In 2001 she received the award Spellemannsprisen in the open class category for her album Smiling & Waving, which featured a duet with Robert Wyatt.
Garbarek also collaborated with the Norwegian black metal band Satyricon on their album Volcano.
In 2006 she provided the majority of the soundtrack for Angel-A and then released an album under her own name: Briefly Shaking.
Sites: Facebook.
The Gown
Anja Garbarek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So that I can go back
So that that I can go
Into the garden
With cuddly tiger
And do all things
And do all things
And do all things
Robby make me a gown!
So that I can go back
'Cause I'm only scared
Of see through
When I am far away
From texture
And the times I allow needles
I feel in one
And that's when I become
Instantly ready
To do all things
To do all things
To do all things
To do all things
To do all things
To do all things
To do a-all things
To do all things
Robby make me a gown!
The song "The Gown" by Anja Garbarek is a haunting, surreal journey through the mind of the singer, who is requesting a gown be made for her by someone named Robby. It's not entirely clear who Robby is, but it's possible he's a tailor or a dressmaker. The singer wants the gown so that she can go back to the garden with a "cuddly tiger." There's a sense of childlike wonder and playfulness in this request, which is juxtaposed with darker themes of fear and vulnerability.
The singer is scared of being seen through, which suggests a fear of being exposed or having her true self revealed. She finds comfort in textures and the physical sensation of needles, which suggests a desire for control and sensation. When she's in this state of mind, she feels "in one" - perhaps with herself, with her own body, or with the world around her.
The repetition of the phrase "to do all things" creates a sense of urgency and possibility. Whatever the singer wants to do, she feels ready to do it when she's in the right mindset. The final repetition of "Robby make me a gown!" is both a plea and a demand - the singer needs this gown, and Robby is the one who can provide it for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Robby make me a gown!
Anja Garbarek is requesting Robby to create a gown for her.
So that I can go back
The gown will enable her to return to a certain place or time.
So that that I can go
The gown serves a purpose of allowing her to participate actively in something.
Into the garden
The setting of her desired return is a garden.
With cuddly tiger
The garden or the place the gown allows her to go features a cuddly tiger.
And do all things
The gown empowers her to do anything she desires.
And do all things
She emphasizes that she is capable of doing anything, fueled by the gown.
And do all things
She iterates her desire to perform any actions with the help of the gown.
And do all things
Doing things with the gown is her primary focus, as it opens endless possibilities.
Robby make me a gown!
Again, she reiterates her request for Robby to create her desired gown.
So that I can go back
She repeats the importance of the gown in allowing her to return to where she wants to be.
'Cause I'm only scared
She shares her fear which she believes the gown will fix.
Of see through
Her fear is related to something being able to be seen through, suggesting transparency or vulnerability.
When I am far away
The fear only takes place when she is removed from something or someone.
From texture
She associates the solution to her fear with the feeling of touch or texture.
And the times I allow needles
She specifies certain situations when the solution is allowable or accessible to her.
I feel in one
The solution offers her a sense of unity or oneness.
And that's when I become
She explains the turning point in her journey to reaching her desired state.
Instantly ready
She will be prepared for anything when she is in her desired state.
To do all things
The gown will provide her the ability to do anything.
To do all things
Again, she stresses the adventurous capability she will have with the gown.
To do a-all things
Again, she emphasizes the unlimited potential of her abilities with the gown.
To do all things
She ends by pointing out again how the gown provides her with endless possibilities.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind