The Parlotones’ three studio albums —2005’s Radiocontrolledrobot, 2007’s A World Next Door To Yours, and 2009’s Stardust Galaxies, have racked up numerous platinum and gold certifications and South African Music Awards, while their three live CD/DVD packages (culminating in 2010’s Live Design) have cemented their reputation as a fiery force to be reckoned with onstage. Confronted with the sight of powerfully expressive frontman Kahn Morbee leading the band — which also includes guitarist Paul Hodgson, bassist Glen Hodgson, and drummer Neil Pauw — to soaring emotional heights during their Fall 2011 club tour of the U.S., the Boston Herald predicted that “The Parlotones could become huge here. Killers huge, Muse huge, Coldplay huge.” Filter magazine reckoned that “their earnestness, work ethic, and charm may be their biggest weapons.”
Those qualities will serve The Parlotones well in 2012 as they prepare to expand their loyal fanbase beyond South Africa and Europe (where they also have a devoted following) to the United States with the release of their new album Journey Through the Shadows, via their own Sovereign Entertainment label, on May 8th. “America dictates trends around the world,” Morbee says. “If you’re big there, the rest of the world listens. It has a ripple effect. We would be very proud to achieve success in the U.S. because very few artists from our country have managed it. I think for a long time, South Africans have had an inferiority complex in terms of our place in the world and our relative insignificance compared to the super powers. It would be nice to have a success story, especially in a nation that needs uplifting, and instill in folks back home that ‘can do’ belief.”
To achieve their goal, The Parlotones have crafted the kind of melody-minded arena-filling songs that transcend language and culture barriers on Journey Through The Shadows. First single “Save Your Best Bits,” with its theme of not allowing negative things from the past to affect the good parts of your soul, and the celebratory “I Am Alive” are about catharsis. They chase those moments of universal human experience when everyone in the room is uplifted by a shared emotion. “My goal is to connect with people across the world, and I think the human condition is very similar regardless of where you are,” Morbee says. “I think the theme of these songs is hope and that life is worth living regardless of its ups and downs.”
That theme informs the album’s title, Journey Through The Shadows, which, Morbee explains, is a metaphor for the human experience. “You’re not given a guidebook or map at birth that guarantees the smoothest path,” he says. “Ultimately, we all walk through with a candle that only allows us to see so far in front of ourselves. You never know what’s around the corner, so it’s an analogy for life.”
In keeping with The Parlotones’ big themes are big ideals. Ever since these four school friends formed the band in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort in the late ’90s they have always aspired not only to have fun making music, but also to give back to their community. Over the years, they have raised funds and awareness for a variety of social and environmental organizations, lending their high profile to initiatives such as Live Earth, Earth Hour, The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Carbon Free campaign, Nelson Mandela’s 46664, and Live Earth’s Run for Water, among others. They are also ambassadors for the anti-poaching organization Rhino Force, United Against Malaria, and several other non-profits that combat problems that acutely affect South Africa. In March 2012, they will join with Africa Unites for a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise global awareness about ending violence against women and girls in Africa. The band sees the music and the activism, as well as their other creative business endeavors (the band has its own boutique wine label, which has released three highly successful blends) as one and the same: methods of expression, communication, and connection.
“People in the public eye have the ability to spread a message very quickly and effectively,” Morbee says. “So we try to do so when it concerns issues we feel strongly about. But we never want to come across as a band that's preaching. All we're really doing is drawing attention to causes that we support. South Africa is our home and home to our families and our friends. We certainly want to make sure they have a bright future. If we can get involved and encourage people to get involved, it can only have positive effects.”
The Parlotones are excited to be representing their homeland and shining a spotlight on it in the process. “Every band dreams of making a living, touring, and having a large fan base around the world,” Morbee says. “Those were our aspirations from the beginning, but because the music market in South Africa wasn’t developed, they were very difficult to achieve. We had to pave our own way. For me the success is not in what we may eventually achieve but in actually taking the journey. Yes there's a lot of risk associated, but we’ve soaked up such a wealth of experiences that it makes it all worthwhile.”
Honey Spiders
The Parlotones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fall in love with song when natures beak spills out its melody.
I lick honey, honey I want more. I drink honey, honey I drink it all.
You say I'll tire of honey. Honey I, I won't tire at all.
Lay me on the silver grass, painted by the morning frost.
Pluck that songstress from the sky who's melodies tantalise.
Place those flowers on my eyes, so its perfume weeps into my eyes.
I lick honey, honey I want more. I drink honey, honey I drink it all.
You say I'll tire of honey. Honey I, I won't tire at all.
Oh no, look out!
The spiders.
Oh no, look out!
The spiders.
Oh no, look out!
The spiders.
Oh shucks
I nearly swallowed romance.
Deliver life to me in the belly of a honey-bee
Brake off the edge of a rainbows palette so I can paint my memories
Oh shucks, I nearly swallowed romance.
Oh no!
Look out!
The spiders
The Parlotones’ song “Honey Spiders” is an ode to the surreal beauty of nature and the delicate moments that can be found within it. The lyrics evoke the sensual imagery of daily life and express a desire to be engulfed in all that it has to offer. The line “Deliver life to me in a jelly of a honey-bee” speaks to the intense yearning to be alive and experience the world in its fullness, from the smallest details to the grandest of landscapes. The comparison to a honey bee is an apt one, as the insect buzzes around collecting nectar from the flowers, living each moment fully and completely.
The verse “Fall in love with song when nature's beak spills out its melody” speaks to the beauty of the natural world and how it can inspire us in ways that we may not expect. The connection between nature and music is a powerful one, and it is often the case that the sounds of the world around us are far more beautiful than anything we could create ourselves. The singing bird or the sound of a babbling brook have been the source of countless songs and poems over the centuries, and here The Parlotones use this powerful imagery to convey their own deep appreciation of the world around them. The chorus of the song repeats the lines “I lick honey, honey I want more. I drink honey, honey I drink it all. You say I’ll tire of honey. Honey I, I won’t tire at all.” This is a restatement of the theme, that we should enjoy every moment of life, take in as much as we can, and never tire of the beauty that surrounds us.
Line by Line Meaning
Deliver life to me in a jelly of a honey-bee.
Bring me vitality through the sweetness of life, as if I am consuming the nectar of a bee.
Fall in love with song when natures beak spills out its melody.
Discover a passion for music when the sounds of nature reveal their own unique melodies.
I lick honey, honey I want more. I drink honey, honey I drink it all.
Indulge in the sweetness of life, constantly desiring more and consuming it all.
You say I'll tire of honey. Honey I, I won't tire at all.
Others may warn of the dangers of overindulgence, but I will never tire of experiencing life's sweetness.
Lay me on the silver grass, painted by the morning frost.
Rest me on the shimmering frost-covered blades of grass at dawn.
Pluck that songstress from the sky who's melodies tantalise.
Capture the beautiful melodies sung by nature's songbirds.
Place those flowers on my eyes, so its perfume weeps into my eyes.
Cover my eyes with fragrant blossoms, allowing their aroma to intoxicate and inspire me.
Smother that honey pot upon my mouth and into my mouth.
Comfort me with sweet indulgences, enveloping my senses with their richness.
Oh no, look out! The spiders.
Warning of potential danger caused by the presence of spiders.
Oh shucks, I nearly swallowed romance.
Expressing surprise at nearly losing oneself to the overwhelming emotions of love.
Deliver life to me in the belly of a honey-bee
As if the bee is delivering new life, invite sweet experiences and inspiration.
Brake off the edge of a rainbows palette so I can paint my memories
Give me the means to capture and preserve the colorful experiences of life, like breaking off a piece of a rainbow to use for painting.
Writer(s): kahn morbee
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nsandapesu2441
Why are these videos not getting a lot more views? Any crap song from the States gets at least a million views but these works of art from guys who have been making quality music year after year are not getting enough views. It is up to us to share it as much as we can. We are no longer isolated.
@user-zx3zu3pg3c
this song is so underrated
@juniwilliams
why such few views? this makes me feel really good. thanks, lads.
@Cyberpagan
Fantastic video, and even though I've only been in South Africa twice I recognised a few places in Cape Town :)
@renepetzer8995
Love ❤❤❤
@davidcochrane9883
love this. reminds me of my favourite city in the world...the stunning Cape Town.The bit where he glides down into Hout Bay is my favourite as iv driven that road so many times
@muzimhlanga4239
❤
@jaysonlightfoot9177
Nice 😀 jay kzn 🇿🇦 UK
@manahmanah0077
Yeah👍🏼😍 Finally! Awesome song! Awesome clip 😁 But I have yet to see or hear something I dislike...🙄 Can't wait for the next post🤘🏼✌🏼️
@theparlotones
Thanks, man!