Caamp has been on repeat for me since graduating from college and getting married. I’m pretty sure it is just me acclimating from an angsty punk to a future chill dad that still has rebellious roots in my music. This year I was blasting 26 on my birthday and joking with my wife that we are ahead of schedule according to Caamp’s lyrics. Then Caamp started releasing some amazing 2020 singles! From love to kids this new era of music from Caamp could be a reflection of his personal life. One thing I know is it is reaching me at the time and age of my life. No gray hairs yet or kids on the way, but the future is nigh and I am quite ready.
Caamp’s Song Officer of Love
This song has the upbeat Caamp vibe we all know. The opening lyrics paint a picture of a girl driving by in a pick up truck. The officer of love we will undoubtedly do whatever she says. As I looked through the lyrics I couldn’t help but wonder if the lyrics were referencing something more or something else. I found a few references to Holy rollers that connect nicely. First and most historic is the reference to 19th century Christians. This is more of a historic term that has now been developed into pop culture. Another reference to Holy Rollers is the Jessie Eisenburg movie that came out in 2010 and focuses on an Orthodox Jew drug trafficker.
These are all interesting things that Caamp could be referencing, but there is one other reference that I believe to be the most accurate and more likely than the others. The son of Bob Dylan, Jakob Dylan has a song Holy Rollers for Love. This song fits Caamp’s style and I believe it to be the core motivation or inspiration for Officer of Love. Check out the music video below.
Caamp’s Song Fall, Fall, Fall
Just as some brisk weather rolled onto the scene, so did “Fall, Fall, Fall” by Caamp. This single has such a mellow sound and seems like a love song, but when you take a look at the lyrics you can hear the pain in his voice. The lyrics are not about falling leaves but a falling world. How generations go to war to what end? The words cut like a knife for anyone who is a parent and wonders about the future, fears, and worries about the future, but there is hope, and hope in the lyrics.
I am tempted to copy and paste the whole song here. The words of wisdom, the lyrics that take you away from looking at this world as a place for lives to end and painting it as a place for a life to be lived. The song looks first at our history and how as humans we are flawed and continually falling. Falling on our own sword. The question is, will we continue to fall? As the song Fall, fall, fall develops, Caamp artistically points out how we can keep from falling in life.
The lyrics that are most clear and stand out say, “I want my kids to swim in the creek.” There is still hope, there is always hope no matter how dark and dreary the future looks. The interesting thing is, those lyrics are also the motivation. Men serve and fall on their sword to protect their family, for the hope of the future. But the ending lyrics are beautiful. They show what Caamp is pointing towards.
Will you not stop and shake from this worry / You’d be surprised what your own hands can make / Within the garden gates / Love emanates
Remove this worry that is so present in the world, create and make, see the beauty of nature, and most of all, emanate love. While Caamp simply says love emanates, I’m saying you should emanate love.
Side tangent: Did you know if you express thankfulness your mind cannot be in a place of worry and anxiety. By expressing thankfulness you can improve your mind and heart. This is a music blog so go do the research and improve 😉
The music video takes these vague lyrics and purposefully harnesses them towards climate change and racial injustice. While I think this is a great message, I did find it ironic since everyone is impacted by climate change eventually, so they essentially are dedicating this to everyone. I believe they are primarily including that to raise awareness just as the music video does as it displays nature and daily life. One of the coolest things the music video shows us a few home video clips. These take me back to my childhood memories of the 90’s and is well placed in the video.
If you enjoyed this song, I recommend checking out our blog post on Nathaniel Rateliff’s song time stands.
What Can We Expect From Caamp’s Next Album?
The adventurous years are still alive in the lyrics of Caamp, but there is a companion and maybe a kid on the way in those lyrics. I love it when an artist can grow with you. I hope to be old and sitting on my back porch rocking chair listening to Caamp singing some rustic tune as my future grandkids swim in the creek near my home.