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.
St. Clarity
The Paper Kites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I see you from below
And I feel no other
Sights or sounds of things I know
Only a glow,
Only a glow
Steady tone of where you've been
But I know that you're a
Timid love beneath the skin
Breaking you in,
Breaking you in
I don't know you,
But I know what you do
I don't know you,
But I know what you do
And I know you carry
A sense of weariness, I see
You're the one I'm wanting,
With the plainest clarity
Turning in me,
Yearning in me
I don't know you,
But I know what you do
I don't know you,
But I know what you do
You'll never be sincerely right
If I stand here with you
And it's how I see you
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
The Paper Kites's song St. Clarity speaks of the singer's desire and yearning for someone they have never really known, but have observed from a distance. The lyrics describe the singer's perception of this person, who they see from below, creating a sense of hierarchy and distance between the two. However, the singer also feels an intense connection to this person, represented by the "glow" they feel when seeing them.
Despite not knowing this person, the singer claims to "know what they do," likely referring to their behaviors and perhaps even their personality. The idea of a "timid love beneath the skin" suggests that this person is guarded or shy when it comes to love or relationships. But the singer sees through this and desires them with a "plainest clarity."
The song also references a sense of weariness that the person carries, further emphasizing the perceived guardedness or emotional baggage they carry. However, the singer yearns for this person despite this weariness, suggesting a willingness to take on the emotional weight with them. The final lines of the song, "You'll never be sincerely right, if I stand here with you," perhaps suggest a fear of taking action or risking rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's how I see you
The singer is describing how they perceive the person in question
When I see you from below
This person is being seen from a lower perspective, indicating a power dynamic
And I feel no other
The singer is completely focused on this person, without distraction from anything else
Sights or sounds of things I know
The lack of familiar sights and sounds suggests a feeling of disorientation or detachment from reality
Only a glow,
This person is viewed solely as a glowing presence or aura
Only a glow
Repetition emphasizes the simple, almost spiritual quality of this person's presence
So converse me without
The singer is requesting conversation without any preconceptions or expectations
Steady tone of where you've been
The singer wants to avoid discussions of the past or any potentially negative experiences
But I know that you're a
Despite this request, the singer still feels they have some understanding of this person
Timid love beneath the skin
This person's reservedness masks a strong sense of love or compassion
Breaking you in,
The singer may be trying to coax this person out of their shell or help them overcome their fears
Breaking you in
Repetition suggests a sense of determination or persistence in this effort
I don't know you,
Despite their perception of this person, the singer admits that they don't have a deep understanding of them
But I know what you do
The singer has some insight into this person's actions or motivations
And I know you carry
The singer believes this person is burdened or saddled with something
A sense of weariness, I see
This weariness is visible to the singer, perhaps in their demeanor or body language
You're the one I'm wanting,
Despite this weariness, the singer still desires this person
With the plainest clarity
This desire is clear and simple, lacking any hidden motives or subtext
Turning in me,
The singer's desire for this person is stirring or awakening something within them
Yearning in me
This stirring desire is something the singer longs for or cannot quell
You'll never be sincerely right
The singer is perhaps warning or cautioning this person that they will never be fully satisfied or content
If I stand here with you
The implication is that if the singer remains in this person's company, it will be a source of tension or trouble
And it's how I see you
Repeating the opening line suggests that the singer's perspective on this person has not changed or wavered
When I see you from below
Repeating this line suggests a cyclical, ongoing dynamic between the two
When I see you from below
Further emphasizing this cyclical, potentially negative dynamic
When I see you from below
Repetition once again suggests a static or unchanging quality to the singer's perception of this person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAMUEL BENTLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victorial.1987
the only word to describe it: enchanting.
it's pitiful, when we grow up we get so wrapped up in superficial things we believe will make us happy but we end up miserable instead, and we become so consumed with life's difficulties that we totally forget what it was like to be a kid, to be captivated by the smallest expressions of joy- like bubbles and blowing on dandelion fluffs, exploring every crevice of the world around us, and letting our imaginations run wild in the process. it was the simple things, but we never tired of them nor did we cease to be amazed by their humble beauty every time.....
(well, i had a crappy childhood, but i mean for most people this is the case)
but maybe it's time we rediscovered the muses from our days of tinfoil helmets and fairy princess wands (: because lets face it, now that we've seen what it's like, i'm sure we can all agree growing up is kind of overrated. it kind of puts life in perspective.
am i the only one who thinks even as a homeless person, Sylvain Letuvée is kind of hot? he looks like michael fassender-- who is super sexy. (;
@jorannimiro
LYRICS:
Well, it's how I see you
When I see you from below
And I feel no other
Sights or sounds of things I know
Only a glow
Only a glow
So converse me without
Steady tone of where you've been
But I know that you're a
Timid love beneath the skin
Breaking you in
Breaking you in
I don't know you
But I know what you do
I don't know you
But I know what you do
And I know you carry
A sense of weariness, I see
You're the one I'm wanting
With the plainest clarity
Turning in me
Yearning in me
I don't know you
But I know what you do
I don't know you
But I know what you do
You'll never be sincerely right
If I stand here with you
And it's how I see you
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
Well, it's how I see you
When I see you from below
And I feel no other
Sights or sounds of things I know
Only a glow
Only a glow
So converse me without
Steady tone of where you've been
But I know that you're a
Timid love beneath the skin
Breaking you in
Breaking you in
I don't know you
But I know what you do
I don't know you
But I know what you do
And I know you carry
A sense of weariness, I see
You're the one I'm wanting
With the plainest clarity
Turning in me
Yearning in me
I don't know you
But I know what you do
I don't know you
But I know what you do
You'll never be sincerely right
If I stand here with you
And it's how I see you
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
When I see you from below
@starlametcalfe9961
My Dad (killed over 22 years ago) always told me to "Look Up". When I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders he'd say sit at a base of a tree and 'look up' it gives a new perspective on things and although it doesn't make your worries go away...it does help to make them feel a bit smaller. That's how I see things from below. Absolutely beautiful song and lyrics!!!
@heidiconnors1471
That's amazing. Thank you (and your dad) for sharing!!!
@nonyafourthreetwoonezero7350
What was your dads name.
@starlametcalfe9961
@@nonyafourthreetwoonezero7350 “Eddie” Roy Edmond Rochester
@michaeld.williamsiii9026
My sincerest condolences to you, I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad. I lost my beloved dad, as of this past week. Nineteen years ago, I miss him terribly along with recently my beloved adopted mom who passed right before Christmas. First Mother’s Day without her, I’m in a very heavy period of grief and deep sadness right now.😪💔😥 It’s comments and shared perspectives like this that touches me deeply besides this fantastic song, those are such loving words of wisdom from your papa. Thank you for sharing…❤️🩹
@starlametcalfe9961
@@michaeld.williamsiii9026 Sending hugs during this emotional time
@YourIngrownToenail
this is such a comfort band for me. i'd stop listening to them and leave for a year. when i come back, it just gives me major nostalgia which gives me comfort. like a warm hug. weirdly enough, i always come back in the middle of the night during the lowest part of my life. it's like their music is pulling me to give me that peace again. i'll love this band forever.
@edenwilliams7046
This music video is so beautiful, it made me cry when I truly thought about it. A homeless man with nothing, hidden away in an abandoned building in the middle of winter, one day sees a bubble. He sees something that makes him smile. Something so simple, but beautiful, at least to him. It's a little bit of prettiness in his ugly reality. He's so enchanted by what he sees that he goes out of his way to make more of that happiness for himself. He has this incredible inventiveness about him. He makes something better than what he had before. A huge bubble of happiness, a small one, many small ones, bubbles of different sizes. Despite what he could be doing, he chooses to make himself happy. This man, with almost nothing, chooses to see the light in the harsh reality he faces every day. This homeless man realized that you live for the small things in life, no matter your circumstance. And to me, that's truly moving.
@Anna-yw8yg
That's beautiful and very true :)
@patgriffinsloan3779
Eden Williams yes, it is wonderful video.....it lifts your heart....