There are aspects of the band's sound - abrasive guitar hooks, immediate drumming, and incessant codas - that speak to living in a big city. But there's also a dreary sparseness, a David Lynch-esque darkness, culled from the other members' native Washington.
The band's skeletal sound began to take shape, with Robert's rust-belt guitar parts lending a restless, sinister edge to Molly's subdued melodies and soft vocal style. Writing became a collaborative effort, and Widowspeak racked up an arsenal of songs. By fall the trio had recorded a six-track cassette using only a built-in laptop microphone and Garageband. The self-released October Tape, as it was called, fell into the hands of Brooklyn's Captured Tracks. Weeks later, after only their sixth show, Widowspeak recorded the 7" single Harsh Realm, in anticipation of a full LP.
Their eponymous debut LP was released on August 9th, 2011 on Captured Tracks.
http://widowspeak.bandcamp.com
In the Pines
Widowspeak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the pines
Fore told
White lies
Black watter
Shaky hands
Meet me in the hallow river
Black lungs
Take medicine men
Smoke signals
I can see it
Dont loose your American spirit
Second handing every air
This is where we had a smoke
With the savage hearts we
We live where the sun never shines
In the pines babe
In the pines
No one will find us there
In the pines
In the pines
In the pines
In the pines
In the pines
In the pines
No one will find you
The lyrics to Widowspeak's "In the Pines" evoke feelings of desperation and hopelessness, drawing upon a mix of cultural references and symbolic imagery to paint a picture of a world shrouded in darkness. The opening lines, "In the pines babe, in the pines, foretold white lies, black water, shaky hands," immediately set the tone for the song, creating a sense of unease with the juxtaposition of light and dark imagery.
Throughout the song, the lyrics reference Native American culture and the imposition of white colonization on indigenous peoples, using phrases like "meet me in the hallow river, kiss like an Indian giver" to suggest a romanticized vision of a lost way of life. The idea of taking medicine men and smoking signals further reinforces this connection to indigenous culture and the use of ritual for healing and communication in a world where traditional ways of life have been lost or destroyed.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest a sense of resignation and withdrawal, with lines like "we live where the sun never shines, no one will find us there" hinting at a desire to retreat from the world and find solace in isolation. However, the repeated refrain "in the pines, in the pines" creates a sense of circularity and repetition, suggesting that this isolation may ultimately be futile.
Overall, the lyrics to "In the Pines" create a sense of foreboding and loss, drawing upon cultural references and symbolism to paint a picture of a world in turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
In the pines babe
We are in a secluded area among tall pine trees
In the pines
Surrounded by a dense forest of pine trees
Fore told
Our destiny was predetermined
White lies
Small lies that will not cause much harm
Black watter
Dirty water that cannot be used for drinking
Shaky hands
A sign of nervousness or fear
Meet me in the hallow river
Let's meet at the shallow river
Kiss like an Indian giver
Expecting something in return for a gift
Black lungs
An unhealthy pair of lungs
Take medicine men
Seeking help from traditional healers
Smoke signals
Using smoke to communicate a message
I can see it
We are aware of what's happening around us
Dont loose your American spirit
Don't forget your heritage and values
Second handing every air
Breathing in dirty air
This is where we had a smoke
This is where we used to smoke
With the savage hearts we
With our wild and untamed hearts
We live where the sun never shines
We live in a place where there's little light
No one will find us there
We are hidden and protected from the outside world
In the pines
Living among tall pine trees
In the pines
Amongst the dense forest of pine trees
In the pines
Hiding in the shadows of the pine trees
In the pines
Living in solitude and safety
No one will find you
You are hidden and protected
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.