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
Won't You Call Me
Agnes Obel Lyrics
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Where the moonlight fills up your eyes
I stay there in the low, I don't even know
What is on you mind
Won't you call
Won't you call me?
When the seconds are dancing
In the night
Growing blind
No one knows what the devil did
What disguises hid from our eyes
So don't burn your fire for their sake
Miracles of fate got no enemy but time
Won't you call
Won't you call me?
When the seconds are laughing
For the sake of my sanity
In the night
Unwinding time
The lyrics of Agnes Obel's song "Won't You Call Me" evoke a sense of longing and a plea for connection. The opening lines, "Lay down where the air stands still, where the moonlight fills up your eyes," create a tranquil and intimate setting. It suggests a moment of vulnerability and openness between two individuals.
The next line, "I stay there in the low, I don't even know what is on your mind," reveals a sense of hesitation or uncertainty. The singer is present in this shared space but is unaware of the thoughts and feelings of the person they are addressing. There is a desire for communication and understanding.
The chorus, "Won't you call me? When the seconds are dancing for the sake of my sanity in the night, growing blind," emphasizes the singer's longing for a phone call or some form of contact. The use of time imagery, with "seconds dancing" and "growing blind," suggests a sense of urgency and the feeling of time slipping away. The plea for connection is rooted in the need for reassurance and sanity amidst the darkness of the night.
The second verse continues with an element of mystery, as it mentions, "No one knows what the devil did, what disguises hid from our eyes." Here, the devil could be symbolic of deceptions, secrets, or unforeseen obstacles that have affected the relationship between the two people. The line encourages not to waste energy on those who may have caused harm or played tricks. Instead, the focus should be on the power of fate and the passage of time.
The song concludes with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the singer's plea for connection. The longing for a phone call, with the seconds laughing and unwinding time, highlights the importance of communication in sustaining and nurturing a relationship.
Overall, "Won't You Call Me" explores themes of longing, vulnerability, and the importance of communication within a relationship. It captures the desire to be seen, understood, and connected to someone amidst the passing of time and the mysteries that may arise.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay down where the air stands still
Find a calm and peaceful place where there is no disturbance
Where the moonlight fills up your eyes
Let the gentle glow of the moonlight illuminate your soul
I stay there in the low, I don't even know
I remain in a state of uncertainty and confusion
What is on your mind
I am curious about the thoughts and feelings hidden within you
Won't you call
Please reach out to me
Won't you call me?
Please make contact with me
When the seconds are dancing
During moments when time seems to move joyfully
For the sake of my sanity
To preserve my mental well-being
In the night
During the darkness and stillness of the night
Growing blind
Feeling lost and uncertain about the future
No one knows what the devil did
The truth of past actions remains unknown
What disguises hid from our eyes
The real intentions or secrets that were concealed from us
So don't burn your fire for their sake
Do not waste your energy on people who do not deserve it
Miracles of fate got no enemy but time
The unfolding of destiny is unstoppable and time is its only adversary
When the seconds are laughing
During moments of joy and lightheartedness
Unwinding time
The process of letting go and embracing the passage of time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind