Breathe
The White Birch Lyrics


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Wish I was small
In sunny days
A summer light breeze
Could lead me further

Someone would call
From beyond the maze
Of winter freeze
And draw me to her

Eyes that are gray
Can't see behind the stains
Of blurring stars
And bleeding sun

I wish I could stay
Or silence the rain
The solid bars
Of all that's left undone

All that's left undone
All that's left undone
All that's left undone
All that's left undone

Nights in the snow
When all you know
Is a velvet breath
And you all you long for

Light is a stain
A ball without a chain
The sweetest death
Might make you stronger

Gaze becomes eyes
To crystal rollerdice
The trembling ground
What have you done?

I wish I could wake
As the walls start to quake
From the impossible sound
Of air that leaves the sun

A summer breeze begun




A summer breeze begun
A air that leaves the breathing sun

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Breathe" by The White Birch convey a sense of longing for simplicity, warmth, and connection. The first verse describes the desire to be small and carefree during sunny days, when a gentle breeze could transport the singer to new places. The second verse speaks of the hope of being called out of a winter freeze and drawn to someone. However, the third verse acknowledges that this idealized vision is complicated by complexity and pain - "Eyes that are gray/Can't see behind the stains/Of blurring stars/And bleeding sun." In spite of this, the singer continues to yearn for escape and awakening, imagining the night snow and the light (which is both a stain and a source of death) as potential sources of power and transformation. The lyrics culminate in the refrain, which emphasizes the incompletion and impermanence of both the desires and the realities that subtend them: "All that's left undone/All that's left undone/All that's left undone/All that's left undone."


Overall, the lyrics to "Breathe" are haunting and melancholic, evoking a sense of the fragility and fleetingness of hope in the face of a harsh and uncertain world. The combination of poetic language and evocative imagery creates a sense of abstract emotional resonance that can be difficult to articulate, but that resonates deeply with listeners who are attuned to the complexities of the human experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Wish I was small
I wish I could go back to a simpler time where things were less complicated.


In sunny days
During the times where everything was good and bright.


A summer light breeze
A gentle, refreshing wind that carries you forward with ease.


Could lead me further
The breeze could take me to new places and experiences.


Someone would call
I wish there was someone who would reach out to me.


From beyond the maze
From outside of the confusing, complicated situations that I am currently in.


Of winter freeze
During the difficult and harsh times in life.


And draw me to her
To bring me closer towards comfort and safety.


Eyes that are gray
Eyes that have lost their ability to see clearly due to life's hardships.


Can't see behind the stains
Being unable to see through the pain and suffering that life has inflicted.


Of blurring stars
The cloudy and unclear vision of life's direction.


And bleeding sun
The relentless, tiring cycle of life's struggles.


I wish I could stay
I want to remain in a peaceful and happy state forever.


Or silence the rain
Stopping the trials and tribulations that life sends my way.


The solid bars
The overwhelming feeling of being trapped and confined.


Of all that's left undone
The tasks and responsibilities that need completing.


Nights in the snow
The times when I feel the most alone and isolated.


When all you know
Feeling stuck and fixated on one's troubles.


Is a velvet breath
Hoping for a comforting and gentle respite from the pain.


And you all you long for
Desiring things that seem unattainable or out of reach.


Light is a stain
The brightness of the sun can often feel like a burden and a reminder of harsh realities.


A ball without a chain
The idea of freedom and weightlessness without the limitations of responsibilities and stress.


The sweetest death
The allure of escaping the struggles and hardships of life permanently.


Might make you stronger
Although it may seem like an escape, facing difficult times head-on can lead to growth and resilience.


Gaze becomes eyes
A moment of clarity and understanding that shifts one's perspective.


To crystal rollerdice
The clarity of seeing the world in a new way, like looking through a new lens.


The trembling ground
The realization that everything that once felt solid and steady is now shaking and uncertain.


What have you done?
The recognition of one's own mistakes or missed opportunities which lead to present struggles.


I wish I could wake
Desiring to snap out of a negative state or situation.


As the walls start to quake
Feeling the instability of one's foundation and the fear that everything may fall apart.


From the impossible sound
Thinking that the changes and difficulties being faced may be too insurmountable.


Of air that leaves the sun
Feeling as if the light and good in life are being sucked out and leaving nothing behind.


A summer breeze begun
The possibility of hope and new beginnings.


A air that leaves the breathing sun
The recognition that the positive aspects in life can disappear just as easily as they come.




Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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