Bonfire Tide’s, “The Old Boys,” And Infidelity

Bonfire Tide’s, “The Old Boys,” And Infidelity

Fans of the melancholic and emotional music of Bon Iver and the energy of Arcade Fire’s music will love Bonfire Tide’s latest single, “The Old Boys.”

Listen to “The Old Boys” below:

“The Old Boys” is described as,

“… a driving, melancholy piece about the trials of a relationship built on a foundation of infidelity.”

The song begins with the acoustic guitar before the vocals come in. When the leading vocalist comes in, there are accompanying background vocals in a haunting lower register. In the chorus, the main vocals go up in pitch, but the lower harmonies remain the same, creating a compelling juxtaposition. Another interesting of the instrumental is the cello solo after the end of the chorus. 

Lyrically, Bonfire Tide describes how,

“Honesty forms the core of the song’s lyrics, but honesty for one can be deception to another. The song’s narrator offers no solutions for the tribulations they’re experiencing, instead keeping the audience in limbo until the uncertainty becomes too much…”

The song’s chorus reflects much of the confusion and pain through the lyrics, “This is not what I want/ This is not the life you promised/ I regret what I’ve done/ I am only being honest.”

The story is especially apparent in the second verse, in the form of begging for forgiveness, “I never wanna hurt you/ I never wanna let you down/ It will soon be over/ I hope you stick around.” Even though there is regret expressed in the lyrics, the narrator leaves an opening for their partner to come back and maintain the relationship. The resolution is never presented in the song, only the emotional impact of the infidelity.

Bonfire Tide is an indie folk rock band made up of members  David Barden (Vocals), Craig Gibson (Guitar), Matthew Boone (Bass), Isabel Williamson (Cello, Piano), James John (Drums, Percussion), and Jay Plent (Guitar, Synths). The band formed in 2020 and released their first two singles, “Romance Isn’t Dead” and “Elskan,” in 2021. “The Old Boys” is Bonfire Tide’s third single they’ve released.  

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