Starting in 2003, Nalick released her first studio produced album, entitled: “Wreck of the Day” in 2005. It featured the hit single “Breathe (2AM)” under the SonyMusic label. The song propelled to the top of the charts and sent Anna on a nearly four year tour around the world. Featuring her third hit single “Shine,” Nalick and SonyMusic released “The Shine EP.” Both “Wreck of the Day” and “The Shine EP” can still be heard widely on radio and television today, with “Breathe” being featured twice on the hit television drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Wanting to pursue a musical style free of label influence, Nalick decided to part ways with SonyMusic in 2010 and in 2011, released her first independently produced album: “Broken Doll & Odds & Ends”. Nalick describes the album as: “mostly acoustic with haunting and unusual instrumentation. I wanted to release the songs I wrote while I was with Sony before I move on to all new material. I liked the songs too much to just leave them all behind. Now I’m ready to explore new territory.”
Utilizing the unique sounds of toy piano, sitar, glockenspiel, oud, mandocello and sweeping string arrangements, “Broken Doll & Odds & Ends” features a wide range of instruments, performed by a very talented collection of musicians. Nalick’s unique storytelling ability and timeless sense of melody has gained even more notoriety with fans, selling over 30,000 copies during the album’s first month.
Presently, Nalick is dedicating the majority of her time to writing for her next project. Unlike the acoustic feel of “Broken Doll & Odds & Ends,” Nalick’s next album is planned to be an electric collection of songs, featuring a full band and a bigger sound than previously produced.
Aura
Anna Nalick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your favorite color is the color of my aura, aura
Aren′t you gonna take me home
A new religion, switch hits, 'n pitches, visions
My piss and vinegar cannot condone
That I might lose refuge to something so unreal
Steals my two eyes off you
Just wanna be naked and weightless before I lose it too
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
Pretty little miss slimness gives kisses
On the wrist with the twist of a lymphis
I′m no god, I'm no Lolita, I won't follow the leader
And I wish I could be pretty like
That, pretty like that, pretty like that
But I′ll never be free like that, free like that, free like that
I sing Jolene and crash, bleed and cry, rally and laugh
I go down to the water, to the water
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
And there′s freedom in letting go
Breathing the toxins out of my lungs
And slowly dying I look above to the vital surface
Keeping my eyes on a higher sun
And if you're meant to be with me
You′ll be if you see what I see someday
Won't we laugh at this when our fist is one, but until then
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
Down to the river
Under the water
I found a savior
Down at the bottom
Your favorite color is the color of my aura, aura
In Anna Nalick's song Aura, the lyrics are filled with metaphors and symbolism that add depth to the storytelling of the song. The repetition of "Your favorite color is the color of my aura" suggests that the person to whom the lyrics are addressed value and see the same qualities in the singer that are represented by the color of her aura. The singer desires to be accepted and loved as she is, without comparison to anyone else. The conflicting emotions are present as well, as she wishes to be free like the "pretty little miss slimness" but finds solace in the river, where she finds a savior at the bottom.
The river symbolizes a metaphorical journey, a cleansing of the past and the beginning of an irrevocable change. It could also represent the singer's journey towards enlightenment, which is a quest for her to be herself without feeling judged. She goes down to the river to drown her pain and look for answers. The water cleanses her and relieves her of her burdens. In the end, it is about the freedom that comes from letting go of what is holding us back and allowing ourselves to be our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Your favorite color is the color of my aura, aura
The singer is telling their lover that their favorite color represents the singer's aura.
Aren't you gonna take me home
The singer is asking their lover to take them home.
A new religion, switch hits, 'n pitches, visions
The singer wants to experience new things, such as new religions, new experiences and visions.
My piss and vinegar cannot condone
The artist's strong spirit and enthusiasm cannot accept something that is unreal.
That I might lose refuge to something so unreal
The artist is worried that they might lose their sense of comfort to something that is not real.
Steals my two eyes off you
The singer is distracted by something that is not their lover, causing them to lose focus on them.
Just wanna be naked and weightless before I lose it too
The singer wants to experience freedom and weightlessness before they lose the opportunity.
Down to the river
The artist is going down to the river.
Under the water
The artist is going underwater.
I found a savior
The artist has found something or someone that has saved them in some way.
Down at the bottom
The singer has gone to the bottom of the river or underwater.
Pretty little miss slimness gives kisses
The artist is referring to someone who is conventionally attractive and is giving affectionate kisses.
On the wrist with the twist of a lymphis
The singer is describing how the kisses are given.
I'm no god, I'm no Lolita, I won't follow the leader
The singer is asserting their independence and individuality, stating that they won't follow anyone else.
And I wish I could be pretty like that, pretty like that, pretty like that
The singer wishes they could be as conventionally attractive as the person they referred to earlier.
But I'll never be free like that, free like that, free like that
The artist cannot be free like that person because they cannot be conventionally attractive and themselves at the same time.
I sing Jolene and crash, bleed and cry, rally and laugh
The artist experiences a range of emotions and feelings, referencing the Dolly Parton song Jolene.
And there's freedom in letting go
The singer feels like there is freedom in letting go of something or someone.
Breathing the toxins out of my lungs
The singer feels like they are purging something toxic from them.
And slowly dying I look above to the vital surface
The artist is metaphorically dying as they look up towards the surface.
Keeping my eyes on a higher sun
The artist is keeping their eyes on something greater and more meaningful.
And if you're meant to be with me
The artist is considering if their lover is meant to be with them.
You'll be if you see what I see someday
The singer feels that their lover will be with them someday, as long as they see what the singer sees.
Won't we laugh at this when our fist is one, but until then
The artist and their lover will find this situation funny when they are united, but until then...
Writer(s): NALICK ANNA CHRISTINE
Contributed by Lauren S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anonymous
on Broken Doll
Helplessly Hoping - Anna Nalick - Lyrics
Helplessly hoping
Her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses
Of gentle true spirit
He runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of good-bye
Wordlessly watching
He waits by the window
And wonders at the empty place inside
Heartlessly helping
Himself to her bad dreams
He worries did he hear a good-bye?
Or even hello?
They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for hold of each other
Stand by the stairway
You'll see something certain
To tell you confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying
It's loose in a lady
Who lingers saying she is lost
And choking on hello
They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for hold of each other
Music Interlude
They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for hold of each other