tried, you mention
The other person has been trying to fix things, but has not been successful.
It's not alright
The artist is acknowledging that things are not okay between them.
We're not alright
Their relationship is not okay and is not sustainable.
Dearest hopes
The dreams they had for their relationship.
Faces frozen in the mourning
Both of them are heartbroken.
See this now
The artist is asking the other person to acknowledge the reality of the situation.
As it dies
Their relationship is dying.
Take these words
The singer is offering advice for the other person to move on.
As a sign
The singer believes that their relationship was a lesson to learn from.
We are calling
Both of them are trying to save what they have left.
As it grows
The tension between them is growing.
We are soaring down
Their relationship is falling apart, no matter how hard they try to fix it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AARON SHORT, ALISA XAYALITH, THOM POWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind