Their debut single, Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants backed with The Old Dog was released on Bad Sneakers Records on 20th November 2006. Their second single Through Dark Night backed with Please, Sir was released 23rd April as their last single on Bad Sneakers. In February 2007 the band signed to Domino Records. A debut album Limbo, Panto was released in the UK on June 16 2008 with strong critical endorsement. Their second album, Two Dancers, was released on 3 August 2009 to widespread critical acclaim, receiving 9/10 reviews from NME and Drowned in Sound. It was also ranked at #41 on NME's top 100 albums of the decade. Their third album, Smother was released on May 9, 2011.
The four boys of Wild Beasts aren’t concerned with being of the modern or being of the renaissance, being baggy pantsed or being tight pantsed, being in a scene or being in a place. Wild Beasts’ music just is.
On 25 September 2017, the band announced that they were disbanding, playing their final gig on 17 February 2018.
The Empty Nest
Wild Beasts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you had it all
You had it all
A gift of the gods
In your city of gold
And you'll piss it all
You had it all
And what drags the rope
You know, or, you don't
You had it all
Gone gone gone gone
Going going gone
The day you moved off
The whole village mourned
Love's no kind of joke
Or something small
And where will you go?
There's things you don't know
Fingers tearing your clothes
Baby ungrown
You had it all
Gone gone gone gone
Going going gone
And suffering alone
Your bowl emptied out
All your secrets known
I welcome your call
These walls don't fall.
The lyrics to Wild Beasts’ song “Empty Nest” speak to the idea that the grass is not always greener on the other side. The first few lines of the song seem to be directed towards someone who may have made a mistake in their life leading to them “pissing it all” away. The idea of judgement and how we perceive what someone may have lost is highlighted in the lines “Did I judge this wrong? But you had it all. You had it all.” The person in question is described as having had “a gift of the gods” in their “city of gold” but squandered it away.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the person may have left their hometown or the life they knew behind, as the “whole village mourned” when they moved away. The lyrics express empathy towards this person, recognizing that love and life choices are not always easy. There is a sense of loneliness and vulnerability as they navigate the unknown and the things they do not know. The lines “Fingers tearing your clothes, baby ungrown, you had it all” paint a picture of someone who may be struggling to find their way.
The song closes on a note of support, regardless of what may have transpired. Amidst the uncertainty, the person is encouraged to reach out, as the walls will not fall. “Empty Nest” offers a poignant reflection on the fragility of life choices and the importance of empathy towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Did I judge this wrong?
I'm questioning whether my perception was incorrect.
But you had it all
You possessed everything, materialistically and in life.
You had it all
You had everything and enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle.
A gift of the gods
Your life and possessions were blessed by divine powers.
In your city of gold
You lived in a place where wealth and prosperity were abundant.
And you'll piss it all
You'll waste away or lose all your blessings and possessions.
You had it all
You had everything you ever wanted in life.
And what drags the rope
The source of your struggles, difficulties, or problems.
You know, or, you don't
You may or may not be aware of the source of your problems.
You had it all
You had everything - materialistically and in life.
Gone gone gone gone
Everything is disappearing, getting destroyed, or vanishing.
Going going gone
Things are slipping away, getting lost or dying.
The day you moved off
The day you left your hometown or your comfortable life.
The whole village mourned
Your departure left an emotional impact on the entire community.
Love's no kind of joke
The feeling of affection and relationship should not be taken lightly.
Or something small
Love is not an insignificant issue that should be ignored.
And where will you go?
I'm asking about your future plans and actions.
There's things you don't know
You may not be aware of the entire situation or impact of your actions.
Fingers tearing your clothes
I can imagine you torn and disheveled.
Baby ungrown
You have not yet fully matured into adulthood.
You had it all
You had everything you ever wanted in life.
Gone gone gone gone
Everything is disappearing, getting destroyed, or vanishing.
Going going gone
Things are slipping away, getting lost or dying.
And suffering alone
You're in pain and misery, with no one to help you bear it.
Your bowl emptied out
You have nothing left, nothing to sustain you.
All your secrets known
All your identity and secrets are openly revealed.
I welcome your call
You can reach out to me anytime for advice or support.
These walls don't fall.
You can trust me and my support for you will never fall apart.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jorge Abner Drexler Prada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind