Vetiver is an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic and often … Read Full Bio ↴Vetiver is an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic and often joined by Devendra Banhart, cellist Alissa Anderson, and violinist Jim Gaylord. They released their debut album Vetiver in 2004 on the small indie folk label DiCristina. Since the album's release Vetiver has toured extensively, opening for and collaborating with Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom. Before moving to San Francisco Cabic was a member of the North Carolina indie rock band The Raymond Brake who released some records on the now-defunct Simple Machines label. The band is named after the grass, vetiver. Their music has been described as 'surreal', 'lullingly pleasant', 'tender and accessible' and 'quirky and warm'.

Farther On
Vetiver Lyrics

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It was a good time
Good time to stop and watch the city breathe, doll
You know, now we're lost
And have nothing to lose

I remember simple things
How's a building get so tall?
No one way to explain

Since we have not yet seen all

The sights there are here to see
Only them will we finally revel in

The good times
Good times
Oh, the good times
Shouldn't be this hard to find

When I see the people standing there
Shy, cerebral in the lonely air
Disenchanted, stony eyes
Bored to tears, but dry inside

Farther on, they'll collide
Intimate, but still strangers
The dangers in each other's eyes

I remember simple things
How's a building get so tall?
No one way to explain
Since we have not yet seen all

The good times
Good times

Oh, the good times
Shouldn't be this hard to find

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Vetiver's song Farther On speak of the contrast between the beauty and possibilities of life and the jaded, disenchanted perspective that many people carry around with them on a day-to-day basis. The opening lines invoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for the cityscape, but this feeling is quickly displaced by a sense of being lost and directionless. The singer reflects on the simple things in life that can be so fascinating to contemplate yet can't always be explained with certainty - like the way a building can get so tall. These moments of curiosity and awe are juxtaposed with images of people standing around, disenchanted and stony-eyed, as if they are unable to see the same beauty that the singer sees.

The chorus of the song reinforces this theme of lost potential and longing for something better. The phrase "good times" is repeated multiple times, as if to suggest that there is something missing or lacking in the present moment that the singer and perhaps others in the song are searching for. There is a sense of frustration that this sense of joy and wonder seems to be so elusive and difficult to locate.

The final stanza of the song paints a picture of two people colliding, intimate yet still strangers, with danger present in each other's eyes. This image speaks to the idea that connecting with others can be difficult and fraught with risk, but it is also necessary for finding deeper meaning and purpose in life. The song ends with a repetition of the earlier stanzas, underscoring the sense of hope and longing that permeates the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a good time
The moment was just right

Good time to stop and watch the city breathe, doll
We should pause to admire the city's beauty

You know, now we're lost
Currently, we are unsure and directionless

And have nothing to lose
We have no risks, no dangers

I remember simple things
Nostalgia for times gone by

How's a building get so tall?
Contemplation of architectural marvels

No one way to explain
Different perspectives, no single way to describe

Since we have not yet seen all
We haven't experienced everything yet

Only them will we finally revel in
The only way to fully enjoy them is to see them ourselves

The good times
Joys of life

Good times
Further emphasis on the pleasures of existence