The… Read Full Bio ↴Villagers are an Irish band from Dublin fronted by Conor J. O'Brien.
They have performed at several music festivals and toured with Tracy Chapman, Bell X1 and Tindersticks. They have one EP, titled Hollow Kind (2009). Their debut album Becoming a Jackal was released in 2010 and was shortlisted for that year's Mercury Prize and their second album {Awayland} was released in 2013.
Conor O'Brien formed Villagers after the break-up of his previous band The Immediate. The very next day, O'Brien wrote the first song after waking up with a hangover. O'Brien's time as a guitarist in Cathy Davey's band was also critical to the development of his style as he had never before performed alongside anyone outside of The Immediate. Villagers gave their first live performance as a support act with The Chapters at a show in Whelan's in November 2008. At that point the band had previously only rehearsed together on two occasions. They had only seven songs, written by O'Brien and passed on to the rest of the band to learn.
Villagers performed on the seventh series of RTÉ Two's Other Voices television programme in 2009. The band's debut EP, titled Hollow Kind, was released in February 2009. It contained four tracks, all of which were written by O'Brien and performed by him too. The EP brought comparisons with Bright Eyes and Sparklehorse. Villagers then went on tour. They were a support act for Neil Young and toured across Europe with Tracy Chapman.
Villagers appeared at several festivals in 2009. They supported Bell X1 when they performed at Live at the Marquee in Cork on June 26, 2009. They performed at several music festivals in Ireland, including on the Sunday of Oxegen 2009, at Indie-pendence on August 2 and at Electric Picnic 2009, as well as at Latitude Festival in the UK. The Irish Times's Jim Carroll recommended their performance in the Body Soul Arena at Electric Picnic 2009 as "A must-see for those who dig ragged pop, eerie folk and heartfelt, emotional songs and sounds". They headlined Hard Working Class Heroes in 2009, with O'Brien attracting the ire of the audience when he requested some quiet during the performance. They gave a live performance at The Music Show in Dublin's RDS in October 2009.
The debut single of Villagers was "On a Sunlit Stage" and was released in October 2009.
On January 15, 2010, Villagers represented Ireland at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, the Netherlands. They were involved in efforts to raise funds in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. They embarked on a tour with Tindersticks in March 2010 and released the single "Becoming a Jackal" on April 17, 2010. A debut album Becoming a Jackal was released in Ireland on 14 May 2010, with a UK release in May and a US release due on 8 June 2010. The album immediately went to number one on both the Irish Albums Chart and the Irish Indie Albums Chart. It proceeded to continuously top the indie chart.
Said by Conor J. O’Brien himself:
- “Ultimately, I’ve learned that a song is not an isolated thing. You have to wash the dishes before you write a song. It should never be taken too seriously. It must be treated with joy and humour, regardless of the subject matter,” muses Conor, as he strokes his hairless chin.
- “The aim is to feel the songs out. If I don’t surprise myself, then it is a worthless endeavour. Indeed, I would apply this attitude to all aspects of this project. The songs are quite decisive, but I have no idea what I am doing, or where I am going.” Again, he strokes his chin, this time with a look of resigned confusion. “Once the songs took shape, I asked some friends of mine to help me play them to people. When they kindly agreed, I decided that we would present ourselves as ‘Villagers’ – I don’t really know why. I think I like the name because it doesn’t offend the songs.” With this, he puts his clothes back on and bids me farewell. On returning to my office, I slip on a banana peel and subsequently die.
Love Came with All That It Brings
Villagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That love came with all that it brings
Her longbows were lost in the rain
When she severed her heart
With the blade
And hell is a place that's reserved
For people it fully deserves
They've saved her her own special place
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Love came with all that it brings
Including the fact that it stings
Like a motherfucker
Love came with all that it brings
And just as the fat lady sings
We want more
Love came with all that it brings
Including the fact that it stings
Like a motherfucker
Love came with all that it brings
And just as the fat lady sings
We want more
In "Love Came with All That It Brings" by Villagers, the lyrics depict a person who was simply going about their life when love unexpectedly entered their world. However, love is not portrayed as a wholly positive experience. The line "That love came with all that it brings" suggests that love brings both joy and pain, encompassing all the highs and lows that come with it.
The next line, "Her longbows were lost in the rain," metaphorically describes how the person's defenses and protective measures were washed away by the overwhelming emotions brought on by love. They took a risk and "severed her heart with the blade," willingly opening themselves up to vulnerability and potential heartbreak.
The lyrics then shift to the idea of hell being a place reserved for those who deserve it. This could imply that the person believes they will somehow be punished or suffer consequences for allowing themselves to fall in love. They prepare for the worst by "packing her bags just in case" and expect to be assigned "her own special place" in this metaphorical hell.
The repeated refrain, "Love came with all that it brings," reinforces the idea that love encompasses both positive and negative aspects. It stings like a "motherfucker," suggesting the pain can be intense. Yet, despite the pain, there is a desire for more. The line "we want more" implies a craving for the intoxicating and transformative power of love, even if it brings hardships.
Overall, the lyrics of "Love Came with All That It Brings" present a complex view of love, recognizing its capacity for both beauty and pain. It explores the duality of love and the human longing for continued connection, despite the accompanying challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
She was just doing her thing
She was going about her life, minding her own business
That love came with all that it brings
Love arrived with all its joys, hardships, and complications
Her longbows were lost in the rain
Her optimism and dreams were shattered
When she severed her heart with the blade
When she intentionally caused herself emotional pain and heartbreak
And hell is a place that's reserved
Hell is a destination meant for those who deserve it
For people it fully deserves
For individuals who have earned their place in hell
So she's packing her bags just in case
She is preparing to leave, anticipating a future in hell
They've saved her her own special place
They have reserved a specific spot for her in hell
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Expressing surprise or astonishment
Including the fact that it stings like a motherfucker
Acknowledging that love can cause immense emotional pain
And just as the fat lady sings
At the point when it seems all hope is lost
We want more
Desiring additional love, despite its challenges
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Conor Joseph O'Brien
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind