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
Close Watch
Agnes Obel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothing much to choose
Between the right and wrong
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Still things aren't quite the same
Between you and me
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I still hear your voice at night
When I turn out the light
And try to settle down
But there's nothing I can do
'Cause I can't live without you
Any way at all
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
Tick tock
Oh I'm sure
No harm will come to you no more
'Cause I find myself in your hands
Don't you be so hard on yourself
Oh oh ooh ooh
The song "Close Watch" by Agnes Obel is a haunting and emotional ballad about lost love and the struggle to move on. The lyrics describe the feeling of being stuck in a limbo between right and wrong, with nothing gained or lost. The singer remembers their past love and can still hear their voice at night, but knows that they cannot live without them. They keep a close watch on their heart, knowing that it is fragile and vulnerable to breaking again.
The chorus of "I keep a close watch on this heart of mine" is a clear indication of the internal struggle the singer is facing. They are actively trying to protect themselves from further heartbreak and trying to keep their emotions in check. The ticking sound that follows the chorus adds to the sense of urgency and time running out, as the singer tries to hold onto their heart.
Overall, "Close Watch" is a poignant and melancholic song that captures the pain of lost love and the fear of vulnerability. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and Obel's haunting vocals and minimalist piano playing add to the emotion of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Never win and never lose
There is no clear victory or defeat
There's nothing much to choose
The options are limited or insignificant
Between the right and wrong
It's difficult to distinguish between moral alternatives
Nothing lost and nothing gained
No benefits or disadvantages have been obtained
Still things aren't quite the same
Despite appearances, a significant difference remains
Between you and me
The relationship between us has changed
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I am vigilant about my emotions and feelings
I still hear your voice at night
Your memory and influence linger
When I turn out the light
At the end of the day, when I am alone
And try to settle down
When I attempt to calm down and relax
But there's nothing I can do
I cannot change the past or the present situation
'Cause I can't live without you
I am reliant on you and cannot move on
Any way at all
In any manner or form
Tick tock
The sound of a clock ticking
Oh I'm sure
I am certain
No harm will come to you no more
You will no longer experience any negative consequences
'Cause I find myself in your hands
I am vulnerable and under your power
Don't you be so hard on yourself
Do not blame or punish yourself excessively
Oh oh ooh ooh
Vocalization of uncertain emotion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind