Agnes Obel was born Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel in 1981. Living in Copenhagen, and coming from a musician family, Agnes Obel learned piano at a very young age. Her mother used to play Bartók and Chopin at the piano. During her childhood, Agnes Obel found inspiration in Jan Johansson's work. Johansson's songs, European folk tunes done in a jazzy style, have influenced the young musician a lot.
She attended high school at Det frie Gymnasium and university at Roskilde University.
At the age of seven, Agnes Obel worked in a little band where she used to sing and play bass guitar. The group appeared in a festival and even recorded some titles.
Later, and with the help of Danish musician and producer Elton Theander, Obel founded the Copenhagen based band Sohio. After few years of collaboration, Obel debuted as a solo singer with her first album Philharmonics (2010).
Agnes Obel writes, plays, sings, records and produces all her material herself.
She is influenced by artists such as Roy Orbison, Joni Mitchell, PJ Harvey and also by the French composers Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Eric Satie.
Obel lives in Berlin.
Website: http://agnesobel.com
Familiar
Agnes Obel Lyrics
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'Cause your blood's running cold outside the familiar true to life
Can you walk on the water if I, you and I?
Or keep your eyes on the road and live in the familiar without you and I
It glows with gates of gold true to life
And our love is a ghost that the others can't see
It's a danger
Every shade of us you fade down to keep
Them in the dark on who we are (oh, what you do to me)
Gonna be the death of me
It's a danger
'Cause our love is a ghost that the others can't see (oh)
We took a walk to the summit at night, you and I
To burn a hole in the old grip of the familiar, you and I
And the dark was opening wide, do or die
Under a mask of a million ruling eyes
(Oh, I)
And our love is a ghost that the others can't see
It's a danger
Every shade of us you fade down to keep
Them in the dark on who we are (oh, what you do to me)
Gonna be the death of me
It's a danger
'Cause our love is a ghost that the others can't see (oh)
The song "Familiar" by Agnes Obel speaks of a love that is kept hidden from the rest of the world. The opening lines of the song ask a question of whether the two lovers can break free from the constraints of their surroundings and the familiar reality they exist in. The lyrics speak of the possibility of walking on water, a biblical reference perhaps, where the idea of defying the laws of physics implies the desire to transcend the limitations of one's current situation. The love between the two is a ghost that the others cannot see, meaning it is hidden from the outside world, and the two are maintaining a facade of normality in their daily lives.
As the song progresses, the lyrics speak of a walk taken by the two lovers to a summit at night time. The purpose of this journey is to break free from the old grip of the familiar and to find a way to escape from the ruling eyes of the world. The chorus again speaks of the love shared by the two as a ghost, something that is invisible and unrealized by others. It is a danger because it threatens to disrupt the familiar world. The final lines of the song refer to the possibility that this love could be the death of the singer.
Overall, the song speaks of the intensity of a hidden love that is outside of the accepted norms of society. The desire to break free from the familiar, to transcend the limitations of the world, and to find a new and true reality with the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you walk on the water if I, you and I?
Are we powerful enough to defy the laws of nature and perform miracles together?
'Cause your blood's running cold outside the familiar true to life
You're feeling uncomfortable and scared due to being outside of your usual environment.
Or keep your eyes on the road and live in the familiar without you and I
Should we just take the easy and mundane path in life without taking risks and exploring our love?
It glows with gates of gold true to life
Despite its beauty, there is something mysterious and potentially dangerous about the love the two share.
And our love is a ghost that the others can't see
Their love is invisible and unknown to others, which can be isolating and dangerous.
It's a danger
Their love is unpredictable and potentially harmful to themselves and others around them.
Every shade of us you fade down to keep
In order to protect their love from outside judgment, they must conceal parts of themselves from others.
Them in the dark on who we are (oh, what you do to me)
Keeping their love hidden from public view has profound effects on their sense of self.
Gonna be the death of me
Their love has serious consequences that may lead to their downfall.
We took a walk to the summit at night, you and I
Together, they ventured into the unknown in search of something greater and more profound.
To burn a hole in the old grip of the familiar, you and I
Their aim was to challenge the limitations and expectations placed on them by society and tradition.
And the dark was opening wide, do or die
As they venture further into the unknown, they face the possibility of great peril.
Under a mask of a million ruling eyes
Despite their efforts to conceal their love, they feel exposed and judged by society as a whole.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind