They have released six albums in their career so far: 1995's Ignis Fatuus, which features symphonic folk rock in the vein of early King Crimson and Genesis as well as Mellow Candle; 1998's Ex Tenebris, which is minimalist prog/post-rock; 2000's Sacrament, a full-blown symphonic rock/pop release; 2004's Storm Season, mixing darker, more guitar-heavy elements into their sound; Signal to Noise in 2006; and 2011's Terminal Twilight.
White Willow's influences range from 10cc, The Beach Boys, Big Star and Steely Dan to King Crimson, Magma, Weather Report and even Nick Drake, and Joni Mitchell. Typical of their sound is the prominence of female vocals, flute, mellotrons, and analog synthesisers.
INSOMNIA
White Willow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the blood upon my hand cannot be my own
Wait for the chance that has been given to you
Now leave this obstacle of fate
Walk across the field of light
Leaving no traces on it's ground
For this second is now captured and frozen
In a secret place, hidden from the day
Time is everything
It stands it's strain
Feel the darkness drawing near
Breathe it's air
Like the rain that falls
Broken up yet frequently...
Just one last touch
As the curtain falls down
To halt the wheel in it's endless spinning
Hold twilight until dawn
To stop the stars in their skyward crossing
And the sun from growing cold
The lyrics to the song "Insomnia" by White Willow are poetic and metaphorical, creating a haunting and immersive experience. The song seems to be addressing the struggle of letting go of the past and facing the uncertainty of the future. The opening lines, "The end of the night seems so long and hard to bear, And the blood upon my hand cannot be my own," give the impression of someone who is struggling to find their way and feeling lost in the darkness. The blood on their hand represents the weight of their previous actions and choices, something that they cannot get rid of or change.
Throughout the song, the singer is encouraged to take a chance and embrace their future: "Wait for the chance that has been given to you, Now leave this obstacle of fate." They are urged to move forward without leaving any traces behind, to let go of the past and to live in the present. The lines "Walk across the field of light, Leaving no traces on its ground" speak to this idea of moving forward without being tethered to the past or encumbered by its weight.
The song seems to suggest that time is both all-powerful and irrelevant, emphasizing the need to live in the moment while acknowledging that the past and future are always with us. The lines "Time is everything, It stands it's strain, Feel the darkness drawing near" speak to the inevitability of change and the looming dread of the unknown. Overall, "Insomnia" is a powerful song that explores the intricate emotions of living in the present moment while grappling with the past and future.
Line by Line Meaning
The end of the night seems so long and hard to bear
The darkness of the night feels eternal and unbearable.
And the blood upon my hand cannot be my own
The singer has blood on their hands, but they know that it is not from their own body.
Wait for the chance that has been given to you
Be patient for the opportunity that has been presented to you.
Now leave this obstacle of fate
Do not let the predetermined fate be a hindrance to you.
Walk across the field of light
Move forward into the unknown with confidence and courage.
Leaving no traces on it's ground
Do not let your past define you or leave any marks on your present.
Dream tomorrow, come inside with us
Dream of a better future and join us in making it a reality.
For this second is now captured and frozen
This moment is fleeting yet eternalized in our memories forever.
In a secret place, hidden from the day
Preserve this moment in a private, sacred space hidden from external disturbances.
Time is everything
Time is the most precious and valuable commodity we possess.
It stands it's strain
Time endures through all trials and tribulations.
Feel the darkness drawing near
The looming darkness and uncertainty of the future is almost upon us.
Breathe it's air
Embrace the darkness and accept it as a part of our lives.
Like the rain that falls
Let the darkness pour over us like the rain pours over the earth.
Broken up yet frequently...
Despite being fragmented and disrupted, the darkness is omnipresent.
Just one last touch
The artist longs for a final goodbye or farewell.
As the curtain falls down
As the end of a chapter in life approaches, just like the end of a performance.
To halt the wheel in it's endless spinning
To stop the never-ending cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Hold twilight until dawn
Make the most of the hazy period between night and day and wait patiently for the new beginning.
To stop the stars in their skyward crossing
To stop the movement of celestial bodies that dictate the course of our lives.
And the sun from growing cold
To prevent the eventual demise of our world and the universe as we know it.
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.