Khan graduated Brighton University, in music and visual arts, where her experimental multi-media / installation / animation / performance art's influences spanned tape loop / effects pioneer Steve Reich and installation / performance artist Susan Hiller. Afterwards, when working as a nursery school teacher, she began writing for her début. "Whenever I'm writing music it's a very visual place in my mind," she said, "It has a location full of characters and colours and landscapes, so those two things really complement each other, and they help the other one to blossom and support the other. They are like brother and sister." Bat for Lashes music has been likened to that of Björk (who herself attended Khan's early gigs), Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Tori Amos and Fiona Apple.
"The Wizard" was primarily released on 7-inch from Khan's own She Bear label and subsequently Fur and Gold on Echo. In 2007, she was honoured with a ASCAP Vanguard Award and selected to open the prestigious ASCAP Presents… 2007, 14 Mar in Austin, TX, USA (an industry showcase, within SXSW 2007). Later, via a small Manimal Vinyl Fur and Gold pressing (May 2007), Bat for Lashes transferred to Parlophone. She appeared at Glastonbury 2007 (23 June).
In July 2007, Fur and Gold, Joe's Pub, NYC, on 1 May 2007 recordings and a Plaid remix, yielded EP What's A Girl To Do? (7 Jul 2007, EMI). Then on the 17th, the album's 2007 Mercury Prize nomination was announced - despite being a UK media favourite to win, it lost to Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future. 25 Jul 2007, at Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY was the fist gig of a three month North American tour, interrupted only by European festival appearances.
In 2008, Bat for Lashes was nominated for Brit Awards ('Best British Breakthrough Act' and 'Best British Female'), her distinctive What's a Girl to Do? video brought her to prominence and, starting with Malahide Castle, Dublin, IE, on 6 Jun 2008, she toured with Radiohead for a month, opening more than a dozen European shows. Perfect As Cats: A Tribute to the Cure (Oct 2008, Manimal Vinyl), included her cover of A Forest.
The lead single for her second album was "Daniel" and released in March. On 23 February, Khan revealed in an interview on radio station XFM that the cover for the single had been shot on Brighton beach, near her home. She also designed a limited edition cover for Fact Magazine which coincided with an interview she did for them. Bat for Lashes released her second album Two Suns in April 2009, which received comparisons to the work of Stevie Nicks, Dolores O'Riordan and Fleetwood Mac.
Bat for Lashes live backing during the Two Suns tours, as March 2009, included among others: Ben Christophers, Charlotte Hatherley and Sarah Jones (drums - of New Young Pony Club). She appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. She performed an acoustic version of the single, "Daniel," and also covered "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. Her first appearance on US broadcast television was 1 May 2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing the song "Daniel". On May 15, 2009 she appeared on NPR (World Cafe) where she performed "Daniel", "Moon and Moon (piano only) and Prescilla".
On June 13, 2012 Bat for Lashes announced the title of her upcoming third studio album "The Haunted Man" to be released in October. The album was produced, as with Fur And Gold and Two Suns, by Faultline. While not performing as well in Europe as Two Suns, The Haunted Man was her highest charting album in the US to date, at #64. Singles "Laura", "All Your Gold", "A Wall", and "Lilies" followed.
If I Knew
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a mountain I had to claim as mine
And you brought every weather from storm to shine
But I'm thankful for who you helped me fight
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I would never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
And where I was going took time
And you've seen me walk through a veil of fire
Stroll up by the darkness as my pain flew high
And I thought it was you I'd been searching for
Somehow I am a mirror, the mountain a door
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I could never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The mountain had a mirror inside
And where I was going took time
The song If I Knew by Bat for Lashes is a song about a person who comes into the life of the singer at the perfect time. This person helps the singer to face and conquer challenges, like climbing a mountain, and to weather the storms along the way. The singer is grateful for this person’s help in getting her through tough times. The lyrics acknowledge that the journey of life takes time and that it is often difficult, but ultimately, it is worth it.
The second verse seems to suggest that the person who helped the singer is actually a reflection of herself. The singer references walking through a veil of fire and strolling through darkness as her pain flew high. It seems that the singer may have been looking for someone else to help her through those difficult times, but ultimately realized that the person she needed was herself. The mountain, which represents the challenges in life, had a mirror inside, which suggests that the mountain showed the singer herself and helped her to see that she was capable of overcoming anything.
Overall, the song is a message of hope and perseverance. It acknowledges the difficulties that come with life but encourages listeners to keep going and to look inward for the strength to face those difficulties. The song seems to suggest that the singer has come out stronger and wiser because of her experiences and is grateful for the person who helped her along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that you came at the perfect time
The subject recognizes the timing of the arrival of the person being addressed as perfect, for the former was about to conquer a daunting task
There was a mountain I had to claim as mine
The subject refers to a difficult personal challenge they had to overcome
And you brought every weather from storm to shine
The subject experienced good and bad moments, all of which helped them grow and develop
But I'm thankful for who you helped me fight
The subject shows gratitude to the person being addressed for being a source of support in their battles
Baby, if I knew what I know now
The subject addresses the person being spoken to, implying that they would have acted differently if they knew then what they know now
I would never turn it back around
The subject would not go back to their old ways if given the chance because of how much they have grown
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The person being addressed supported the subject in all their decisions, helping them to see the brighter side of life
The mountain had a mirror inside
The subject learns something about themselves through their difficult experiences, using the metaphor of a mirror within the mountain to convey this
And where I was going took time
The subject's journey to self-discovery was long and involved a lot of personal growth
And you've seen me walk through a veil of fire
The person being addressed has witnessed the subject overcoming a difficult challenge or situation, likened to walking through fire
Stroll up by the darkness as my pain flew high
The subject went through a period of darkness and pain, but the person being addressed supported them throughout
And I thought it was you I'd been searching for
The subject had been looking for someone like the person being addressed, who had helped them grow and develop
Somehow I am a mirror, the mountain a door
The subject realizes that they themselves are the mirror and the mountain is a door to their own self-discovery and growth
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NATASHA KHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dielawn
You know that you came at the perfect time
There was a mountain I had to claim as mine
And you brought every weather from storm to shine
But I'm thankful for who you helped me find
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I would never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The mountain had a mirror inside
And where I was going took time
You've seen me walk through a veil of fire
Strung up by the darkness as my pain flew higher
And I thought it was you I'd been searching for
But somehow I am the mirror, the mountain, the door
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I could never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The mountain had a mirror inside
And where I was going took time
dielawn
You know that you came at the perfect time
There was a mountain I had to claim as mine
And you brought every weather from storm to shine
But I'm thankful for who you helped me find
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I would never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The mountain had a mirror inside
And where I was going took time
You've seen me walk through a veil of fire
Strung up by the darkness as my pain flew higher
And I thought it was you I'd been searching for
But somehow I am the mirror, the mountain, the door
Baby, if I knew what I know now
I could never turn it back around
Wrong or right, you held me up to the light
The mountain had a mirror inside
And where I was going took time
Les Quirie
Perfect and beautiful. What does Natasha have to do to gain the wider recognition that she deserves?
Brianna Taylor
This song is so beautiful...Natasha is such a gifted writer my goodness
Adriel adams
Eu choro ouvindo essa música ! Uma das mais lindas do Bat ❤️❤️
SasukeJJ
Diggin’ the lyrics! “You know that you came at the perfect time”
Elfie.S
This was the actual first song that really brought me to tears 💜
Martin Waters
Huge tune! Piano riff and her voice. Big love! Also a touch of Joni Mitchell Hijera
David Costa
Perfect, just perfect this album, Natasha congratulations for this masterpiece
Seramaine
I am getting married in 10 days, and I just want to thank you for making the perfect first dance for my fiance and I!
Dominic AaAaa
Great choice hope you had a great wedding ☺⭐