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.
Tenenbaum
The Paper Kites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you so
Sour is my mind
From what you sow
How I let it grow
Call them radiant
Call them mother's eyes
Your beguiling state in endless heights
I'm just not moving right
Just not moving right when it's just not you
Under neon lights
Where I wake
I'm not feeling right
So they say
Rough kind of a day
Don my clothing, robes of ancient white
Rattled windows on the old green line
Do you feel it like I hope you might?
Just not seeing right
Just not seeing right
When its just not you
The opening lines of The Paper Kites' song Tenenbaum showcase a love that is tinged with bitterness. The singer acknowledges that the object of their affection can be bitter, but despite that, they love them passionately. The next line suggests that the singer's own mind is also tainted by this bitterness, which perhaps stems from the actions of the person they love. Despite this, they haven't been able to let go, and the love has continued to grow.
The following lines could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it seems to be a reflection on the singer's own feelings of displacement and confusion. They describe their home as a "narrow space," which could imply a feeling of being trapped or constrained. This is at odds with the "endless heights" of their lover's "beguiling state," which suggests a sense of awe and power. It seems like the singer is struggling to reconcile their feelings for the person they love with their own sense of confusion and displacement.
The second verse is more cryptic, with references to "neon lights" and feeling "rough." The line "don my clothing, robes of ancient white" could imply a sense of spiritual or religious significance, perhaps as a way of finding solace or comfort. The final lines of the song repeat the sentiment that the singer is "just not...right" when it comes to this person they love. It's unclear whether this is a realization that the relationship is toxic, or a plea for the person to change and become more compatible with the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a bitter kind
You have an unpleasant personality
I love you so
Despite your bitter personality, I have strong feelings for you
Sour is my mind
My thoughts are negative because of your influence
From what you sow
Your actions and behavior have caused my negative thoughts
How I let it grow
I allowed my negativity to fester and grow
Call them radiant
I describe something (or someone) as beautiful or glowing
Call them mother's eyes
I compare something's beauty to the loving gaze of a mother
Home's a narrow space for me to find
I struggle to find comfort or belonging in my own home
Your beguiling state in endless heights
Your captivating and charming disposition is beyond comparison
I'm just not moving right
I feel stuck or unable to make progress
Just not moving right when it's just not you
I can't seem to make progress when you're not involved
Under neon lights
In a bustling city, filled with bright and colorful lights
Where I wake
Where I find myself when I first wake up
I'm not feeling right
I have an uneasy or unsettling feeling
So they say
Others have noticed my distress
Rough kind of day
Today was a difficult or challenging day
Don my clothing, robes of ancient white
I put on clothes that remind me of a simpler time or way of life
Rattled windows on the old green line
The windows on the train I'm riding are shaking, possibly due to their age
Do you feel it like I hope you might?
I wonder if you (the person I have feelings for) can sense my distress
Just not seeing right
My perception is altered
Just not seeing right when it's just not you
I struggle to see things clearly when you're not around
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAMUEL BENTLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonleon857
You're a bitter kind
I love you so
Sour is my mind
From what you sow
How I let it grow
Call them radiant
Call them mother's eyes
Home's a narrow space for me to find
Your beguiling state in endless heights
I'm just not moving right
Just not moving right when it's just not you
Under neon lights
Where I wake
I'm not feeling right
So they say
Rough kind of a day
Don my clothing, robes of ancient white
Rattled windows on the old green line
Do you feel it like I hope you might?
Just not seeing right
Just not seeing right
When its just not you
@Midsummerbreeze
He didn't even talk.
But even his expressions got me right in the feels, you know.. that painful feeling you can't even understand.
Wonderful.
@BulletTheEnforcer
My Aunt died unexpectedly over a year ago. She was then followed in death by her husband three weeks later. This song makes me think of all the people that I have lost growing up, wether the loss occurred due to death, distance, or the relationship breaking down is unimportant. What is important to me is that I have a lifetime's worth of memories of happiness and love for the people I lost. Even if they didn't love me I loved them and my feelings were sincere and true. You can't change people, but you can accept the feelings that you had as being genuine. Shout out to Forever for playing this song tonight.
@sharons272
Seems like you got it all figured out. Good for you!
@tarwatered8320
Your post restores my faith in humanity. Earnest, thoughtful, and genuine. Your comments about love reminds me of the film Adaptation, where Donald says with great emphasis: "You are what you love, not what loves you..."
@chrisjackson6693
very deep dude, your comments are truly thought provoking...
@rachelstephens2298
@@tarwatered8320Same!!! I thought of that exact quote! I didn’t like the movie that much. But that quote has stuck with me for all these years! Crazy how a few words can have such a huge impact! That quote was beautiful & profound & life-changing.
@robbiebradbury1611
There's complexity in the simplicity.
@didigalei14
The paper kites is the best folk band ever i love you
@MarceloMartinsIllustrator
Sound like a mother's embrace.
@gabe.e
when i listen to this song i picture me with a few really close friends on our bikes at night when there's no cars on the road just enjoying the night and enjoying life