Tom Williams and The Boat are a 6 piece anti-folk band from Tunbridge Wells… Read Full Bio ↴Tom Williams and The Boat are a 6 piece anti-folk band from Tunbridge Wells best described as Bob Dylan meets Lightspeed Champion/Eugene McGuiness with the lyrical style of Regina Spektor or Win Butler.

Hailing from the town of Tunbridge Wells, Tom Williams & The Boat first formed as a natural progression from Tom William’s solo work. With drums, bass, violins, guitars, mouth organs, and pianos, their sound is epic and adventurous whilst retaining a strong personality and humanity, rooted in Tom’s song-writing. The band have earned a growing fan-base through supporting bands such as The Wombats, Good Books, Jack Penate, Jeremy Warmsley, Emmy the Great, and Laura Marling.

The first edition of the new Tom Williams and The Boat EP, The Penguin EP, is to be released by UNlabel on limited edition CD with hand finished artwork. Recorded onto 2'' tape at The Granary Studios in Lamberhurst, Kent, with a new group of players, The Penguin EP has earned interest from indie and major-level heavyweights.

http://www.tomwilliamsandtheboat.co.uk/

Misery
Tom Williams & The Boat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There are voices in my head
Some I can sense, some seem dead
They sing in grey matter
Of light and sound darkness

Don't you get tired of me
Of this slavery, voices?
Can't you look out of me

And find a friend in need, voices?

Where are the lights that blinded my hell
And choked my earth?
Where are the lies that spilled my dreams
Forbade me to cry...

Sweet, oh sweet misery
You have the right to breathe in peace

Sweet misery
For once please let me forgive...

Overall Meaning

In the opening lines of "Misery," Tom Williams & The Boat evoke a sense of inner turmoil through the imagery of conflicting voices in the singer's head. The mention of some voices being sensed while others seem dead hints at a mixture of past and present influences that continue to haunt the singer. The reference to these voices singing in grey matter reflects a sense of ambiguity and confusion, suggesting a blend of light and darkness within the singer's psyche.

The plea "Don't you get tired of me, of this slavery, voices?" suggests a sense of weariness and oppression brought on by the constant chatter within the singer's mind. The use of the word "slavery" implies a feeling of being held captive or controlled by these internal voices, further emphasizing the struggle and burden they represent to the singer. The question posed - "Can't you look out of me and find a friend in need, voices?" - hints at a desire for these voices to offer solace or support rather than adding to the singer's inner turmoil.

The subsequent lines of the song delve into a search for relief from the overwhelming internal chaos. The questions raised about the whereabouts of "the lights that blinded my hell and choked my earth" and "the lies that spilled my dreams" allude to past traumas or deceptions that have contributed to the singer's current state of despair. The reference to being forbidden to cry suggests a suppression of emotions, perhaps stemming from the weight of past experiences that continue to haunt the singer.

The chorus of "Misery" introduces a different perspective on the theme of suffering, as the singer addresses misery itself. The line "Sweet, oh sweet misery, you have the right to breathe in peace" conveys a complex relationship with pain and suffering, suggesting a begrudging acceptance and even a momentary sense of kinship with the concept of misery. The plea for "sweet misery" to "for once please let me forgive" hints at a desire for release or resolution, acknowledging the potential for growth or healing that may come from confronting and ultimately forgiving the source of one's suffering.

Line by Line Meaning

There are voices in my head
I am haunted by my thoughts and inner demons

Some I can sense, some seem dead
Some thoughts are more powerful than others, some are forgotten

They sing in grey matter
They manifest in my subconscious mind

Of light and sound darkness
Mixing feelings of hope and despair

Don't you get tired of me
A plea for the voices to go away

Of this slavery, voices?
Feeling trapped and controlled by my own thoughts

Can't you look out of me
Seeking relief and a connection to the outside world

And find a friend in need, voices?
Hoping for compassion and understanding from the voices haunting me

Where are the lights that blinded my hell
Where have the moments of happiness gone?

And choked my earth?
Causing me to suffocate under my own thoughts

Where are the lies that spilled my dreams
Where are the false promises that shattered my hopes?