Wasner and Stack have been playing music together and apart in Baltimore, MD, and chose their name from the honorary state tree of Maryland. If Children is the culmination of many months of recording, polishing and perfecting to achieve what Any Given Tuesday best described as, “. .. . mingling in a room full of shoegaze, alt-country, folk, and noise, shaking hands, kissing cheeks, and making friends with everyone.” If Children is an exuberant debut – noisy and restrained in turn, Wye Oak describe their philosophy: "We'd like to think that if a song is good enough, it'll stand on its own regardless of how much noise you pile on top. On the other hand, we do like noise." Listen, and we think you will have to agree!
The droll tone and fleeting sweetness of a Yo La Tengo are cut into the more deeply textural concerns of shoegaze in the Baltimore group's work. It's an interesting alignment, given the contrast in senses of humor. But Wye Oak successfully shed tonnage from the latter without losing potency.
Spiral
Wye Oak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mean on, let it
When our lips come together
I come over
Wake up notices you made it
Beauty, baby
When our lips come together
I get, older
And this is what you wanted to know
You are mine, hope
One more time
And this is what you wanted to know
Got yourself in the constant, content
You are over my shoulder
Distant, past
When our lips come together
I come over
As we re coming our present
I get, older
One more time
And this is what you wanted to know
You are mine, hope
One more time
And this is what you wanted to know
You are mine, hope.
The lyrics to Wye Oak’s song Spiral are open to interpretation, but they appear to reflect the emotions that arise from physical connection with another person. The lyrics suggest a sense of fulfillment, as the singer describes coming “over” when their lips meet with another’s. The lyrics also touch on the nature of time and aging, with the singer noting that they “get older” when they experience this kind of intimacy.
The line “got yourself in the constant, content” seems to allude to a sense of security or satisfaction that the singer feels when they are in this intimate moment. However, there is also a hint of distance or separation present in the song – the singer notes that “you are over my shoulder, distant, past” which could suggest some kind of past hurt or experience that is being left behind.
Overall, the song appears to celebrate the transformative power of intimacy and the ways it can help us to understand ourselves and others more deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Thoughts becoming her
The woman is becoming consumed by her thoughts.
Mean on, let it
She is trying to calm her mind, possibly through meditation or acceptance.
When our lips come together
The physical connection between the two of them is intense and meaningful.
I come over
The artist is overwhelmed by their emotions and physical sensations.
Wake up notices you made it
The artist is grateful to wake up and see their partner there with them, alive and well.
Beauty, baby
The singer finds their partner beautiful and may be expressing affection or admiration.
I get, older
The singer is growing older and possibly more introspective, thanks to their relationship with their partner.
One more time
The artist is repeating their desire for this experience or relationship to continue.
And this is what you wanted to know
The artist is reassuring their partner that they are committed and satisfied in their relationship.
Got yourself in the constant, content
The artist is content and satisfied with the current state of their relationship.
You are over my shoulder
The singer feels secure and supported by their partner's presence.
Distant, past
The artist is reflecting on their past and may see their partner and relationship as a positive change or contrast to it.
As we re coming our present
The singer is acknowledging the present moment and the growth and change that has led them to it.
You are mine, hope
The singer is expressing their commitment and hope for their future with their partner.
One more time
The singer is again repeating their desire for their relationship to continue.
And this is what you wanted to know
The repeated line is again reassuring their partner of their feelings and commitment to the relationship.
Writer(s): WASNER JENNIFER LYNN
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.