The band initially recorded demo recordings at Sam Bentley's home and Rasmussen's university. Encouraged by friends, they released homemade EPs and gained traction with their single "Bloom" in 2010. The band performed extensively in Australia and New Zealand, including opening for acts such as Hungry Kids of Hungary and Passenger.
The band initially gained attention with their single "Bloom" in 2010, leading to extensive performances in Australia and New Zealand. In 2011, they recorded their first EP, "Woodland," followed by the release of the EP "Young North" in 2012. They toured nationally and opened for acts like Josh Pyke and Boy & Bear. Following the tour, the band did a small run of shows opening for UK band Bombay Bicycle Club in January 2013.
Their debut full-length album, "States," was recorded in 2013, and they embarked on a national tour in Australia. They also toured internationally, including the United States and Canada. The band gained exposure with song placements in Grey's Anatomy and released their second album, "Twelvefour," in 2015. It was a concept album written between midnight and 4 AM.
In 2018, they released the albums "On the Train Ride Home" and "On the Corner Where You Live," with the latter recorded in Connecticut with producer Peter Katis. They embarked on an extensive tour and were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA Music Awards.
In August 2020, the band announced their fifth studio album Roses, a collaborative album of duets. The album features Julia Stone, Lucy Rose, Rosie Carney, Aoife O'Donovan, Nadia Reid, Maro, Amanda Bergman, Ainslie Wills, Lydia Cole and Gena Rose Bruce. The album was released on 12 March 2021.
In May 2023, the Paper Kites announced the forthcoming release of their sixth studio album, At the Roadhouse, scheduled for release on 1 September 2023.
The Paper Kites' musical style has evolved over the years, incorporating elements of folk, fingerstyle guitar, harmonies, and moody soundscapes. Their versatility and influences from various genres have shaped their musical direction.
On the Train Ride Home
The Paper Kites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't remember
I think it was late then
Standing, always so quiet
We're like elevators
Filled up with strangers
No sound, no Hallelujahs
If I can't get the things I want
If I can't get the things I want
Just give me what I need
Our words fill up the pages
Fill up the days with
Songs for the ages
Still those vows that we all speak
We break them like concrete
And just make our words cheap
I want someone to grow with
Songs I can sing to
And a family to cling to
But if I can't get the things I want
If I can't get the things I want
Just give me what I need
Just give me what I need
The Paper Kites's song, On the Train Ride Home, presents a narrative of a person waiting at a station, reflecting on the uncertainties of life and their desires. The opening lines, "Waiting down at the station, I don't remember, I think it was late then," depict a hazy memory that sets the nostalgic tone of the song. The singer's notion of being in a train station waiting to embark on a journey also symbolically represents their existential journey of life. They feel like elevators filled with strangers, suggesting that they are in the company of others, yet remain distanced and isolated.
The chorus, "No sound, no Hallelujahs, still, I was praying on the train ride home, that I can get the things I want, I can get the things I want, just give me what I need," speaks to the idea of finding the right balance between desires and one's ideal life. The singer prays for their wishes to come true, yet acknowledges that they might not get everything they want, but are willing to settle for what they need.
The second verse, "Our words fill up the pages, fill up the days with songs for the ages, still, those vows that we all speak, we break them like concrete, and just make our words cheap," explores the transience of words and promises. The singer desires a meaningful connection with someone they can grow with, sing to, and cling to as family. However, they realize that words are insufficient and can easily be broken, hinting at the fragility of relationships.
Overall, The Paper Kites's On the Train Ride Home is a poignant track about the complexities of life, desires, and finding contentment in what we have. The mellow rhythm and lyrics evoke a sense of introspection, melancholy, and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting down at the station
Standing and waiting at the train station
I don't remember
Unable to remember something specific
I think it was late then
Assuming that it was a late time
Standing, always so quiet
Standing there quietly
We're like elevators
Comparing themselves to elevators filled with strangers
Filled up with strangers
Completely filled with unknown individuals
No sound, no Hallelujahs
No noise, no rejoicing or praise
Still I was praying on the train ride home
Despite the silence, the artist was praying on their journey home
That I can get the things I want
Hoping to obtain desired items
I can get the things I want
Repeating the desire for things they want
Just give me what I need
Asking only for the essential things
Our words fill up the pages
Using words to express ourselves and fill up written documents
Fill up the days with
Words are consuming or filling up their days
Songs for the ages
Writing songs that will last for generations to come
Still those vows that we all speak
Despite making promises, we all still have difficulty following through
We break them like concrete
Breaking promises in a way that is difficult to rebuild or fix
And just make our words cheap
Words become insincere and lose their value
I want someone to grow with
Desiring a partner to mature and develop together
Songs I can sing to
Desiring songs to sing with a partner or loved one
And a family to cling to
Wishing for a close family bond
But if I can't get the things I want
Recognizing that obtaining desired things is not always possible
If I can't get the things I want
Repeating the understanding that getting desired things is not always possible
Just give me what I need
Asking for basic essentials that are necessary for life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Samuel Bentley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@monalisasianturi982
Verse
Waiting down at the station
I don’t remember
I think it was late then
Standing, always so quiet
We’re like elevators
Filled up with strangers
[Chorus]
No sound, no Hallelujahs
Still I was praying on the train ride home
If I can't get the things I want
If I can't get the things I want
Just give me what I need
[Verse]
Our words fill up the pages
Fill up the days with
Songs for the ages
Still those vows that we all speak
We break them like concrete
And just make our words cheap
[Chorus]
I want someone to grow with
Songs I can sing to
And a family to cling to
But if I can't get the things I want
If I can't get the things I want
Just give me what I need
Just give me what I need
@ally6087
so many people in the world, so many thoughts, so many ways of living. it’s unbelievable if you really think about it, sooo so unbelievable
@moonlitlovers
Right, to think that every single person on this wide earth has their own story. It's crazy.
@belkiskb2842
Yeaaah its magnificent and beautiful yet sad and weird....can't explain
@user-qn7dm6vm6k
world is becoming a better place, where we go next everyone? :D
@aditikumar26
The word for that is 'sonder' :)
@uvuvwevwevweonyetenvewveug2576
@@user-qn7dm6vm6k mars
@lani8104
my first time i was in new york city, i was newly sixteen and not sure about anything i wanted in life. i remember strolling for hours through the freezing air of brooklyn, down through williamsburg and over the bridge into manhattan. i had never been on the subway before and took the wrong train a couple of times. but when i realised i was headed in the wrong direction i would stay in my seat for a while and then get out at the next most lively station to do it all over again. it was a strange feeling to have nowhere to be and to watch all the people rushing past, each leading a different life. this song makes me feel the air and lights of the city.
@ahmadzaka9885
Now I wanna go New York.
@redguitar69
We are all heading somewhere....
@avizopfukri518
To have no particular destination,to keep moving forward till you finally find somewhere your heart truly wants to be. Isn't that nice