1) a British band based in London
1) a British band based in London
2) an American indie-roots band from Minneapolis
1. The Pines are a collaboration of the songstress Pam Berry and Joe Brooker of The Foxgloves .
Matinée Recordings
2. Rising out of the prairies of the Midwest, The Pines are one of the most distinct and powerful indie-rock/Americana groups to hit the national scene in years. Emerging from the same Minneapolis music world that spawned such notable acts as The Jayhawks, The Replacements and Bob Dylan, The Pines have gathered a stunning line-up of musical talent, in both their live shows and on record, that has gained them a faithful and growing following.
Frontmen Benson Ramsey and David Huckfelt share a common musical language rooted in the songs and songwriters of their native Iowa, while each bringing a distinct voice and sensibility to the sound that Rolling Stone senior writer David Fricke called “quietly gripping” stark-country. The mysterious sound of The Pines fuses Benson’s ethereal, otherworldly, heart-piercing songs with David’s earthy, darkly romantic and rough-hewn visionary tales. With masterful guitar work, beautiful vocals and the graceful keyboard and vocal additions of Benson’s brother Alex Ramsey, the core of The Pines’ sound captivates and elevates with rare intimacy.
Surprisingly, David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey actually began their musical partnership in Arizona, where they both lived in a Mexican barrio and first began playing together. The son of Greg Brown’s producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and continues to let those influences shine, even on louder electric songs. David also had a deep love for traditional music, and together the two of them started crafting songs that evoke the ancient, while incorporating newer rock and pop sounds.
Committing to a musical career together, Benson and David returned to their Midwestern roots and moved to Minneapolis, where they slowly grew their band to include banjo player Michael Rossetto (Spaghetti Western String Co.), drummer J.T. Bates (Michel Portal, John Gorka), bassist James Buckley (Ed Harcourt, Daniel Johnston, Dosh), guitarist Jacob Hanson (Halloween, Alaska) and Benson’s brother Alex Ramsey on keyboards.
Creating quite a buzz around the Twin Cities and across the Upper Midwest, The Pines caught the attention of acclaimed indie label Red House Records and signed with them in 2007, releasing their breakout album Sparrows in the Bell, named one of the top roots releases of the year by Q Magazine. The Pines wowed audiences at the 2008 South By Southwest (SXSW) and were named one of the musical highlights by CMT.com. They followed up this success with Tremolo, an album that garnered rave reviews in magazines like Rolling Stone and got airplay on tastemaker stations such as KCRW and The Current. It landed them coveted performances on Daytrotter.com and Bob Harris’ popular BBC show, winning them new fans across North America and Europe. A great live act whether performing as a stripped-down trio (David Huckfelt, Benson Ramsey and Alex Ramsey) or as a full rock band, The Pines’ devoted cult following and has led them to share the stage with such diverse acts as Jolie Holland, The Arcade Fire, Iris DeMent, Mavis Staples, Bon Iver and The Holmes Brothers.
Aerial Ocean
The Pines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hide behind the thin blue sky
The stars are slowly snowing
When the light hit the darkness and set the world in motion
And somehow I found you on the shore on the aerial ocean
So hold
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
My heart is wrapped in rain
On diamonds through my weathervanes
And I'm down on the highway under the motivation of airplanes
And the light in your eyes as they parted the skies only there watches wallet
So low and behold we're all just silhouettes in the sunset
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
So hold
Hold on to me
The lyrics to The Pines's song "Aerial Ocean" describe a moment of transcendence in which the singer experiences a deep sense of connection to the world around them. The opening lines compare the surface of the earth, represented by a rose, to a source of light that is glowing from beneath. This is followed by an image of the sky as a veil that is thin and fragile, behind which the stars are seen as falling like snowflakes. The image suggests a sense of wonder at the fabric of the universe itself, as something that is both delicate and infinitely vast.
The second half of the song shifts to a more personal tone, with the singer describing their heart as being "wrapped in rain" and their motivation as being driven by the sight of airplanes passing overhead. The image of the weathervanes suggests a feeling of being buffeted by the winds of fate, yet finding a sense of direction amid the chaos. The final line of the second verse - "the light in your eyes as they parted the skies only there watches wallet" - is a bit enigmatic, but seems to reference the singer's quest for meaning and purpose, with their lover's gaze representing a moment of clarity in the midst of the confusion.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "hold on to me," suggests that the singer has found a sense of security and grounding in the midst of these transcendental experiences. The use of repetition emphasizes the importance of this connection, both to the world and to another person. The final line, "we're all just silhouettes in the sunset," suggests a recognition of the transience of life, but also a sense of beauty in that impermanence. The song thus captures a moment of profound insight and emotional resonance, offering a glimpse of the sublime in the midst of the everyday.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the rose the ground is glowing
Despite the beautiful surface of the rose, the ground beneath it is still glowing with beauty.
And hide behind the thin blue sky
There are things hidden behind what we see on the surface, like the vast expanse of space behind the thin blue sky.
The stars are slowly snowing
The stars twinkle and appear to be falling like snowflakes.
When the light hit the darkness and set the world in motion
Light illuminates the darkness and brings about change and movement in the world.
And somehow I found you on the shore on the aerial ocean
Despite the vastness of the world and its mysteries, the artist has found someone special on the shore, on the edge of the unknown.
My heart is wrapped in rain
The singer's heart is full of emotions and feelings, much like how rain can be all-consuming.
On diamonds through my weathervanes
Even through tough times or changes in direction, the singer is guided by a strong and valuable force.
And I'm down on the highway under the motivation of airplanes
The artist is journeying down a path, inspired by the progress and momentum of others around them.
And the light in your eyes as they parted the skies only there watches wallet
The artist is deeply moved by the way their loved one's gaze illuminates their surroundings, even bringing light to the sky.
So low and behold we're all just silhouettes in the sunset
In the grand scheme of things, we are all just shadows in the backdrop of the sunset - small in comparison to the world around us.
So hold
Encouragement to hold on to something or someone tightly.
Hold on to me
The artist is asking to be held onto tightly, for comfort or support.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.