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.
Recover
The Naked and Famous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can’t erase the loss for my father
I can’t replace the loss with another
But I can regain myself and recover
When I feel my bones get heavy
Sinking like a stone and heady
Sometimes I wish I could speak to you
Every time I felt my heart ache
From falling in love by mistake
Sometimes I wish I could speak to you
I can’t replace the loss of my mother
I can’t erase the loss for my father
I can’t replace the loss with another
But I can regain myself and recover
Leaving home before I’m ready
Standing on my feet unsteady
I wish I could… I could reach out for you
Every time I felt my heart ache
From falling in love by mistake
Sometimes I wish I could speak to you
I can’t replace the loss of my mother
I can’t erase the loss for my father
I can’t replace the loss with another
But I can regain myself and recover
The lyrics to "Recover" by The Naked and Famous explore the theme of loss and the process of healing and recovering from it. The song acknowledges the profound and irreplaceable losses the singer has experienced, particularly the loss of their mother and father. The pain of such loss cannot be erased or replaced with something or someone else. However, the singer finds solace in the idea that they can regain and rebuild themselves, allowing them to heal and recover from the grief.
The first verse establishes the singer's inability to fill the void left by their mother and father's losses. They recognize that no one and nothing can ever replace the love and presence of their parents. However, in the chorus, they assert their power to make progress in their own healing journey. Despite the pain and heaviness they feel, like sinking stones, they express a desire to connect and communicate with their parents, longing to share their experiences with them.
The second verse continues to explore the singer's desire for their parents' support and guidance, especially in navigating the challenges of leaving home and becoming independent. They wish they could reach out to their parents for guidance and reassurance in uncertain times. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to replace the irreplaceable losses. Yet, the resolve to recover and rebuild oneself remains constant.
Overall, "Recover" is a poignant reflection on the complex emotions that come with loss, acknowledging the pain while finding strength in the journey of self-restoration.
Line by Line Meaning
I can’t replace the loss of my mother
I cannot fill the void left by my mother's passing
I can’t erase the loss for my father
I cannot eliminate the pain caused by my father's loss
I can’t replace the loss with another
I cannot find a substitute for the emptiness I feel
But I can regain myself and recover
However, I have the ability to find my own identity and heal
When I feel my bones get heavy
When I experience a profound heaviness and burden
Sinking like a stone and heady
Sinking deeply and feeling overwhelmingly intense
Sometimes I wish I could speak to you
At times, I desire to communicate with you
Every time I felt my heart ache
Each instance when my heart was in pain
From falling in love by mistake
From making the error of falling in love
Leaving home before I’m ready
Departing from my home prematurely
Standing on my feet unsteady
Feeling unstable and unsure
I wish I could… I could reach out for you
I yearn for the ability to reach out to you
But I can regain myself and recover
Nevertheless, I can rediscover my own identity and heal
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALISA XAYALITH, SIMON OSCROFT, THOMAS POWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mike-tn4sh
Thanks for this song. My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m terrified with the thought of losing her and have been struggling to stay positive. I’ve had this song on repeat all day and it’s amazing that music can make you not feel alone and help give you peace. To anyone dealing with loss or struggling with mental health or anything at all, I hope you know you’re not alone and I know you can make it through. Thanks for such a special song TNAF
@streetwiseburger
We gotch'you!
@chillcloak
Recover is the perfect opener and title for this album. It sets the tone for what you are about to experience and as someone currently dealing with unresolved trauma and mental health issues, I feel at peace. These past few months have been very difficult for me, and many of the tracks covered things that I think about a lot nowadays. It hit close to home.
Alisa, Thomas, I can't thank you enough. I will cherish this album forever, thank you for sharing your journey with us. ♡
@ddave7026
I've lost almost everyone in my family to cancer and other diseases.
Lord keep.all of you. 🙏
Take care and be safe
@MascialeGirl
the last image at 3:06 of her standing on the colorful path with the face smiling below. Her mother's presence has been surrounding her, following her, and guiding her even though she passed when Alisa was young. Really beautiful song.
@Unknown-dm2ge
I lost my dad two years ago, almost to the day. I was with him in his hospital room with the rest of my family when he passed. I want to encourage any and all who have gone through, or is going through the same to focus on the good times you had with them. I also want to encourage everyone to tell the people that you love how much they mean to you. If you're with a loved one in their last moments, please don't feel the need to hold back your thoughts. I made the mistake of not saying everything I really wanted to say to my father and it still hurts to think about.
@Ryan-mh9xn
My story is very similar. I lost my Father two years ago in April. He was in hospice and very quickly degenerated. Also I have the same feeling of not saying what I should have. Not a day goes by where I don't think of him. If anyone reading this is in pain from losing someone important, know that the reason is because of the good times. Without that we wouldn't be human. Loss of this magnitude doesn't just go away; We forge ahead with those memories and instead of being consumed by darkness we should hold on to the the greatest parts.
@RicardoReyes
I live this song, it's a great opener for the album. It's hard to talk about loved ones that were can't physically see anymore, so appreciate you sharing your emotions in sound and song
@thiagoamormino
Once again, you made me cry! And left me speechless. I'll back when I ready to talk to you. Hope you feel all the love I sending to you.
@anchaxhermawan6576
She's so wonderful..and their music is magical❤