Regarding the pronunciation of "Bic": "You say it Bec, rather than Bic", she explains. "It's Chinese, it's a strange vowel sound which doesn't seem to translate in English. It means the colour of jade, which I suppose is just green."
Runga was born in Christchurch. Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a Chinese Malaysian lounge singer in Malaysia when she met Joseph Runga, a Māori soldier on leave from Vietnam. They both moved to New Zealand to live.
Runga grew up in Hornby, Christchurch surrounded by a musically-inclined family, and started recording songs with her sisters, Boh and Pearl, when she was only four years old. Runga's older sister Boh is now a vocalist in the New Zealand rock group Stellar*, while Pearl is a session singer.
She learned how to play drums at the age of eleven, and guitar at about fourteen. Runga also learnt to play the keyboard at around this time. She attended Cashmere High School, joining high school bands and performing with local jazz groups by her mid-teens.
Singles
* "Bursting Through" (1996)
* "Sway" (1997) #10 Australia (re-issue Ireland in 2004 went to #26)
* "Suddenly Strange" (1997)
* "Roll into One" (1997)
* "Hey" (1998)
* "Sorry" (1999)
* "Get Some Sleep" (2002) #75 United Kingdom #3 New Zealand #27 Ireland
* "Something Good" (2002) #4 New Zealand
* "Listening for the Weather" (2003) #14 New Zealand
* "Winning Arrow" (2005) #23 New Zealand
* "Say After Me" (2006)
Captured
Bic Runga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you never to be far
I know you have laid a trap for me
Yes, I know you, but not as who you are
Black on the ground, I am still as a stone
Whatever changed my love to despair?
Light through the clouds trapped the scent of a soul
I want you when you are close to me
I want you never to be far
I know you have laid a trap for me
Yes, I know you, but not as who you are
Black on the ground, I am still as a stone
Whatever changed my love to despair?
Light through the clouds trapped the scent of a soul
In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
Whatever changes love to despair?
In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
The lyrics to Bic Runga's song "Captured" depict a desperate longing for closeness and connection with someone, coupled with a haunting sense of being trapped and deceived. The line "I know you, but not as who you are" suggests that the singer is aware that their desire may be misguided or based on a false perception of this person. The lyrics repeat the phrases "I want you when you are close to me" and "I want you never to be far," highlighting the intensity of the longing and the fear of losing the object of affection.
The second verse describes a feeling of being immobilized and uncertain, as represented by the line "black on the ground, I am still as a stone." The lyrics question what could have caused a shift in the singer's perception of their love, from something positive to despair. The final line repeats the phrase "captured, captured," emphasizing the sense of being trapped in this cycle of desire and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you when you are close to me
I desire your presence when you are near to me
I want you never to be far
I want you to be near to me always
I know you have laid a trap for me
I am aware that you have set a trap for me
Yes, I know you, but not as who you are
I know you, but I do not know your true intentions
Black on the ground, I am still as a stone
I am motionless and unresponsive, even in the darkness
Whatever changed my love to despair?
What caused my love to turn into misery?
Light through the clouds trapped the scent of a soul
A ray of light shone through the clouds, capturing the essence of a person's identity
In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
Suddenly, I am ensnared by the situation and my feelings
Whatever changes love to despair?
What causes love to turn into hopelessness?
In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
Suddenly, I am caught in the moment, unable to move on from my emotions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BIC RUNGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Barbara Donnellan
Amazing song, what a voice :-)
Thors3
This song allways captures me completely when I listen it. Captured indeed.
Anca Jurconi
Such a beautyful song....2021 listening ..thank you !
em87em
I want you when you are close to me I want you never to be far I know you have laid a trap for me Yes, I know you, but not as who you are Black on the ground, I am still as a stone Whatever changed my love to despair Light through the clouds trapped the scent of a soul In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
em87em
I want you when you are close to me I want you never to be far I know you have laid a trap for me Yes, I know you, but not as who you are Black on the ground, I am still as a stone Whatever changed my love to despair Light through the clouds trapped the scent of a soul In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured Whatever changes love to despair In a moment, my love, I am captured, captured
agac1708
Beautiful song:)
Schumacher Reto
one of the best songs forever(....)
mano a mano
This is lovely. She's so much better when she sings darker, heavier songs; less compelling on all the lightweight, cheery, pop songs she often does.
Roy Diedesch
Came here because of Dallas Green, but I think I actually like this version more. Such a sensual song
Snoopy
2016 and still listening it mmmm)