03 - But I Know It'll Have to Drown Me

So far I have not been disappointed one bit in what 2012 is bringing to the table for Autumn.  Saturday was nice.  Sunday was gorgeous.  Temps didn't break out of the 60's.  I'm loving it, and really enjoying doing this series on the blog.

So here's the idea.  Feature a song a day for every day of the most magnificent season of Autumn.  The songs are ones that capture the thoughts/ideas/images/feelings of the season for me.  It's my "Autumnal Playlist" if you will.

It's starting to go all Inception on me.  I listen to the song I choose on repeat as I write the post.  And I'm writing this the night before.  Or I have for this one and previous 2.  Then I get to live out the next day...thinking about this song...in Autumn.  It's kinda dream within a dream.  But that's a topic for another day.

Song 03/Day 03

Today's Song: "Heartlines"
by Florence + the Machine from the album Ceremonials

While I have no love for Facebook or The Social Network, I do have it to thank for introducing me to Florence + the Machine.  I don't know if it was an ad on the site, or if a friend had added them as a favorite.  But I saw the image of their first album Lungs in late May 2011.  So I checked it out, bought it.  Much to my surprise...their follow up album came out later that year.  I was already a fan so I just bought it outright.

Both albums continue to grow on me.  I'm sure there will be a few more of their tracks in this series.

"Heartlines," makes a departure from the first two songs I chose in several ways.  First off it features a female as lead vocals in the person of Florence Welch the eponymous Florence of the band name.  (Surprised myself, while not "knowing" the definition of eponymous, I used it correctly.  ish)  Second it begins with a great drum and harp intro.  (Or is it chimes?)  It does have a similarity in that it builds upon itself as it progresses.  Layer upon layer are brought in as Welch croons through the climax of the song.

This song is a bit more epic in feel from the previous entries on the list.  While "Weather to Fly," was reflective and hopeful.  "Fake Empire" carried a youthful disinterest in reality.  "Heartlines," feels more driven and desperate.

Your heart is the only place I call home
I cannot be returned

I like this song cause she seems to have made a choice to love this person, and knows they will choose her in time.  Now the song plays heavy on palmistry imagery.  I'm not a believer in that concept.  That is not what I like about this song.  It bears the concept of following your heart.  That following your heart is usually difficult and challenging.  Ultimately it is about love.

Throughout the song, the lyrics are encouraging someone to

Just keep following
The heartlines on your hand
Keep it up
I know you can 

It takes a different approach to most movies, and shows.  It suggests love is a journey.  That relationships don't simply exist because two people "hook up," at a party.  There is a beautiful messiness to them.

there’s fantasy, there’s fallacy, there’s tumbling stone
Echoes of a city that’s long overgrown

Dreams/hopes.  Lies/Untruths.  Broken foundations.  Perhaps they are just her wishes for who this person would be.  Maybe they are about what happened between them.  The song could really take on a lot of varied meanings.

When I listen to it, I see a woman encouraging the man she loves to keep looking for her.  As if she is trapped somewhere, or they are separated by huge distances, and she wants him to keep going.  To not give up looking for her, as she is not giving up on finding him.  Or maybe they haven't met yet.  And she's saying, "I'm out here, keep looking...I am looking for you."

To me that's what this is really about.  To keep going.  Keep searching.  Cause eventually you'll find what you're looking for.  Keep hoping and don't give up.

It kind of reminds me of the movie, "August Rush."

SPOILERS (click and drag over the blank section below.)

It connects in how the kid follows his heart, music...because he thinks it will take him to his parents.  The mom follows her heart, her son...that she thought died.  The father follows his, which is the mom...only he doesn't know she's a mom.  Following their hearts brings them all eventually to the same place and to each other.

This song feels Fallish to me partially because when I first heard it last Fall, and there is something in the feel and instruments that really take me to the season.  My mind plays images of a movie using this song, or a music video for it.  Lots of interesting stuff that would take this post on and on.

So, follow this link to Heartlines and enjoy Song 03/Day 03, by Florence + the Machine.

-Jesse