Trevor Powers, widely recognized under his stage name Youth Lagoon, is an e… Read Full Bio ↴Trevor Powers, widely recognized under his stage name Youth Lagoon, is an experimental dream pop artist hailing from Idaho. Born on March 18, 1989, in San Diego, California, Powers' musical journey has transcended geographical boundaries and resonated deeply with audiences worldwide.

Under the moniker Youth Lagoon, Powers has unveiled a trilogy of studio albums, each offering a distinct introspective journey into his personal hopes and fears. His inaugural creation, "The Year of Hibernation," exposes the intricacies of anxiety and psychological dysphoria. This debut album serves as a candid portrayal of the labyrinthine corridors of the mind, providing listeners with a unique window into Powers' innermost sentiments.

Powers' sophomore release, "Wondrous Bughouse," ventures into the realm where the physical and spiritual intersect. Here, Youth Lagoon's music metamorphoses into an otherworldly landscape, a sonorous exploration mirroring the complex interplay between tangible reality and ethereal dimensions.

In a departure from his earlier themes, "Savage Hills Ballroom," the conclusive chapter of Youth Lagoon's trilogy, embraces discomfort rather than evading it. This album germinated from Powers' nocturnal explorations through the suburbs of Idaho, reflecting society's tendency to present flawless facades. "Savage Hills Ballroom" showcases a musical and visual evolution, born from an unflinching engagement with one's vulnerabilities and blemishes. The album captures Powers' realization that genuine human connection thrives not in perfection, but in the shared experience of imperfection.

Powers' decision to draw the curtains on the Youth Lagoon project in early 2016 marked a pivotal juncture in his artistic odyssey. He characterized the trilogy as a journey through an isolated and solitary spectrum, a terrain he had outgrown. This denouement signaled Powers' yearning to explore new creative vistas beyond the confines of his past work.

The trajectory of this evolution gains poignancy when juxtaposed with a personal tragedy. While touring Europe, Powers received the shattering news of a dear friend's drowning in a local river. This heartbreaking incident catalyzed a profound shift in Powers' songwriting approach. He came to recognize the intricate threads that bind humanity and the uniqueness found within flaws. This awakening infused "Savage Hills Ballroom" with a renewed perspective, giving birth to an album that encapsulates the beauty emerging from embracing vulnerabilities.

The collaboration with co-producer/engineer Ali Chant for "Savage Hills Ballroom" prompted Powers to cross continents, relocating to Bristol, UK. The album's creation unfolded meticulously within Toybox Studios, a subterranean recording haven housed in a vaulted Georgian basement. This transformative experience in an unfamiliar land fueled the evolution of Youth Lagoon's sonic identity and creative vision.

Afternoon
Youth Lagoon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The TV lights the room,
Like a strobe against the wall.
I've watched all afternoon without watching at all

I'm thinking of you dear,
Every moment of the way.
I tied my hands with rope now watch you escape,
And I make no mistake.

There's a demon on the loose,
He's a head under our floor.
Cause I saw him late last night,
Knocking on my bedroom door.

I have surely saved my blood,
Popping through my body's face.

And when I speak I don't make sense,
But believe me when I see.

Overall Meaning

In Youth Lagoon's song "Afternoon", the artist describes the experience of spending hours in front of the television, consumed by their own thoughts and emotions. The first stanza imbues the TV with a sense of otherworldliness, as it casts a strobing light that almost seems like it is alive. The singer reveals that they have been watching all afternoon without really seeing anything, lost in their own headspace. The second stanza shifts the focus to the singer's thoughts, which are entirely centered on a person they care deeply about. The lyrics use the metaphor of tying one's own hands with rope to signify the helplessness that comes with loving someone deeply but not being able to control their choices. The line "I make no mistake" suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance - the singer knows that they may not be able to prevent their loved one from leaving, but they won't falter in their devotion.

The third stanza takes a darker turn, as the song introduces the concept of a demon who lurks beneath the floorboards. This could be interpreted as a manifestation of the singer's fears and anxieties - the demons that they are struggling to keep at bay. The presence of the demon is unsettling and suggests that the singer is beset by external as well as internal challenges. The final stanza brings the song back to the realm of the surreal, with the singer's speech becoming disjointed and nonsensical. Despite this, they assert that what they are saying should be believed, highlighting the disconnect between what we say and what we feel. Overall, the song presents a compelling portrait of an individual who is grappling with both their own desires and the pressures of the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

The TV lights the room,
The room is illuminated by the flickering light of the TV, resembling a strobe light on the wall.

Like a strobe against the wall.
The TV's light flickers in such a way that it seems like a strobe light hitting the wall.

I've watched all afternoon without watching at all
The singer has been present in the room but hasn't been paying attention to the TV or anything else happening around him.

I'm thinking of you dear,
The artist is consumed with thoughts of a beloved individual.

Every moment of the way.
The artist cannot escape these thoughts, not even for a moment.

I tied my hands with rope now watch you escape,
The singer feels powerless to prevent the departure of his loved one and feels like he's bound by restraints that prevent him from stopping them.

And I make no mistake.
The singer is sure of his feelings and actions towards his loved one and doesn't question them.

There's a demon on the loose,
The artist senses a malevolent presence stalking in the shadows.

He's a head under our floor.
The demon image is grotesquely depicted as having a head buried under the floorboards of the artist's living space.

Cause I saw him late last night,
The artist had an unsettling vision of this demon presence during the night-time that still affects him.

Knocking on my bedroom door.
The demon has come so close, he's knocking on the door of the singer's bedroom, the place where he seeks refuge.

I have surely saved my blood,
The artist is struggling to contain some kind of inner turmoil that's causing his heart to race.

Popping through my body's face.
The turmoil is almost bursting out of the singer's body, manifesting on his face.

And when I speak I don't make sense,
The singer's mental state has deteriorated to such a point that he's incoherent when he tries to communicate.

But believe me when I see.
Despite his lack of articulacy, the singer is sincere when expressing his thoughts and feelings.

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: TREVOR POWERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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