Antje Duvekot (born 1976 in Heidelberg, Germany) is a singer-songwriter and… Read Full Bio ↴Antje Duvekot (born 1976 in Heidelberg, Germany) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Somerville, Massachusetts. She holds three top song-writing awards, including the Kerrville New Folk Competition's Best New Folk Award, Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act and Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She began her music career in 2000 and since then has released a number of albums, beginning with Little Peppermints (2002).

Where so many songwriters stretch for their highest notes, hoping to impress and astound, Duvekot bravely mines her deep reaches, where the dark feelings lurk. It softens her phrasing, leading us in with whispers, letting us know she believes every word she sings.

Her melodies seem like suddenly occurring thoughts, matching the hushed, conversational allure of her singing. They feel so immediate, so in synch with her lyrics; and yet also snugly rooted, oddly familiar, like memories you can't quite recall.

She sings, and writes, as if she thinks songs are important; not means to an end, but tools of survival. And for her, that's just what they are.

In 2006 Antje was a featured guest performer at the ten-year reunion concert of the contemporary Celtic band Solas, who performed two of her songs.

Lighthouse
Antje Duvekot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You, you're not the first to ask
And probably not the last
And i don't expect you to understand

Why i stayed upon this rock
After the birds had gone
And all of the waves turned to sand

I am a lighthouse
In a desert and i stand alone
I dream of an ocean that was here a long time ago
And i remember his cool waters and i still glow

These days, the sunlight has bleached my paint
And the moonlight has made it plain
That nobody needs me to call them home
But i swear there was a time when i
Would shine for him through the night
And he was the only ocean that i have known

I am a lighthouse
In a desert and i stand alone
I dream of an ocean that was here a long time ago
And i remember his cool waters and i still glow

Now my lantern bears a crack
And i know he will not be back
But i will leave the light on forever

I am a lighthouse
In a desert and i stand alone

I dream of an ocean that was here a long time ago
And i remember his cool waters and i still glow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Antje Duvekot's song, Lighthouse, are metaphoric and poetic. The song is about a lighthouse in the desert that stands alone, shining its light even though nobody needs its guidance. The imagery of the lighthouse symbolizes the singer as someone who has held onto hope, waiting for an ocean that has long since disappeared. The lighthouse represents the singer's steadfast will and resilience to keep going, even when there's no clear direction or purpose.

The lyric "Why I stayed upon this rock after the birds had gone and all of the waves turned to sand" indicates that the singer has been waiting for something that will never come. The singer is like a lighthouse, tirelessly shining in the hopes that the one they love will one day return. The bleakness of the desert represents the emptiness and desolation the singer feels in their heart. The metaphorical lighthouse represents the one who remains faithful, vigilant, and faithful despite the odds.

The last lyric, "And I know he will not be back, but I will leave the light on forever" captures the unending hope and faith the singer has. It’s the light of hope that will continue to shine even though there’s no one to guide. This last statement is poignant and profound, as it shows the singer's resolute commitment to never giving up, no matter how dire the circumstances may be.

Line by Line Meaning

You, you're not the first to ask
Many before you have asked the same question

And probably not the last
Likely, many more will ask in the future

And i don't expect you to understand
I don't anticipate you comprehending

Why i stayed upon this rock
The reason I remained on this rock

After the birds had gone
After the birds had flown away

And all of the waves turned to sand
And the water turned into sand

I am a lighthouse
I am a structure that emits light so ships can see in the dark

In a desert and i stand alone
I am placed in a desert, with no companionship

I dream of an ocean that was here a long time ago
I desire the ocean that existed long ago

And i remember his cool waters and i still glow
I can still recall the sensation of the cold water

These days, the sunlight has bleached my paint
Recently, the sun has lightened my color