Lekman recorded and released much of his material privately from 2000 to 2003 on CD-R. Because one of his songs during this time was entitled "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song to the Blind Girl", Lekman was mistakenly referred to as Rocky Dennis for a while (the song was actually written from the perspective of the main character of the 1985 film Mask). Lekman says that it was a "mistake": "someone thought that was my real name cause I had a song about him, and then radio picked up on it, and I never had a chance to change it". He put the confusion to rest with his Rocky Dennis in Heaven EP (2004).
His self-released 7" vinyl EP Maple Leaves caused a big stir in 2003, mainly due to sound files circulating on file sharing networks. When the same EP was released on CD by the Swedish independent label Service Records in the autumn, he was already a well-known name. The songs Maple Leaves and Black Cab were heavily played on Swedish national radio. He soon signed a contract with the American label Secretly Canadian for releases outside of Sweden. Heavy touring and his debut album soon followed.
His first album When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog was released in 2004, and consisted of recordings made between 2000 and 2004 (some tracks had been previously released independently by Lekman). The album attracted attention among the alternative music press in both Europe and the US. The song You Are The Light was a successful radio hit, and a video received some rotation in the Nordic MTV and ZTV. In Sweden the album reached #6 in the national chart. Lekman was nominated for three Swedish Grammies, three P3 Guld and three Manifest awards, as well as dubbed album of the year by Nöjesguiden.
A concert film shot from Lekman's sold-out show with José González at Göteborg's concert hall in December 2003 was broadcast by Swedish national television two times in 2005. In June 2005, a compilation CD of Jens' first three EPs, with extra tracks, was released as Oh You're So Silent Jens. Lekman also had a track on Secretly Canadian's SC100 compilation, released in April 2007.
His latest album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, was released in October 2007, and appeared on many lists for the best albums of said year.
Live performances by Lekman differs in style. Sometimes he performs alone with only a guitar and a CD player, or doing a capella versions of his songs. Other times, he is accompanied by a choir and string quartet, and he was recently seen on tour with a full band (including horns etc) consisting of all women musicians, dressed in white 60s dresses.
Official: [http://www.jenslekman.com]
Fan-site/Forum: [http://www.mapleleaves.se]
The Opposite of Hallelujah
Jens Lekman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but the ocean made me feel stupid
those words of wisdom I had prepared
all seemed to vanish into thin air
into the waves I stared
I picked up a sea-shell
to illustrate my homelessness
but a crab crawled out of it
making it useless
And all my metaphors fell flat
down on the rocks where we sat
she asked where are you at?
But sister, it's the opposite of hallelujah
it's the opposite of being you
you don't know cause it just
passes right through you
you don't know what I'm going through
You don't know what I'm going through
you don't know what I'm going through
you don't know what I'm going through
We made our way home on the bikes we had borrowed
I still never told you about unstoppable sorrow
you still think I'm someone to look up to
I still don't know anything about you
is it in you too?
You've got so much to live for, little sister
You've got so much to live for
But sister, it's the opposite of hallelujah
it's the opposite of being you
you don't know cause it just
passes right through you
you don't know what I'm going through
You don't know what I'm going through
you don't know what I'm going through
you don't know what I'm going through
you don't know what I'm going through
Jens Lekman's "The Opposite of Hallelujah" tells the story of a person who takes his sister to the ocean in an attempt to offer her some words of wisdom. However, when faced with the vastness of the ocean, the person feels small and insignificant, and their carefully crafted advice vanishes into nothingness. A metaphor using a seashell to illustrate homelessness is ruined by a crab that crawls out of it. As they sit on the rocks, the sister asks the person where they are at, and they respond by saying that it's the opposite of hallelujah, meaning the opposite of praise, elation, or celebration. The person is going through a difficult time, and their sister doesn't know or understand what it's like.
The song then shifts to the bike ride home, where the person realizes that they still haven't opened up to their sister about their "unstoppable sorrow," and they still don't know much about her. The song ends with a plea to the sister, acknowledging that she has so much to live for but also highlighting the disconnect between them. He repeats that it's the opposite of hallelujah, emphasizing the pain, loneliness, and isolation he feels.
Overall, "The Opposite of Hallelujah" is a poignant and emotional song, exploring themes of loneliness, the struggle to connect with others, and the weight of unspoken sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my sister down to the ocean
I accompanied my sibling to the seaside
but the ocean made me feel stupid
However, the large body of water made me seem inadequate
those words of wisdom I had prepared
The pearls of sagacity I had planned to impart
all seemed to vanish into thin air
Faded away inexplicably
into the waves I stared
Engrossed myself in the motion of the water
I picked up a sea-shell
I lifted a shell from the shore
to illustrate my homelessness
To demonstrate my lack of a stable home
but a crab crawled out of it
But a crustacean emerged from within it
making it useless
Consequently rendering it unnecessary
And all my metaphors fell flat
All my analogies proved ineffective
down on the rocks where we sat
Declined on the boulders we were resting upon
She asked where are you at?
She inquired about my state of mind
But sister, it's the opposite of hallelujah
However, it's not a joyful occasion
it's the opposite of being you
It's the polar opposite of feeling like yourself
you don't know cause it just
You lack understanding because it simply
passes right through you
Goes through you without resonating
you don't know what I'm going through
You're unaware of the tribulations I'm experiencing
We made our way home on the bikes we had borrowed
We returned using the bikes we had temporarily possessed
I still never told you about unstoppable sorrow
Nevertheless, I still haven't conveyed how impenetrable my sadness is
You still think I'm someone to look up to
You remain of the opinion that I'm an admirable role model
I still don't know anything about you
On the other hand, I still don't comprehend your situation
Is it in you too?
Do you experience a similar sentiment as well?
You've got so much to live for, little sister
My dear sibling, you possess numerous reasons to go on living
But sister, it's the opposite of hallelujah
However, it's not an occasion for ecstasy
it's the opposite of being you
It's disparate from feeling akin to oneself
you don't know cause it just
You can't discern because it simply
passes right through you
Goes over your head without making an impact
you don't know what I'm going through
You're ignorant of what I'm dealing with
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind