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
Narrows
Widowspeak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the narrows,
that's where the dead go
Watching the cars drive off in a red glow
I play the slow ones,
very long outros
You watch the time and play with the edges of my clothes
We're under those
Narrows, narrows
Narrows
Baby I felt it, something to keep me
Then I forgot and dreamt about leaving
Wanted to be asleep in the backseat
Then I wake up and I'm still a thousand miles east
From where you'll be
Under those
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows, narrows
Narrows
...
The lyrics of Widowspeak's song "Narrows" evoke a sense of longing, loss, and remoteness that seem to be about a relationship that has ended, but still leaves an imprint on the singer's mind. The title refers to a place where the dead go, which could be a metaphor for a place of no return or a transitional state between life and death. The image of watching the cars drive off in a red glow could suggest a feeling of being left behind or missing out on something. The line "I play the slow ones, very long outros" could relate to a tendency to prolong the good moments or memories of the past, while the partner looks for something new or different. The phrase "watch the time and play with the edges of my clothes" could be a metaphor for a sense of detachment or boredom in the relationship.
The second verse indicates a shift from the present to the past, as the singer remembers feeling something that would keep her attached, but eventually forgot and dreamed of leaving. The line "wanted to be asleep in the backseat" refers to a desire for escape or avoiding responsibility, but the reality is still a thousand miles away from where the partner is. The repetition of the word "narrows" throughout the song suggests a sense of confinement, isolation, or separation that cannot be overcome. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of ambiguity, nostalgia, and melancholy that are typical of Widowspeak's musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
Under the narrows,
In a place where it's hard to escape or move, physically or emotionally,
that's where the dead go
People who have lost their passion or motivation end up in such situations.
Watching the cars drive off in a red glow
Observing the flashy lives of people who can move ahead and progress.
I play the slow ones,
I prefer slow and easy things, rather than the fast-paced ones.
very long outros
I like to extend and elongate the endings of things.
You watch the time and play with the edges of my clothes
You are curious and fidgety, and can't sit still but instead mess with the things around you.
We're under those
We find ourselves trapped in those situations and emotions.
Baby I felt it, something to keep me
I felt something that kept me grounded or connected to life.
Then I forgot and dreamt about leaving
I lost hold of that grounding feeling and started to imagine leaving or escaping.
Wanted to be asleep in the backseat
I wanted to be in a less active and less demanding role in life.
Then I wake up and I'm still a thousand miles east
But when I woke up, I realized I'm still far away from where I want to be or where things are happening.
From where you'll be
Far away from where you or anyone else is.
Narrows, narrows
Repeating the phrase to emphasize the feeling of being trapped or stuck.
Narrows
A way to sum up the feeling of the entire song.
Writer(s): Robert Earl Iii Thomas, Molly Hamilton
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.