UMBRELLAS’ ILLUMINARE
(Latin; meaning to light the way or illustrate.)
When Scott Windsor and the timeless yet refreshing band Umbrellas released their debut self-titled record in 2005, they may not have guessed that one year later, they’d find themselves livening-up a drab, abandoned comedy club—recording songs on giant stages and in refrigerators for their follow-up, Illuminare. Umbrellas’ sophomore Militia Group release was recorded in two solid weeks of near fifteen-hour recording sessions, where Scott and his band’s musings were tested and brought to life.
When Umbrellas’ debut hit the shelves, it was recognized as a dynamic, eager offering. The band toured heavily and new ideas began swimming inside Windsor’s head. Those ideas formed icebergs—and the only option was to dismantle and re-conduct the near-avalanche of visions, abstractions, melodies and structures. The debut, birthed in decidedly artistic, collaborative ways, proved to be an even more cautious outing compared to Illuminare.
Hanging blankets across the empty, dusty and evocative shell of an old comedy club, Scott and his Umbrellas started tracking their new record Illuminare. They went forth in unsafe, less-than secure scenarios with nearby ‘06 tornados in Oklahoma. Scott recalls: “The old comedy club had an odd feel to it. Grossly low-lit, strange hallways, off-color backrooms good for nothing—right there in the middle of downtown Tulsa—dodging tornados in the midst of recording. We constantly heard sirens going off, went outside to piss-green skies, sideways rain and I thought to myself ‘maybe they’ll find these recordings someday after we were all carried off.’ One of the band members’ car was stolen during the recording process by homeless people who stole it just to impress their friends. The van got broken into- we had a stolen hard drive. But bad luck could not stop this record.”
James McAlister (Ester Drang, Sufjan Stevens) played the drums, percussion, programming, and added lively, innovative ideas like sampling Scott’s voice as the keyboard parts for the song “Again and Again.” On the song, Scott sings: “Where’s the piano? The big, big bass drum?” Well, in that song, the piano’s right there in his vocal chords—which were adamantly, angelically bared just as they are on Illuminare. “Most of these songs only had one take on vocals—80% of the record. Every record nowadays, it seems you can find some pretty blonde, put auto-tune on it and just go with it.” Scott modestly adds: “I’m not the best singer but at least when you see us live, what you see is what you get and I’m not lying to fans.” And it seems that’s what the general mood and stance of this record: reality, and a sense for the organic, raw, forgotten sentiments. In the song “Tests on My Heart, Windsor sings of ‘getting over the self,’ recording in the aforementioned refrigerator with cold vocal-shadows and a Vaudevillian piano interlude. Illuminare grapples with notions of solitude, life, death, and the plain old blues. Scott sings of realistic love, infatuation, satisfaction, disappointment, life-balance, the letting-go, appeasement, idealism, and grace—all with a backdrop of blustery fall-out tunes with strange swirls of sound, smatterings of echoes and pulsings, huge bass hammerings and bells to chime the gladness in being right there where one’s supposed to be. Weathering the storms, and taking on the shadows and memories of calmer times and warmer rooms.
The players: Chad Copelin (producer, keys, guitar, bass), Nathan Price (drums, percussion), Eric Arndt (bass), Scott Windsor (vocals, guitars, percussion) James McAlister (drums, percussion, programming), Ryan Lindsey (piano, background vocals)
Scott 09 Sep 2006
Taken from their Website:
www.umbrellasmusic.com
Your Exit
Umbrellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My fingers bleed the day away
I might be sick here on this stage
Distance is relative but so is your empty name
I think I want out if it's all just the same
I'll be your exit if you'll just give me mine
All these circles and you're hanging them on the wall
Don't get so worked up
I had that dream again
Where you were flying high like a butterfly
I wanted to catch you to satisfy my hunger for hunting something down
Well I'm hunting you down
I'll be your exit if you'll just give me mine
All these circles and you're hanging them on the wall
I'll bite my tongue and taste the blood
I'm giving them what they want
I'll be your exit just give me mine
The lyrics of "Your Exit" by Umbrellas are hauntingly beautiful and introspective. From the first lines, the song seems to be about a person who is struggling with anxiety, possibly related to a performance on stage. The imagery of stomach knots and bleeding fingers is vivid and suggests physical discomfort. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the anxiety is actually related to a relationship. The line "Distance is relative but so is your empty name" suggests that the person's partner has become emotionally distant, leaving them feeling alone and abandoned.
Despite the pain, the person singing the song is ready to take action. The line "I think I want out if it's all just the same" suggests that they are considering ending the relationship. However, there is some hesitation here - the person wants to leave, but they also want the other person to let them go. The line "I'll be your exit if you'll just give me mine" is a powerful one, suggesting that the person wants to be free of the relationship without having to hurt the other person.
The final lines of the song cement this idea of a difficult, painful, but ultimately necessary breakup. The person singing the song is willing to "bite [their] tongue and taste the blood" in order to do what needs to be done. They are "giving them what they want" - perhaps referring to the expectations of friends and family who might disapprove of the breakup. Finally, the person reiterates their desire to leave, offering to be "your exit" as long as they can have their own sense of closure and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
My stomach is in knots
I am anxious and nervous, causing physical distress in my stomach
My fingers bleed the day away
I am working tirelessly, to the point of causing harm to myself
I might be sick here on this stage
I am possibly feeling ill due to the stress of performing on stage
Distance is relative but so is your empty name
The physical distance between us may not matter, but your lack of authenticity makes you insignificant
I think I want out if it's all just the same
I believe I want to leave this situation if everything will remain unchanged
I'll be your exit if you'll just give me mine
I will help you leave this situation if you allow me the same courtesy
All these circles and you're hanging them on the wall
You are preserving memories that repeat themselves without progress
Don't get so worked up
Do not become overly emotional or agitated
I'm still up here smiling
I am able to maintain a facade of happiness despite any internal struggles
I had that dream again
I have recurring dreams that cause me distress
Where you were flying high like a butterfly
You were carefree and unencumbered by any worries or responsibilities
I wanted to catch you to satisfy my hunger for hunting something down
I desired to capture that type of freedom and spirit for myself
Well I'm hunting you down
I am pursuing you in a similar manner, with the same tenacity and determination
I'll bite my tongue and taste the blood
I will restrain myself and suffer the consequences
I'm giving them what they want
I am fulfilling expectations and meeting obligations, even if it contradicts my own desires
I'll be your exit just give me mine
I will provide an escape for you, but please allow me the same opportunity
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Pz
"you were flying like a buttefly..."