To date, Olsen has released six studio albums: Half Way Home (2012), Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014), My Woman (2016), All Mirrors (2019), Whole New Mess (2020) and Big Time (2022).
Windows
Angel Olsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
Light
Light
We throw our shadows down
We live and throw our shadows down
It's how we get around
In the sun
In the sun
Why can't you see?
Why can't you see?
Why can't you see?
Are you blind?
Are you blind?
Are you blind?
Are you dead already?
Are you alright?
Are you alright?
Won't you open a window sometime?
Won't you open a window sometime?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
What's so wrong with the light? (ooh ooh ooh)
What's so wrong with the light? (ah ah ah)
What's so wrong with the light? (ah ah ah)
What's so wrong with the light? (ah ah ah)
What's so wrong with the light? (eh hey)
What's so wrong with the light? (oh hey, oh)
In Angel Olsen's song "Windows", the singer is urging someone to open a window and let in the light. The repeated question "What's so wrong with the light?" suggests that whoever they are speaking to is resistant to it. The description of wind in the hair and sun in the eyes implies a sense of freedom and openness that the singer is trying to bring to the other person's life.
The chorus, "We throw our shadows down / We must throw our shadows down / We live and throw our shadows down / It's how we get around" suggests that we all have shadows or dark, unresolved parts of ourselves that we carry with us, but they are necessary to our existence and help us navigate the world. The repeated questions in the second verse, "Why can't you see?" and "Are you blind?" seem to point to a lack of awareness or understanding on the part of the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you open a window sometime?
Asking someone to open up to new experiences
What's so wrong with the light?
Why are you afraid of new experiences?
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
Enjoying life and feeling alive
We throw our shadows down
We all have flaws and imperfections
We must throw our shadows down
We have to embrace our flaws and be ourselves
We live and throw our shadows down
Our flaws are a part of our existence
It's how we get around
Flaws are how we navigate life
In the sun
In our happy moments
Why can't you see?
Why can't you understand?
Are you blind?
Are you really not understanding?
Are you dead already?
Are you missing out on life by holding back?
Are you alright?
Are you living life to the fullest?
What's so wrong with the light?
Why are you afraid of new experiences?
What's so wrong with the light? (ooh ooh ooh)
Asking again why someone is afraid of new experiences
What's so wrong with the light? (ah ah ah)
Questioning someone's reasons for avoiding new experiences
What's so wrong with the light? (eh hey)
Urging someone to face their fears
What's so wrong with the light? (oh hey, oh)
Challenging someone's reasons for being afraid
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ANGEL L. OLSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Gutierrez
Won't you open a window sometime
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
Light
Light
We throw our shadows down
We must throw our shadows down
We live and throw our shadows down
It's how we get around
In the sun
In the sun
Why can't you see
Why can't you see
Why can't you see
Are you blind
Are you blind
Are you blind
Are you dead
Already
Are you alive
Are you alive
Won't you open a window sometime
Won't you open a window sometime
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Anvita Mathur
Lyrics
Won't you open a window sometime?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
Light
Light
We throw our shadows down
We must throw our shadows down
We live and throw our shadows down
It's how we get around
In the sun
In the sun
Why can't you see?
Why can't you see?
Why can't you see?
Are you blind?
Are you blind?
Are you blind?
Are you dead, already?
Are you all right?
Are you all right?
Won't you open a window sometime?
Won't you open a window sometime?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
What's so wrong with the light?
Nisia Farronato
"Windows"
Won't you open a window sometime
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
Light
Light
We throw our shadows down
We must throw our shadows down
We live and throw our shadows down
It's how we get around
In the sun
In the sun
Why can't you see
Why can't you see
Why can't you see
Are you blind
Are you blind
Are you blind
Are you dead
Already
Are you alive
Are you alive
Won't you open a window sometime
Won't you open a window sometime
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Wind in your hair, sun in your eyes
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
What's so wrong with the light
Goiabinha
Janelas
Você não vai abrir uma janela em algum momento?
O que há de tão errado com a luz?
O que há de tão errado com a luz?
Do vento em seu cabelo, o sol em seus olhos
Luz
Luz
Nós jogamos nossas sombras para baixo
Devemos lançar nossas sombras para baixo
Vivemos e lançamos nossas sombras para baixo
É como se dessemos a volta
No sol
No sol
Porque você não consegue ver?
Você está cego?
Você está morto?
Ah, é mesmo?
Você está bem?
Você está bem?
Você não vai abrir uma janela em algum momento?
Você não vai abrir uma janela em algum momento?
O que há de tão errado com a luz?
O que há de tão errado com a luz?
Do vento em seu cabelo, o sol em seus olhos
O que há de tão errado com a luz?
Kaan Şensoy
This genius woman will go down in the history as one of the greatest songwriters ever
Arda Sarıhan
+
Devvie Downer
Burn Your Fire For No Witness is a poetic masterpiece, Angel is underrated.
RomanaSky
I just said that about an hour ago. So we are all in agreement.
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C1
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C8 Flippant
Ian
This song, especially from 2:30 on, gives me chills all over. Songs that shake you to the core like this are few and far between.
Rebecca Mcconnell
Ian I felt the same way, it gives me chills and I cry
Gregory Foster
I can't believe all of the negative comments here! This video is beautiful. Stop trying to reduce it to an understandable clip. So much in this life is so obvious and in your face, its refreshing to have some mystery and magic. This song is a absolute blessing balm to my heart.
Kathryn Nee
You my friend, rock!