She released her début album Somebody Outside in 2004. The Swedish Grammy jury awarded her as Best Newcomer of the year, and was nominated for Best Female Artist, Best Lyricist and Best Songwriter of 2005. She also won the P3 Gold award for Best Newcomer 2004.
For her second album, Separation Road released on September 27, 2006, she was awarded Best Female Artist and Best Lyricist of the Swedish Grammy jury, again she was nominated for Best Songwriter and Best Album. She received the award for Best Female Artist at the Swedish National Radio's P3 Gold Awards the same year.
Her début US album, Halfway to Fivepoints, was released on April 22, 2008.
"To Be Gone", "My Secret", "Girl Laying Down", "Today is A Good Day", and "Shoreline" (a Broder Daniel cover) remain her most popular songs.
Her song, "Quiet Night" was used in the second series of the Swedish version of Wallander starring Krister Henriksson.
''Words of Love'' featured in gameplay Silent hill:Downpour.
On December 18, 2009, her song "No, I Don't Remember" was featured on an episode of Dollhouse entitled "The Attic." This song was featured in July 2010 on a new DLC episode, for the Xbox 360 videogame Alan Wake, entitled "The Signal".
Her latest album, Leaving on a Mayday, was released on August 11, 2009. The album won Album of the Year at the 2009 Swedish Grammy Awards along with the award for Best Female Artist.
Black Light Shines
Anna Ternheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light as a feather
Amazed by the white linen sheet
Placed over your head
Out of the steel beds
Out of the aches
Released from your head
Black light shines
Over your head on the wall
Black light shines
No name on your badge anymore
Black light shines
The 9th of July
A first last goodbye
Your face in the wind being 5 maybe 6
Without wings you fly
Out of the steel beds
Out of the aches
Released from your head
Thinking kills us all in the end
Black light shines
Over your head on the wall
Black light shines
No name on your badge anymore
Black light shines
Wake up in a haze
Light as a feather
Amazed by the white linen sheet
Placed over your head
Over your head on the wall
Get up on your feet and walk
Black light shines
Black light shines
Black light shines
The lyrics of Anna Ternheim's song "Black Light Shines" paint a vivid picture of someone waking up in a daze, possibly in a hospital bed. The person is described as feeling light as a feather, but also amazed by the white linen sheet placed over their head. The song suggests that the person is released from their physical and mental pain when they are released from their head. The lyric "Thinking kills us all in the end" is a poignant reminder of how our thoughts and worries can be detrimental to our health and wellbeing.
The chorus of the song is especially striking, with its repeated refrain of "Black light shines" representing both a sense of hope and a hint of darkness. The black light could be seen as a symbol of the unknown, or perhaps an intangible force that we cannot fully understand or control. The line "No name on your badge anymore" suggests that the person may have been stripped of their identity in some way, adding to the mystery and uncertainty of the lyrics.
The second verse of the song offers some further clues as to the meaning of the lyrics. The date mentioned, July 9th, could be a significant day for the person in question, perhaps marking a significant event or milestone. The image of a face in the wind, without wings to fly, adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics. The song seems to be suggesting that we are all bound by our physical and mental limitations, but that there is still hope and light to be found even in the darkest of situations.
Overall, "Black Light Shines" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to embrace hope and positivity even in difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up in a haze
Opening line describing the feeling of waking up post-sleep.
Light as a feather
Feeling unencumbered and free.
Amazed by the white linen sheet
Taking in the environment and surroundings after waking up.
Placed over your head
Suggesting a covering, potentially a shroud or death.
Out of the steel beds
Escaping from a hospital or medical facility.
Out of the aches
Physical pain is gone, perhaps indicating a cure or release from a malady.
Released from your head
Cognitive healing, the mind being cleared and free of burden.
Thinking kills us all in the end
A possible commentary on the stresses of modern life, mental strain, and its potentially negative impact on our well-being.
Black light shines
The song's titular lyric, suggesting a mystic or otherworldly presence.
Over your head on the wall
Emphasizing that the black light comes from an outside source, rather than being intrinsic or internal.
No name on your badge anymore
A metaphor for identity loss and anonymity.
The 9th of July
A specific date, potentially significant to the artist or something from her life/story.
A first last goodbye
An oxymoron suggesting both departure and permanence, again tying into themes of death or the afterlife.
Your face in the wind being 5 maybe 6
A vivid image of childhood innocence, invoking nostalgia or dreaming.
Without wings you fly
Metaphor for soaring and freedom without physical limitation.
Get up on your feet and walk
Encouraging a proactive attitude of movement, taking steps forward.
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.