Via Audio was formed in 2003 in between classes at the infamous Berklee College of Music in Boston. After releasing a self-titled EP on the small independent Kill Normal Records in 2004, the band first garnered attention when Death Cab for Cutie’s guitarist Chris Walla dubbed them his “new favorite band,” in his column for Under the Radar Magazine.
They soon after caught the attention of Spoon drummer Jim Eno, who would become their longtime producer, collaborator and comrade. With Eno’s help behind the board, Via Audio released their first full-length, Say Something, in 2007 on California-based indie label Sidecho Records. Pitchfork Media described Say Something as having “such a beautiful gloss over everything that it sticks, hurts, and feels delicious" and the album received accolades from Spin, Nylon, Under the Radar, Alternative Press, theTripwire, and Stereogum, among others. The band has since toured the U.S. and Japan alongside the likes of Spoon, White Rabbits, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Ha Ha Tonka, and Modern Skirts, making appearances at the South By Southwest, Monolith, and CMJ festivals.
Shutting themselves up again in Eno’s Austin, Texas home studio in 2009, the group tackled their latest songbook- the lo-fi electronics of “Digital,” the soul-infused funk of “Goldrush,” the ethereal surf-lament of “Wanted,” the glittery R&B pop of “Babies”- as Eno carefully and artfully crafted different sonic palettes for each unique song on Animalore. The result is an album that plays like a pop-up book for adults, bursting with vivid colors and secret corridors at the turn of every page.
Hello
Via Audio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
though it isn't so hard to say
but you know
maybe it would make your day
but no,
you go and you are on your way
Maybe you can stop and see the day
Hey.
I didn't mean to wake you
I just want to make sure you are
Are A okay
And it gets under my skin sometimes
How hard
it can be to get in sometimes
to your heart
or even into conversation
I have no explanation for group effort silence.
How could it be
someone could find me
too scary to say hello to.
No I didn't mean to wake you
I just want to make sure you are
Are A okay
I don't want to make a fuss
I'm just growing tired of us
so tired of us.
The lyrics to Via Audio's song "Hello" express the frustration of trying to connect with someone who seems closed off or distant. The singer acknowledges that saying "hello" should be an easy thing to do, but there are times when it feels like a difficult task. The implication is that the person they are addressing might benefit from hearing a friendly greeting, but they are too caught up in their own concerns to stop and engage. The singer seems to be expressing concern for this person's well-being and wants to make sure that they are "A okay."
The second verse delves deeper into the struggle to connect with others. The singer shares their perspective, admitting that sometimes it can be difficult to break through someone's emotional barriers and truly get to know them. They seem to be reflecting on the ways in which these barriers can manifest, such as in awkward silences or a general lack of engagement. The line "someone could find me too scary to say hello to" suggests that the singer may also struggle to connect with others, or that they are aware of their own flaws that make it difficult for them to form relationships.
The final lines of the song evoke a sense of weariness or resignation. The singer doesn't want to cause a scene, but they are tired of the current dynamic and seem to be unsure how to move forward. The repetition of "tired of us" emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in a rut or a pattern of behavior that is not serving anyone well. Overall, the lyrics to "Hello" capture the complexities of human interaction and the struggle to form genuine connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Well hello,
The singer greets someone in a friendly manner.
though it isn't so hard to say
The singer believes that saying 'hello' should be an easy thing for everyone to do.
but you know
The singer acknowledges that the person they are addressing may already be aware of what they are saying.
maybe it would make your day
The artist suggests that saying 'hello' could potentially have a positive effect on the other person's mood.
but no,
The artist observes that the other person does not say 'hello' back.
you go and you are on your way
The singer notes that the other person continues on their journey without acknowledging the singer.
Maybe you can stop and see the day
The singer implies that stopping to appreciate the present moment could be beneficial to the other person's well-being.
Hey.
The artist ends their greeting with an informal word.
I didn't mean to wake you
The artist clarifies that they did not intend to interrupt the other person's sleep.
I just want to make sure you are
The artist wants to check on the other person's well-being.
Are A okay
The singer uses a rhyming phrase that means 'are you doing well?'
And it gets under my skin sometimes
The artist feels annoyed by something that is happening.
How hard
The singer comments on how difficult it is to accomplish something.
it can be to get in sometimes
The singer finds it challenging to connect with the other person emotionally.
to your heart
The singer is referring to the other person's emotions or feelings.
or even into conversation
The artist struggles to have a meaningful conversation with the other person.
I have no explanation for group effort silence.
The artist is confused by a situation where everyone is quiet and not talking.
How could it be
The singer is questioning how it is possible that something is happening the way it is.
someone could find me
The singer is surprised that someone might have a negative perception of them.
too scary to say hello to.
The artist is shocked that someone would find them intimidating enough to not even say 'hello'.
No I didn't mean to wake you
The artist repeats their earlier statement for emphasis.
I just want to make sure you are
The artist repeats their intention to check on the other person's well-being.
Are A okay
The singer repeats the rhyming phrase to check if the other person is doing well.
I don't want to make a fuss
The artist wants to avoid causing any drama or conflict.
I'm just growing tired of us
The singer admits that they are becoming exhausted with the relationship between themselves and the other person.
so tired of us.
The singer emphasizes their feelings of weariness towards the situation.
Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jessica Martins
on Setup
These are the lyrics to “Setup”, not Mouth Shut - also, the last line is actually “Well, what about me?” (I am the songwriter!)