1) a British band based in London
Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists by this name:
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.
If By Morning
The Pines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we don't know that song anymore
and winter bones breaking if it ain't shook it's shaking
this tangle of fate outside my door
Oh threadbare in peril this cold christmas carol
we jump from the bridge in our mind
it's one for the money, at two you go hungry
Leave a lantern, on the trail
I'm not asking for much just your meadowsweet touch
If by morning you're ready to sail
don't wait for so long cause you know that I'm gone
You can lock up your treasure and take drastic measures
we march toward the grave all the same
it's a short life of trouble your church turns to rubble
and beauty has never had a name
well my head's in your branches, I squandered my chances
I've given the last I can give
this empire's falling the pace is appalling
how can a poor man stand such time and live
So leave a lantern on the trail
I'm not asking for much just your meadowsweet touch
If by morning you're ready to sail
don't wait for so long cause you know that I'm gone
The Pines's song If By Morning is a poignant exploration of the fragility and transience of life, the longing for human connection, and the acceptance of fate. The first stanza sets the tone by creating an atmosphere of desolation and dislocation. The bell tower is ringing but not with the familiar song of a loved one's voice. Instead, there is an unfamiliar tune that highlights the sense of estrangement and disorientation. The mention of "winter bones breaking" suggests the vulnerability of life and how easily it can be snuffed out. The "tangle of fate" outside the door is symbolic of the complex web of chance and circumstance that determines the course of our lives.
As the song progresses, the chorus emerges as a plea for companionship and understanding. The phrase "leave a lantern on the trail" embodies the hope of finding a guiding light amid the darkness of life. The request for "your meadowsweet touch" is a metaphor for the comfort and solace that comes from being in the presence of a loved one. The repetition of the refrain "If by morning you're ready to sail, don't wait for so long cause you know that I'm gone" emphasizes the urgency of seizing the moment and not letting opportunities for connection slip away.
Overall, If By Morning is a haunting and poignant meditation on the human condition. It speaks to our shared experience of love, loss, and the fleetingness of life, and reminds us that even in the face of adversity and uncertainty, there is always hope for connection and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
My bell tower's ringing but it isn't you singing
I hear something familiar, but it's not you. Our song faded away.
we don't know that song anymore
Our love and connection are lost in time, and it's fading away.
and winter bones breaking if it ain't shook it's shaking
The cold is brutal, and it's getting worse with time.
this tangle of fate outside my door
Destiny feels complicated and twisted, and it's affecting me.
Oh threadbare in peril this cold Christmas carol
I'm fragile, and this holiday's gloominess makes it worse.
we jump from the bridge in our mind
Our imaginations let us escape from our struggles and reality.
it's one for the money, at two you go hungry
We're going through economic hardship, and we barely make ends meet.
my blue shoes are draggin the line
I'm walking slow and barely keeping up with life.
Leave a lantern, on the trail
Guide me back to you, let me follow your light and love.
I'm not asking for much just your meadowsweet touch
I long for your gentle, sweet presence, and nothing else brings me joy.
If by morning you're ready to sail
If you're prepared to move on without me, don't hesitate to go.
don't wait for so long cause you know that I'm gone
Don't postpone your next steps, I know I won't be around anymore.
You can lock up your treasure and take drastic measures
You can protect and hoard your valuables, but life will still proceed.
we march toward the grave all the same
Regardless of our choices and struggles, we're all living towards death.
it's a short life of trouble your church turns to rubble
Life is full of chaos, and we can't count on any form of stability.
and beauty has never had a name
We can experience beauty in every moment, but we can't describe it.
well my head's in your branches, I squandered my chances
I regret missing my opportunities to be close to you, my love.
I've given the last I can give
I've pushed myself to the limit, and there's nothing else I can do for us.
this empire's falling the pace is appalling
Our love is crumbling and falling apart, and it's happening quickly.
how can a poor man stand such time and live
I'm struggling to keep my head up and survive these challenging times.
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PhysStud2011
There's something so soothing, relaxing and almost ethereal about this song. It makes me want to take a long drive through the desert on a warm summer evening.
torre0714
Beautiful!
delgadillo29
Ok i heard this at starbucks, SO AMAZING!!! and yes his voice reminds me of dylans raspy voice. Dylan and Tiger Army fused as one...not the voices the music all together
Angie Sigmon
Po. O
arnonelcasey
two words: Bob Dylan oh, and one more: BEAUTIFUL
flatron7000
Super muziek ! Wil ik live aanhoren op een zomerse avond...Maar waar?
delgadillo29
Heard this song at starbucks...I guess that coffee shop isn't so bad haha
Barry Maynard
Try kayaking. Freakin' awesome