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.
The Waves
Villagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up in the diamond sky
Stronger than you and I
Am a wave
I break through the barrier reef
Cut through the carbon sea
Approaching the shore
Look at the sky, look at the trees
Look at the cars, look at the birds
And all of these invented words
One body's dying breath is another's birth
What are you running from?
What are you running from?
Sister jewelry, brother judging, you are recognized this grudge
Buried deep beneath the sands of these ridiculous demands
No time for innocence, or sitting on the fence
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna...
When the waves
Cover the coastal plains
The tents and the cars and the trains
And the trace of honey bees sanitaries
Of well insulated dignitaries
All screaming of the memory of the human love
For anything, or anyone
Look at the birds, look at the bees
Madam, it's all the same to me
Look at the girls, look at the gold
Gathered, beat and bought and sold
One man's innocence is another's chance
What were you thinking of?
What were you thinking of?
Now please let me boil it down to this, my son
This party's getting wet, but it ain't over yet
So what is it gonna be?
What is it gonna be?
What is it gonna be?
Just let the waves
Cover the coastal plains
The fear and guilt and the pain
And the trace of honey bee jealousy
Of well insulated bigotry
And if you don't agree
You better get back inside your cave
'cause we're all dancing with the waves
Up in the diamond sky
Stronger than you and I
Am a wave
I break through the barrier reef
Cut through the carbon sea
Approaching the shore [18x]
In Villagers' song "The Waves," the lyrics speak to a larger theme of a world in chaos and the constant and unstoppable metaphorical waves that come with it. The waves referred to throughout the song are not just physical, but also represent revolutions, change, and progress. The singer notes that the waves are "stronger than you and I," suggesting that humanity is powerless to stop the constant changes in the world.
The second verse references how we, as humans, tend to prioritize earthly possessions over the natural world. The final verse speaks to the idea of acceptance and letting go of fears and grudges as the waves come crashing in. The singer suggests that fighting against the waves is futile, and the best option is to dance and embrace them.
The song's instrumentals are haunting and atmospheric, adding to the sense of impending doom and the overwhelming power of the waves. Villagers' lead singer, Conor O'Brien, delivers the lyrics with emotion and vulnerability, making the listener feel as though they too are facing the waves.
Line by Line Meaning
There are waves
The world is in constant motion.
Up in the diamond sky
This movement can be seen in the sky and stars.
Stronger than you and I
These natural forces are more powerful than any individual human being.
Am a wave
The artist also recognizes their own place in the motion of the world.
I break through the barrier reef
The artist is determined and persistent, able to overcome obstacles.
Cut through the carbon sea
The singer is cutting through the world, changing it as they go.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Look at the sky, look at the trees
The world is full of beauty and wonder.
Man, it's all the same to me
The artist sees the interconnectedness of everything in the world.
Look at the cars, look at the birds
Even seemingly disparate elements of the world are part of the same system.
And all of these invented words
Human language is a tool that can be used to differentiate and divide.
One body's dying breath is another's birth
Death is a part of the natural cycle of life.
What are you running from?
The singer questions why humans try to escape or avoid the natural world.
Sister jewelry, brother judging, you are recognized this grudge
Society is full of petty grievances and disputes between individuals.
Buried deep beneath the sands of these ridiculous demands
The trivialities of human life often overshadow more important aspects of existence.
No time for innocence, or sitting on the fence
The world is constantly in motion, and there is no time to be passive or neutral.
What are you gonna do?
The artist challenges the listener to take action and make a difference.
When the waves
The natural world will eventually bring change and upheaval.
Cover the coastal plains
Natural disasters and changes in the environment will have profound impacts on humans.
The tents and the cars and the trains
Man-made structures and machines are vulnerable to the power of nature.
And the trace of honey bees sanitaries
Even small things like the decline of bees can have far-reaching consequences.
Of well insulated dignitaries
Those in power are often out of touch with the real world and the consequences of their actions.
All screaming of the memory of the human love
In the end, what will matter most is how humans showed love and compassion to each other.
Look at the birds, look at the bees
Nature is full of wonder and beauty.
Madam, it's all the same to me
The singer sees the interconnectedness of everything in the world.
Look at the girls, look at the gold
Human desires for wealth and pleasure are also a part of the natural world.
Gathered, beat and bought and sold
Human greed and capitalism are damaging to the world and its inhabitants.
One man's innocence is another's chance
Innocence and opportunity are relative concepts.
What were you thinking of?
The artist questions the listener's motivations and desires.
Now please let me boil it down to this, my son
The singer provides a summary of their message, addressed to a younger person.
This party's getting wet, but it ain't over yet
There is still time to make a positive impact and change the course of the world.
So what is it gonna be?
The artist challenges the listener to take responsibility for their actions and make a decision.
Just let the waves
The artist encourages acceptance of natural processes that are out of our control.
Cover the coastal plains
Nature will eventually have its way.
The fear and guilt and the pain
Humans have created their own suffering, but can also take steps to alleviate it.
And the trace of honey bee jealousy
Humans can learn from the interconnectedness of the natural world.
Of well insulated bigotry
Those in power are often insulated from the consequences of their actions, and may harbor harmful beliefs.
And if you don't agree
The singer acknowledges that not everyone will share their perspective.
You better get back inside your cave
The singer uses humor to suggest that those who are resistant to change or new ideas are outdated or primitive.
'cause we're all dancing with the waves
We are all part of the natural world, subject to its forces and processes.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Approaching the shore
The future is coming, with uncertain consequences.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind