“Farewell, My Dreaded Fear”: Of Monsters and Men Return Home as an “Ordinary Creature” in a Tender Ode to Vulnerability & Belonging

Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters and Men embrace life’s quiet magic, leaning into tenderness and renewal with “Ordinary Creature,” a song of comfort and rediscovery that finds beauty in the mundane moments of the journey.

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Stream: “Ordinary Creature” – Of Monsters and Men

Even in an environment that can seem desolate and cold, Of Monsters and Men deliver a track that warms the heartstrings.

Their latest single, “Ordinary Creature,” achieves this through a syncopated drum pattern that envelops the listener, guiding those with vulnerable hearts back toward home.

Of Monsters and Men inspire listeners to lift their feet off the ground – shuffling amidst the gravel, feeling the terrain with each step. The Icelandic indie folk band first charmed audiences with their seminal 2012 debut album My Head Is an Animal, featuring beloved tracks such as “Little Talks” and “Dirty Paws.” Over the past thirteen years, their discography has steadily grown, and now they look ahead to their long-awaited fourth album, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade (out October 17^th). While their earlier work often leaned playful, “Ordinary Creature” and the record’s lead single “Television Love” dive more deeply into the band members’ personal experiences, creating hope within darkness. Their new song sets the tone for what’s to come, resonating in listeners’ hearts and reminding us that there is comfort in the endurance of affection and in the longing for connection.

I was on a train
Heading through the veins of your heart
You were lookin’ in
But the passenger window was dark

Slow swim in sloe gin,
getting lost in the labyrinth
I’ve been grinnin’ through Easter
like an ordinary creature
Farewell, my dreaded fear
Thank you, but I’m out of here now

I wish I could run to your house
when it gets dark out
I wish I could run to your house
when it gets dark out

In the band’s words, “‘Ordinary Creature’ is about the feeling of yearning for that someone who brings you comfort. It’s about when you start feeling better after a period of not feeling so great – that moment when you start coming back to yourself again and remembering what it’s like to be an ordinary creature.”

As listeners begin to resonate with the lyrics, the instrumentation builds with a slow, panoramic rhythm. A snowy landscape unfolds in sound as ambient echoes drift into the mix. Layered drums, hi-hats, and cymbals shimmer like snowflakes falling over panoramic mountains, while the emotive lyrics uplift and warm the atmosphere. Piano keys descend gently in the background, offering relief amidst the brisk morning air, carrying listeners step by step toward their destination with each carefully placed beat.

I was in a dream
Swimmin’ up the stream to your door
Flowers in the window
Sweater on the bed, what’s your day like?
What’s your day without all your problems?

Slow life in low tide, gettin’ back to my clementine
I’ve been strolling the beaches like an ordinary creature
Farewell, my dreaded fear
Thank you, but I’m out of here now

I wish I could run to your house
when it gets dark out
I wish I could run to your house
when it gets dark out

Of Monsters and Men evoke a feeling of longing and personal reflection on what truly calls us home.

Even in our most ordinary connections, the support of our loved ones leads us back to ourselves. What feels far away is often closer than we think, carried by the people who run beside us. The song deepens the experience of togetherness by encouraging vulnerability, even in the face of doubt, fear, or uncertainty.

I wish I could run to your house when it gets dark out
I’ve been dancing with you like an ordinary creature
I wish I could run to your house when it gets dark out
Like an ordinary creature
I wish I could run to your house when it gets dark out
When it gets dark out

“Ordinary Creature” holds the mystery of arrival – a place that calls, a place that beckons, and ultimately, a place called home.

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:: stream/purchase Ordinary Creature here ::

:: connect with Of Monsters and Men here ::

:: pre-order All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade here ::

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Stream: “Ordinary Creature” – Of Monsters and Men

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 © Eva Schram

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