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.
Nothing Arrived
Villagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So why should we fear what travel brings?
What were we hoping to get out of this?
Some kind of momentary bliss?
I waited for something, and something died
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
It's our dearest ally, it's our closest friend
My dear sweet nothing, let's start a new
From here all in is just me and you
I waited for something and something died
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
Well I guess it's over, I guess it's begun
It's a losers' table, but we've already won
It's a funny battle, it's a constant game
I guess I was busy when nothing came
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I waited for something and something died
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
I waited for something and something died
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
The song "Nothing Arrived" by Villagers is a meditation on the human condition of longing, disappointment, and the cycle of hope and despair that often characterizes our lives. The opening lines of the song set the stage for a journey: "Savanna scatters and the seabird sings / So why should we fear what travel brings?" These lines suggest the limitless possibilities of travel and the adventure that awaits, but then the crucial question is posed: "What were we hoping to get out of this? / Some kind of momentary bliss?" The singer is searching for meaning and purpose, but is confronted with the possibility that perhaps there are no answers.
The chorus of the song is haunting and poignant: "I waited for something, and something died / So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived." These lines evoke a sense of profound loss and disillusionment, but they also suggest the possibility of starting again, of finding a new beginning in the midst of failure and disappointment. The refrain "My dear sweet nothing, let's start a new / From here all in is just me and you" suggests an intimate bond between two people, a kind of refuge in the midst of chaos.
The final verse of the song is a reflection on the passing of time and the futility of certain pursuits: "It's a loser's table, but we've already won / It's a funny battle, it's a constant game / I guess I was busy when nothing came." These lines speak to the reality of human existence, that despite our best efforts, there is often no resolution or satisfying conclusion. The song is ultimately a meditation on the human tendency to hope, to dream, and to yearn for something more, while acknowledging the inevitability of disappointment and the importance of finding beauty and meaning in the midst of uncertainty and ambiguity.
Line by Line Meaning
Savanna scatters and the seabird sings
Nature lives on despite our preoccupations with our own situations and worries.
So why should we fear what travel brings?
Why should we be afraid of what the journey ahead will bring us?
What were we hoping to get out of this?
What were our expectations when we started this journey?
Some kind of momentary bliss?
Were we searching for fleeting happiness?
I waited for something, and something died
I expected something out of this journey, but it was fruitless.
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
I waited thinking that nothing was better than something, but even that ended up being futile.
It's our dearest ally, it's our closest friend
Nothingness is a constant presence in our lives.
It's our darkest blackout, it's our final end
The absence of something can be likened to a state of darkness and an eventual end.
My dear sweet nothing, let's start a new
Accepting the emptiness, we can move forward and start anew.
From here all in is just me and you
We don't have anything but each other now.
Well I guess it's over, I guess it's begun
The journey is over, but the realization and acceptance of nothingness marks a new beginning.
It's a losers' table, but we've already won
Not having any expectations, we have won by being content and accepting.
It's a funny battle, it's a constant game
The pursuit of something eventually leads to nothing, creating a cycle of expectation, loss, and acceptance.
I guess I was busy when nothing came
Perhaps I was too preoccupied looking for something and missed the moment when nothing came.
I waited for something and something died
I held expectations, only to have them eventually disappear.
So I waited for nothing, and nothing arrived
I thought accepting nothing was the way to go, but in the end, it didn't bring me anything either.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Conor O'Brien
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fatima Ramirez
Savanna scatters and the seabird sings
So why should we fear what travel brings?
What were we hoping to get out of this?
Some kind of momentary bliss?
I waited for Something, and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
It's our dearest ally, it's our closest friend
It's our darkest blackout, it's our final end
My dear sweet Nothing, let's start a new
From here all in is just me and you
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
Well I guess it's over, I guess it's begun
It's a losers' table, but we've already won
It's a funny battle, it's a constant game
I guess I was busy when Nothing came
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
Sebastian
Savanna scatters and the seabird sings
So why should we fear what travel brings?
What were we hoping to get out of this?
Some kind of momentary bliss?
I waited for something and something died
So I waited for nothing and nothing arrived
It's our dearest ally, it's our closest friend
It's our darkest blackout, it's our final end
My dear sweet nothing, let's start a new
From here all in is just me and you
I waited for something
And something died
So I waited for nothing
And nothing arrived
Well I guess it's over
I guess it's begun
It's a losers' table, but we've already won
It's a funny battle, it's a constant game
I guess I was busy when nothing came
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when nothing arrived)
I waited for something
And something died
So I waited for nothing
And nothing arrived
I waited for something
And something died
So I waited for nothing
And nothing arrived
(Nothing arrived)
ladybluetexan
"I waited for nothing...and nothing arrived." I love this. It IS all in your outlook. Your mind is your most powerful organ.
Mirhan Ashour
Pmmkkkkkkkikki i
Sgt.I.DontCare
My soul trembled a little in the moment when he realised that when he finally has gotten what he hoped for long years it actually didn't change anything.
I feel empty now...
Bunathan
Or maybe he didn't want anything to change...
We never saw him turn it in.
Valeska Weich
@Bunathan I think youre both right and I thought I might react the same...first the realisation...then the reason why...so sad..but true for too many..
Phoenix Noiré
Maybe it doesn't matter because he knew it was too late to make the right choices, and he's has to learn to make peace with that. He should have changed from within, but what's the point anymore? Powerful shit.
Benjamin Mckee
This version of the song is extremely underappreciated.
femmecorbeau
i can understand this video and song pretty well. in 1990 i won a week in maui for two people at a professional conference in tucson; i was living in portland, oregon. i took my 12-yr-old son during christmas time, and it was very beautiful, total luxury. but i was so depressed with a chronic depression that i barely got through the week. when our minds are sick, when we've lost all confidence in ourselves, barely anything gets in... even the best of luck.
Kariss D Miles
this is truly beautiful. I'm currently drunk on baileys and me and my man listened to this which made us stop, we stopped and listened like the earth stopped with us.
mel jade
i think its about looking outward for happiness where it can never be found because it comes from within. loveee it