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.
Waltz
The Naked and Famous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your homes have been blessed
But you walk in a rubble
You walk in a mess
Looking for trouble
There's a fox in the nest
Kick up your heels on the double
Put the mocking to rest
I am a fire if you hesitate
Bang bang hurry up
But you watch with the eyes
In the jaws of a boy
Who will never recognize his luck
I am a fire if you hesitate
Tie your laces up
But you watch with the eyes
In the jaws of a boy
Who is never gonna come unstuck
What you say undercover
In the belly of the beast
Blaze a trail at their pace
Jump up for the peak
As the words pile up
Like an accident
It's just semantics
I am a fire if you hesitate
Bang bang hurry up
But you watch with the eyes
In the jaws of a boy
Who will never recognize his luck
I am a fire if you hesitate
Tie your laces up
But you watch with the eyes
In the jaws of a boy
Who is never gonna come unstuck
This is how he sees it
This is how he works
This is how he functions
I know why it hurts
I can see him heaving
"Watch me take a word and turn it into magic"
The Naked and Famous’s song “Waltz” is a dynamic combination of music that reflects on the disparity between the reality of the world and the human desire to seek better. The song transforms itself into a context where the singer is seeking a sheltered life that feels genuine, peaceful, and problem-free. However, the reality doesn’t seem to offer the same promise. The “I can see you with your brothers, And your homes have been blessed, But you walk in a rubble, You walk in a mess” suggests that even though the singer has all the comfort and potentially fulfilling life, they still walk in ruins or rubbles. This signifies the inevitability of trouble and a state of brokenness in each aspect of life. Thus, the singer is “looking for trouble” and kicks up their “heels on the double, Put the mocking to rest” to surmount the chaos.
As the song progresses, the theme of disparity and chaos deepens. The singer’s urgency and desperation is evident as they say “I am fire if you hesitate” and “Tie your laces up.” Together with the prior verse, the message could mean that the singer is telling someone to embrace the situation and focus on solving the problems instead of complaining. The verse “But you watch with the eyes, In the jaws of a boy, Who is never gonna come unstuck” could mean that the singer recognizes that life is a constant struggle. The “jaws of a boy” suggests that the singer sees oneself as a child that is trapped and will remain so in one way or another until death.
In summary, the song “Waltz” reflect on the universal theme of seeking “peace” in turmoil. It highlights the struggle and how people cope with brokenness as they search for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see you with your brothers
I see you surrounded by your family
And your homes have been blessed
Your homes are full of love and gratitude
But you walk in a rubble
You are surrounded by chaos
You walk in a mess
You are in the middle of a mess
Looking for trouble
You may be searching for trouble
There's a fox in the nest
There is someone treacherous nearby
Kick up your heels on the double
Let loose and dance quickly
Put the mocking to rest
Stop the teasing and ridicule
I am a fire if you hesitate
I will be forceful if you hesitate
Bang bang hurry up
Take action swiftly
But you watch with the eyes
You observe with caution
In the jaws of a boy
In the grip of a foolish person
Who will never recognize his luck
Who will never appreciate their good fortune
Tie your laces up
Get ready to take action
What you say undercover
Your hidden words and intentions
In the belly of the beast
Surrounded by a dangerous situation
Blaze a trail at their pace
Lead the way with bravery
Jump up for the peak
Take risks for the ultimate goal
As the words pile up
Words stack up
Like an accident
Like something unexpected
It's just semantics
It's just about word usage
This is how he sees it
This is his perspective
This is how he works
This is how he operates
This is how he functions
This is how he performs
I know why it hurts
I know why it's painful
I can see him heaving
I can see him struggling
"Watch me take a word and turn it into magic"
"Watch me transform words into something amazing"
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOM POWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind