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]
Your Arms Around Me
Jens Lekman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you came up behind me
With your silent brand-new sneakers
Your reflection I did not see
It was the hottest day in August
And we were heading for the sea
For a second my mind started drifting
You put your arms around me
You put your arms around me
You put your arms around
Blood spraying on the kitchen sink
"What's this?" I have time to think
I see the tip of my index finger
My mind is slowly creating a link
From your mouth speaks your lovely voice
The softest words ever spoken
"What's broken can always be fixed
What's fixed will always be broken"
You put your arms around me
You put your arms around me
You put your arms around me
You put your arms around
I must have passed out on the porch
Dreamt I was carried in a kangaroo's pouch
When I wake up, I'm in the waiting room
On a dirty hospital couch
My hand is wrapped in toilet paper
And my body's wrapped in debris
You're sitting next to me reading a paper
I put your arm around me
The song "Your Arms Around Me" by Jens Lekman tells a story of love, accident, and healing. The first part of the song depicts a peaceful afternoon when the singer is slicing up an avocado in the kitchen. Suddenly, the person he loves comes up behind him, holding him tight in a warm embrace. The setting is hazy, but it is clear that they are about to go on a trip to the sea, which makes the moment all the more romantic. However, the peaceful scene abruptly changes as the singer accidentally cuts his finger while chopping the avocado, leaving blood on the kitchen sink. At this moment, the lyrics take on a dark turn, almost like poetry. The person he loves comforts him with the gentlest words possible, saying, "What's broken can always be fixed, what's fixed will always be broken."
The second part of the song starts with the singer passing out on the porch and waking up in a waiting room at the hospital. His hand is wrapped in toilet paper, and his body is full of debris. The person he loves is there by his side, reading a paper, and he asks her to put her arms around him. This request of the singer seems to be the climax of the song, indicating that he needs the comfort and support of the person he loves to heal the physical and emotional wounds he has received. Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of love's power to heal and how the people we love can provide comfort and support in both the good and bad times.
Line by Line Meaning
I was slicing up an avocado
I was cutting an avocado.
When you came up behind me
You approached me from behind.
With your silent brand-new sneakers
You were wearing new, quiet shoes.
Your reflection I did not see
I did not see your reflection.
It was the hottest day in August
It was a very hot day in August.
And we were heading for the sea
We were going to the beach.
For a second my mind started drifting
For a moment, my mind wandered.
You put your arms around me
You hugged me.
You put your arms around me
You hugged me.
You put your arms around
You hugged me.
Blood spraying on the kitchen sink
Blood is splashing onto the kitchen sink.
"What's this?" I have time to think
I have time to think "What is this?"
I see the tip of my index finger
I see the top of my index finger.
My mind is slowly creating a link
My mind is gradually making a connection.
From your mouth speaks your lovely voice
You speak sweetly.
The softest words ever spoken
The gentlest words ever said.
"What's broken can always be fixed
"Whatever is broken can always be repaired.
What's fixed will always be broken"
Whatever is fixed will eventually break again."
You put your arms around me
You hugged me.
You put your arms around me
You hugged me.
You put your arms around me
You hugged me.
I must have passed out on the porch
I think I fainted on the porch.
Dreamt I was carried in a kangaroo's pouch
I dreamt that I was carried in a kangaroo's pouch.
When I wake up, I'm in the waiting room
When I wake up, I'm in the hospital waiting room.
On a dirty hospital couch
On a stained hospital sofa.
My hand is wrapped in toilet paper
My injured hand is covered in toilet paper.
And my body's wrapped in debris
My body is surrounded by debris.
You're sitting next to me reading a paper
You're sitting next to me reading a newspaper.
I put your arm around me
I ask you to hug me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JENS LEKMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind