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
Island Of Doom
Agnes Obel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They told me, they told me
To undo the rule of mind and body
And nature laughed away as their voices grew
They told me, they told me
Clean out the room and bury the body
But I know you with a heartbeat
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
But now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
But now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
I haven't walked for days though I wanted to
You told me, you told me
For with every move, the feeling follows
In nature's empty face, I am of little use
You told me, you told me
I'm just another fool for the earth to swallow
But the road through most will lead you back
And I will be with you
For the road of your mind will eat you up
On your island of doom
Where the voices all have gathered up
To a choir of fools
But I know my mind will reach you there
And I will be with you
Oh, I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
And now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
And now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Why'd you wake me up today?
Why'd you wake me up today?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
One, two, three, four, five
The lyrics of "Island Of Doom" by Agnes Obel convey a sense of detachment from reality and a struggle with the pressures and expectations of society. The song begins by referencing destiny as a force that brought the singer into a room where they were told to challenge the confines of the mind and body. However, nature seems to mock the voices urging them to do so. The lines "Clean out the room and bury the body" suggest a desire to escape from the burdens of existence, perhaps even to the point of self-destruction.
The chorus reflects a connection with someone who is still alive ("I know you with a heartbeat"), questioning how the night feels when the lights fade out. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the darkness and uncertainty that comes with facing one's inner struggles and the fear of the unknown. The repetition of the phrase "But now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone" highlights a feeling of loss or displacement.
In the second verse, the singer confesses to not having walked for days, possibly indicating a state of inertia or depression. The feeling follows with every movement, making them feel useless in nature's empty face. They perceive themselves as just another fool for the earth to devour.
The bridge introduces a notion of redemption and companionship. The road of the mind is portrayed as devouring, but the singer promises to be with the person they know with a heartbeat, even on the island of doom where the voices of fools have gathered. They believe that their mind will reach them there, offering support and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Destiny made her way and found you in a room
Fate led you to a specific moment where someone found you in a secluded space
They told me, they told me
I received advice or warnings from others
To undo the rule of mind and body
To challenge the limitations imposed by one's thoughts and physical existence
And nature laughed away as their voices grew
The natural world seemed to disregard their concerns or opinions as they became louder
Clean out the room and bury the body
Remove all traces of past experiences and let go of the physical self
But I know you with a heartbeat
I am familiar with your presence and vitality
So how does the night feel?
What emotions or sensations arise during the darkness of the night?
When the lights fade out
When the brightness and clarity dissipate
But now it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
The feeling or experience has disappeared completely
I haven't walked for days though I wanted to
Despite the desire, I have been unable to make any progress for days
For with every move, the feeling follows
No matter what action I take, the emotional state remains unchanged
In nature's empty face, I am of little use
When confronted with the indifference of the natural world, my significance diminishes
I'm just another fool for the earth to swallow
I am merely a naive and insignificant individual destined to be consumed by the earth
But the road through most will lead you back
The path taken by many will eventually bring you to the same point of origin
And I will be with you
I will accompany you on this journey
For the road of your mind will eat you up
The thoughts and contemplations within your mind will consume and overwhelm you
On your island of doom
In the place of despair and impending disaster that surrounds you
Where the voices all have gathered up
Where the multitude of voices have converged
To a choir of fools
Forming a chorus of ignorant individuals
But I know my mind will reach you there
I believe that my thoughts and understanding can connect with you in that place
Oh, I know you with a heartbeat
I am intimately familiar with your existence and liveliness
Why'd you wake me up today?
What is the reason behind abruptly rousing me from sleep or inactivity?
One, two, three, four, five
A simple counting sequence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AgnesObelOfficial
Hey everyone, I am very happy to announce my new album “Myopia”, released on February 21st 2020.
Today is the day where the new single and video for “Island Of Doom” is released. The video is made by Alex Brüel Flagstad.
You can pre-order the album now here: https://AgnesObel.ffm.to/myopia.oyd
Island Of Doom Lyrics:
Destiny made her way and found you in a room,
They told me, they told me:
To undo the rule of mind and body,
And nature laughed away as their voices grew.
They told me, They told me:
“Clean out the room and bury the body”.
But I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
“Haven’t walked for days though I wanted to”
You told me, you told me:
“For with every move the feeling follows”,
“In nature’s empty face, I am of little use”,
You told me, you told me:
“I’m just another fool for the earth to swallow”.
But the road through mines will lead you back,
and I will be with you
Before the road of your mind will eat you up,
on your island of doom
Where the voices have all gathered up,
to a choir of fools
But I know my mind will reach you there,
and I will be with you.
Oh I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
Why you wake me up today?
Why you wake me up today?
One two three four five.
@AgnesObelOfficial
Island Of Doom Lyrics:
Destiny made her way and found you in a room,
They told me, they told me:
To undo the rule of mind and body,
And nature laughed away as their voices grew.
They told me, They told me:
“Clean out the room and bury the body”.
But I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
“Haven’t walked for days though I wanted to”
You told me, you told me:
“For with every move the feeling follows”,
“In nature’s empty face, I am of little use”,
You told me, you told me:
“I’m just another fool for the earth to swallow”.
But the road through mines will lead you back,
and I will be with you
Before the road of your mind will eat you up,
on your island of doom
Where the voices have all gathered up,
to a choir of fools
But I know my mind will reach you there,
and I will be with you.
Oh I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
Why you wake me up today?
Why you wake me up today?
One two three four five.
@AgnesObelOfficial
Hey everyone, I am very happy to announce my new album “Myopia”, released on February 21st 2020.
Today is the day where the new single and video for “Island Of Doom” is released. The video is made by Alex Brüel Flagstad.
You can pre-order the album now here: https://AgnesObel.ffm.to/myopia.oyd
Island Of Doom Lyrics:
Destiny made her way and found you in a room,
They told me, they told me:
To undo the rule of mind and body,
And nature laughed away as their voices grew.
They told me, They told me:
“Clean out the room and bury the body”.
But I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
“Haven’t walked for days though I wanted to”
You told me, you told me:
“For with every move the feeling follows”,
“In nature’s empty face, I am of little use”,
You told me, you told me:
“I’m just another fool for the earth to swallow”.
But the road through mines will lead you back,
and I will be with you
Before the road of your mind will eat you up,
on your island of doom
Where the voices have all gathered up,
to a choir of fools
But I know my mind will reach you there,
and I will be with you.
Oh I know you with a heartbeat
So how does the night feel?
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
When the lights fade out
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone
And now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone.
Why you wake me up today?
Why you wake me up today?
One two three four five.
@AmandaA1998
Can't wait! Greetings from Brazil, Agnes!
@palesaint0778
I HAVE BEEN WAITING!
@luckymarcellia9049
❤❤❤
@yaasmielras4502
❤️❤️❤️
@xoxoT1GERL0VE
Looovveee <3
@nebylicza
I don’t even care what it will be. Every release from Agnes is a blessing of life.
@Okkannashukracharya
Yess
@edwardchen9619
of course
@Nightbrrd
I know right Mother Nature singing and giving us these masterpieces ♥