The Black Feathers, made up of Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler, are two such talents. They first became aware of the magic between them while collaborating on several musical projects, becoming The Black Feathers and life partners in 2012.
Americana, Folk, and Acoustic Indie Rock sensibilities coexist comfortably in their musical world, with Hughes’ guitar work buoying the kind of harmonies often only heard in family bands.
Homesick
The black Feathers Lyrics
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Under the water deep.
And rue the day,
You slipped away from me.
I can hear you breathing,
A million miles from home,
Can't forget the day i let you go.
Maybe i'm homesick and i don't know it,
Maybe the sun's gone and i can't see,
Maybe the heartache is all you've left,
For me.
Been smoking wisdom oh and drinking dreams,
Forever so it seams,
Kept at bay till i'm old and grey,
For you.
Maybe i'm homesick and i don't know it,
Maybe the sun's gone and i can't see,
Maybe this heartache is all you've left for me.
I don't want to be lonely oh
I am lost oh and i can hold my breath
But i can't for get to breathe
Maybe i'm homesick and i don't know it,
Maybe the sun's gone and i can't see,
Maybe this heartache is all i've left,
Maybe this heartache is all i've left,
Maybe this heartache is all you've left.
The Black Feathers’ song “Homesick” delves into the complexities of missing someone you love deeply. The first stanza sees the singer describing a feeling of suffocation. They want to “swallow” their pain and escape by “falling asleep” and being “under the water deep”. The refrain highlights how far away the person they miss is, while at the same time expressing regret for letting them go. The second stanza is a rumination on how the singer is carrying on with life after their loved one is gone. They have started to engage in vices like smoking and drinking, but they acknowledge that these things are only temporary solutions to the pain of missing someone. The final stanza feels like an admission of vulnerability. The singer doesn’t want to be alone, and they miss someone – but it’s possible they don’t yet realize that they are homesick.
The song, on the whole, feels like an exploration of the complicated nature of missing someone. It’s a feeling that can be all-consuming, but also difficult to articulate. In the verses, the singer seems to be grappling with this feeling, coming to terms with the fact that they are hurting and yet trying to carry on with their life. The chorus, however, feels like an admission – maybe they are homesick and that’s the reason for their pain. There’s a sense of acceptance here, mixed with nostalgia and longing. The final repetition of the line “Maybe this heartache is all you’ve left” feels like a resigned admission of defeat, a moment of accepting that the pain might never go away.
Line by Line Meaning
Swallow it down and fall asleep,
Take in the pain and sadness and escape into sleep.
Under the water deep.
In a state of emotional drowning and despair.
And rue the day,
Regret letting go of someone so special.
You slipped away from me.
The person they loved has moved on, and they miss them.
I can hear you breathing,
Even though they're far apart, they still feel a connection and can sense the other's presence.
A million miles from home,
Feeling lost and longing for home, both physically and emotionally.
Can't forget the day i let you go.
Haunted by the memories of the day they ended things with the one they loved.
Maybe i'm homesick and i don't know it,
Wondering if their sense of loss and despair is actually a result of their longing for a place to call home, as well as a person to share it with.
Maybe the sun's gone and i can't see,
Feeling a sense of darkness and hopelessness, unable to see any light or positivity in their situation.
Maybe the heartache is all you've left,
Feeling abandoned and left with the pain of heartache as the only reminder of the one they loved.
Been smoking wisdom oh and drinking dreams,
Trying to cope by seeking enlightenment and escape from reality through mind-altering means.
Forever so it seams,
While it may feel like they've been in this constant state of longing forever, the pain persists.
Kept at bay till i'm old and grey,
The longing and heartache may never go away, haunting them till the end of their days.
For you.
Their love and longing is directed towards the one they lost.
I don't want to be lonely oh
Unable to bear the weight of their loneliness and isolation.
I am lost oh and i can hold my breath
Feeling lost and underwater, struggling to stay afloat and breathe.
But i can't for get to breathe
Even though they may feel like they're drowning, they know they must keep going and survive.
Maybe this heartache is all i've left,
This pain may be all that remains of their time together.
Maybe this heartache is all you've left.
The person they loved may have left nothing else behind but heartache and longing.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@patgriffinsloan3779
I love this group, such good tight harmony....awesome sound, they were in Muscle Shoals and I was not able to go see them, sad, one of my favs.....love you Sian and Ray.