In the two years following the release of Phylactery Factory, Casey Dienel and fellow band-mate Shawn Creeden moved from the east coast where they were previously based to Portland. During this time, Dienel was left without her piano where she recorded her sophomore album using various drum machines and synthesizers. On March 9, 2010, Kairos was released by Dead Oceans and the song Icarus has been featured in various commercials and films.
Icarus
White Hinterland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Til covered in dew
All pink and new and reborn
Cut past the grey and countless forms
Condemned to be killed or be conquered.
Slender as a carp you are
Your skin defiantly silver and so sure
I watch you skate like a knife
Beneath the water
Though I can see clearly what's ahead of me
I cannot stop it once I'm set a-spinning
What can it mean, why must I always see
The ending at the beginning?
Together going arm and arm
To meet our solitude, to meet it head on
I'll meet you where the water's warm
To meet my solitude, to meet it head on
Though I can see clearly ahead of me
I cannot stop it once I'm set a-spinning
What can it mean? Why must I always see
The ending at the beginning?
The song "Icarus" by White Hinterland features hauntingly beautiful and introspective lyrics about conquering one's fears and limitations in order to discover rebirth and new beginnings. The song begins with the desire for change, as the singer longs to be covered in sun and dew in order to feel new and reborn. The imagery of cutting past the grey and countless forms suggests a willingness to shed the past and embrace the uncertain future.
The song then shifts to a comparison between the singer and the slender carp, with the carp's silver skin representing a sense of defiance and sureness. The singer, however, is unsure about the future and watches the carp skate like a knife beneath the water. Despite this uncertainty, the singer is unable to stop the spinning motion that propels them forward, even though they can clearly see what's ahead.
The final stanza of the song showcases a sense of acceptance and surrender, as the singer decides to face their solitude head-on, to meet it where the water's warm. The repeated questioning of why the singer must always see the ending at the beginning suggests a fear of failure or disappointment, but the determination to move forward despite this fear is a powerful and inspiring message.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the sun rain down on me
I want to bask in the sun until it covers me in dew.
'Til covered in dew
I want to bask in the sun until it covers me in dew.
All pink and new and reborn
I want to feel refreshed and new like a rebirth.
Cut past the grey and countless forms
I want to get away from the dullness and monotony of life.
Condemned to be killed or be conquered.
Life is a constant struggle and we are either going to conquer it or fall to it.
Slender as a carp you are
You are as graceful as a fish.
Your skin defiantly silver and so sure
You exude confidence with your silver skin.
As for me, I am not so sure
I am not as sure of myself as you appear to be.
I watch you skate like a knife
I admire the way you glide through life with precision.
Beneath the water
Like a fish in its natural habitat.
Though I can see clearly what's ahead of me
I am aware of what the future holds.
I cannot stop it once I'm set a-spinning
I am powerless to change my fate once it's set in motion.
What can it mean, why must I always see
I question why I am always aware of what's to come.
The ending at the beginning?
I always know how things will turn out before they even begin.
Together going arm and arm
We're united in this journey and will face it together.
To meet our solitude, to meet it head on
We'll face our personal demons head-on.
I'll meet you where the water's warm
I'll be there to support you when things get tough.
To meet my solitude, to meet it head on
I'll face my personal demons head-on.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Casey Susan Dienel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nobynoby2763
used to listen to this in my lonely adolescence where my family didnt want to see me and i had no friends, never spoke to anyone, imagined myself spinning in a huge open field of fresh snow, grinning, happy, careless....
@lusibalwethusesanti852
cherie1151 literally me
@yukers
Sending you a big squeezy hug Kirstie 💖
@TheDilden
are you me
@OkaySoShit
Hello
@jonathonweibel9440
This was my song after my ex left me.. I watched the movie with Zach Galifianakis like prolly 10000 times when I went to NEC for a while.. Thankfully I'm still here today! Thank you 🙂
@AngeIForever
Heard this on Pretty Little Liars and ever since was obsessed with this music ! Love it.. Its magical x
@EmilyHummingbird
This song sparks magic somewhere inside my soul.
@Backto94
Oh my God! Just found this on my ipod! So melancholic! Wish i could turn back time and be who am i today, more soft and easy! Loveee ♥️
@asiamonyoi
Been listening to this song since 2011 #PLL and I’m back for all the feels.