Originally, A Balladeer was the name of band fronted by De Goederen. The group made melancholy ballads and catchy pop songs. After their début EP, Rumor Had It (2004), they started the long process of making their first album, for a long time without a record company and with their own money. Eventually signed by EMI, Panama hit the stores in May 2006. An extensive club tour of The Netherlands followed. In February 2007 A Balladeer won a Dutch Zilveren Harp ('Silver Harp') award.
Later that year Marinus, Tijs and Erik started working on their second album, which came out to critical acclaim in September 2008, entitled Where Are You, Bambi Woods?. Peaking at #16 in the Dutch album charts it is A Balladeer's highest charting album to this day. It was also the final album made in the original band line-up.
Today, A Balladeer is the solo moniker of Marinus de Goederen, who released his 2010 solo album Sorry, kid. as mr. a balladeer, but soon reverted to the old band name and released several more albums, including I Can't Keep Track of Each Fallen Robin (2012), A Wolf at the Door (2016) and the seasonal album, December (2017).
Fortune Teller
A Balladeer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in such a rush but one big step behind
you need a clue now
all blinded by the gypsy of your mind
if you give me your hand - I'll do what I can to get you calm
by making up the meaning of the lines in your palm
uptight and denial for a while
you look like shit now
it's the tears of things and halb so schlimm
come on, show me that smile
and give me your hand - I'll do what I can to get you calm
by making up the meaning of the lines in your palm
look at you now
The song "Fortune Teller" by A Balladeer is a reminder to those of us who are seeking answers and meaning, that sometimes that search can lead us down a path of confusion and anxiety. The first verse paints the picture of someone who is in a hurry, but also lost and in need of guidance, as they are "one big step behind" and "all blinded by the gypsy of your mind". The idea here is that sometimes our own thoughts and fears can cloud our judgement and leave us feeling uncertain and stressed.
The second verse takes a more compassionate tone, as the singer offers to help calm the listener's worries by reading the lines on their palm. The lyrics are both playful and comforting, with lines like "come on, show me that smile" and "it's the tears of things and halb so schlimm" (which translates to "half so bad" in German). The chorus repeats the offer to read the lines on their palm, promising to "do what I can to get you calm".
Overall, the song is a reminder that sometimes, all we need is a little bit of guidance and a friendly ear to help us see the way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
look at you now
Observing the current state of the listener
in such a rush but one big step behind
Feeling hurried and anxious but still lacking direction
you need a clue now
The listener seeks guidance
all blinded by the gypsy of your mind
The listener's overwhelming thoughts and emotions prevent clear thinking
if you give me your hand - I'll do what I can to get you calm
The singer offers to assist in calming the listener
by making up the meaning of the lines in your palm
The singer will find optimism and positivity through interpreting the listener's palm lines
uptight and denial for a while
The listener has been anxious and refusing to acknowledge their struggles
you look like shit now
The listener appears visibly upset or distressed
it's the tears of things and halb so schlimm
The struggles are not as severe or daunting as they may appear
come on, show me that smile
Encouraging the listener to find positivity and hope
and give me your hand - I'll do what I can to get you calm
Reiterating the singer's promise to assist in the listener's peace of mind
by making up the meaning of the lines in your palm
Again emphasizing the hope and optimism the singer can find through interpreting the listener's palm lines
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JacobAdriani
Beter dan op het album, en dat is al geweldig!