After growing Skyharbor as one of India's biggest rock bands with songwriter Keshav Dhar, including taking the stage with acts such as Lamb of God and Deftones, the pair collaborated on Tompkins' new Contemporary Pop project with progressive and experimental music at its heart.
'Atone', the new album from WMBB, is masterfully built on organic, textured and cinematic sounds, with two opposing themes of loss and hope. Tompkins explains - "Whilst songs like "Tempest" and "Atone" focus on faith and forgiveness, others like "Rising Sun" and "An Ocean Away" linger on love and nostalgia; throwing the listener into a bygone world of having less and caring more. The front cover artwork captures the beauty of nature and the harsh realities of life: power and dominance. White Moth Black Butterfly represents that very same struggle."
The album was recorded across the globe at studios in India, the UK, US and Taiwan, bringing in their international roster of performers. This included the band's other writers: Randy Slaugh, the producer and string arranger for Skyharbor in the US, who has also worked with Devin Townsend, Architects and Periphery; and co-singer and lyricist Jordan Turner.
Atone
White Moth Black Butterfly Lyrics
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And you bring me hope before I take the blow
And I can find nothing that will bind you
There's always mystery to hide you
I'm feeding the shadow that's beside you
And I can find nothing that will bind you
Come and go the trick is to own
You're taking life, you're taking hope
That's where the flashback starts, the flashback grows
Like the sun on the stone, it comes and goes
And with the warmth of hope
I'm leaving to atone
And I can find nothing that will bind you
There's always mystery to hide you
I'm feeding the shadow that's beside you
And I can find nothing that will bind you
Come and go, the trick is to own
You're taking life, you're taking hope
Fast or slow, there's nowhere to go
That's where the flashback starts, the flashback grows
The lyrics of White Moth Black Butterfly's song "Atone" convey a sense of fleetingness and transience, using vivid imagery to depict a delicate and elusive presence. The opening lines compare the subject to the scent of a rose, suggesting that they appear and disappear like a fragrance in the air. The presence of this person brings hope before a blow, implying that they may provide temporary comfort or solace in difficult times.
The recurring theme of not being able to bind or fully understand this mysterious person is emphasized throughout the lyrics. They are described as having an enigmatic aura, always hiding behind a veil of mystery. The singer acknowledges their futile attempts to find something that can hold this person down or keep them close. It seems as though the relationship between the singer and the subject is one of duality, with the singer feeding the shadow that is beside this person, possibly suggesting a tendency to enable their elusive nature.
The chorus brings a sense of reflection and introspection. It speaks of the trick of embracing the presence of this person, asserting that they simultaneously bring life and hope, whether at a fast or slow pace. However, it also implies a sense of a dead-end or a limited future, with nowhere to go. The flashback mentioned in the lyrics signifies a turning point or a moment of realization. It is from this point that the longing for atonement arises, like the sun coming and going on a stone's surface. The warmth of hope becomes the driving force for the singer to leave and seek redemption, perhaps suggesting that the relationship with this mysterious person has led to some form of guilt or remorse.
Overall, "Atone" contemplates the contradictory emotions that arise from a connection with someone elusive and cryptic. It explores the challenges of understanding and holding onto someone who constantly comes and goes, while also acknowledging the transformative power they possess.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the scent of a rose you come and go
You enter and exit my life, leaving a fleeting impression like the fragrance of a rose.
And you bring me hope before I take the blow
You provide me with a sense of optimism just before I face a difficult situation.
And I can find nothing that will bind you
I cannot discover anything that can restrain or confine you.
There's always mystery to hide you
There is perpetually an aura of secrecy surrounding your true nature.
I'm feeding the shadow that's beside you
I am nourishing the darkness that accompanies you.
Come and go the trick is to own
The key is to have control over your transient presence.
You're taking life, you're taking hope
You are both consuming and stealing away the essence of life and optimism.
Fast or slow, there's nowhere to go
Whether moving quickly or slowly, there is no specific destination to reach.
That's where the flashback starts, the flashback grows
That is the point where memories and recollections begin, and they intensify over time.
Like the sun on the stone, it comes and goes
Similar to the intermittent presence of the sun's rays on a stone, your influence waxes and wanes.
And with the warmth of hope
Accompanied by the comforting and inspiring feeling of hope.
I'm leaving to atone
I am departing in order to make amends or seek redemption.
Lyrics © Sentric Music
Written by: Randy Slaugh, Keshav Dhar, Jordan Turner, Daniel Tompkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind