Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer and multi-instrumentalist. Classically … Read Full Bio ↴Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer and multi-instrumentalist. Classically educated on the violin, viola and self-taught on guitar and charango, Ólöf’s most distinctive asset is, nonetheless, her voice. A voice of instantly captivating, spring water chasteness possessed of a magical, otherworldly quality that is simultaneously innocent yet ancient (“somewhere between a child and an old woman” according to no less an authority than Björk).

While she has been favourably compared with the likes of Vashti Bunyan, Judee Sill and Kate Bush, Ólöf’s approach to making music remains highly individual: playful but intimate; accessible and uplifting, yet deeply personal and suffused with a timeless mystique that goes beyond the puckish inscrutability of her native tongue. Ólöf has also quickly proved herself as a magnetic, utterly self-assured stage performer, reliant as much on screwball humour, vaudevillian charm and even outright bawdiness, as much as the contrasting delicacy of her song delivery.

Ólöf’s debut album, Við og Við was included in both eMusic and Paste Magazine’s 100 Best Albums of the Decade lists, while last year’s Innundir skinni was named as one of Uncut’s Top 50 Albums of 2010 and was nominated for the inaugural Nordic Music Prize.

Jonathan
Ólöf Arnalds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the wind blows in new directions dear
Andreas I feel yor pain and beauty
It seems a little distant now but there's
Something in the suffering for you

The bridge is up, the ship has sailed
A lifeboat is small, but still it's floating
You head to shore and grab my tail

And it doesn't matter where I pull you

And all your dearest loved ones join,
One by one, your friends embrace you
Your house is secure, your mother is sure

That safe and well she'll find you

Mothers they seem like an ever ongoing theme
Alternating between affection and hatred

Still you and her are on this boat
Together and somehouw with your father

And mothers seem to gently float
Easier than sons and daughters

Overall Meaning

The song "Jonathan" is a touching and poignant number that explores the deep emotions of loss, pain, and hope in the face of uncertain and unexpected changes in life. The lyrics speak directly to a person named Andreas and the singer empathizes with his inner turmoil without offering any concrete solutions. "And the wind blows in new directions dear Andreas, I feel your pain and beauty" suggests that the singer understands his feelings of both agony and wonderment towards the unpredictability of life. She acknowledges that what Andreas is going through may feel far away at the moment, but there is still an awareness of redemption in suffering that can transform his situation into something worth enduring.

The passage "The bridge is up, the ship has sailed, a lifeboat is small, but still, it's floating," embodies the central metaphor of the song. Andreas may feel like he's been thrown out onto a tumultuous sea with no semblance of safety or stability. However, there is hope in accepting the small lifeboat as a means of survival. The final verse touches upon the unconditional love and support a family provides, even in situations where there may be underlying tensions or discord. The line "Mothers they seem like an ever-ongoing theme, alternating between affection and hatred," reveals that the singer is aware of the complexity of parent-child relationships. But, despite everything, they're all in the same boat, and the only way out is to row together.

Line by Line Meaning

And the wind blows in new directions dear
Change is coming, and it might be uncomfortable, but it's necessary.

Andreas I feel yor pain and beauty
I understand that life can be both wonderful and hard, and I see that in you, Andreas.

It seems a little distant now but there's Something in the suffering for you
It may not make sense right now, but there is a lesson to be learned in your struggles.

The bridge is up, the ship has sailed
You missed your opportunity, but there's still hope.

A lifeboat is small, but still it's floating
Even when things seem dire, there is always a way to stay afloat.

You head to shore and grab my tail
I'm here to help, so hold on tight and let's move forward.

And it doesn't matter where I pull you
We may not know where we're going, but as long as we're together, it'll be okay.

And all your dearest loved ones join, One by one, your friends embrace you
You have a strong support system who will be there for you, no matter what.

Your house is secure, your mother is sure That safe and well she'll find you
Even in the midst of chaos, you have a place to call home and someone who cares deeply for you.

Mothers they seem like an ever ongoing theme Alternating between affection and hatred
Mothers can be complicated, with a mix of love and frustration.

Still you and her are on this boat Together and somehouw with your father
Your family may have its flaws, but you're all in this together, and that's what counts.

And mothers seem to gently float Easier than sons and daughters
Sometimes it can feel like our mothers have it all together, while we're struggling to keep up.

Writer(s): Olof Arnalds

Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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