BONJAH have followed their acoustic roots and share a deep genuine love for playing music. Having already gathered a legion of fans in Melbourne and around Australia by playing and touring relentlessly, their reputation as an amazing live act is fast continuing to grow. There is a serious word of mouth buzz surrounding the band.
BONJAH have completed two well-received national tours on the East Coast and an extensive tour of the West Coast. Their experience at playing together is apparent -- their shows are natural and unscripted and combine soulful roots and funk/reggae grooves so well. The band are proud to say that they live off of their music -- from CD sales and shows -- since arriving from New Zealand. The critically acclaimed 9 track EP, ’Lemon Tree Bay’, named after the town that inspired the songs recently sold out of it’s third pressing. BONJAH recorded a show at The Evelyn to a packed house in late 2007, the CD called ’Looking for Life’ has 5 live tracks and 3 studio tracks, it is due to be released on Itunes on April 25th. It is available at shows. This is the beautiful organic sound of BONJAH.
Sand
Bonjah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
red love
some things aren't meant to be won
and she cuts your name in the sand
and out of her head
she was found on the river left for dead
black sky above
she saw lights
dream on, sweet relent
I tried to give you the hope that won't bend
broken down, a wild wind through her bed
redemption sings
don't believe in the words you hear
divine silhouettes in her mind
were you there
were you there when she needed you
a blood red
a black night
and the needle
nobody told us
that she was broken
nobody here let us know
cold stone nights
on the back of temptation she hides
her eyes, like a storm in the dawn
and the blood under her skin
let her drift through the game again
white sand
through her hands
were you there
were you there when she needed (you)
a blood red
black night
and the needle
and she needed it
nobody told us
that she was broken
nobody here let us know
nobody told us
that she was broken
nobody here let us know
nobody told us
that she was broken
nobody here let us know
ohhh no
yeah
The song "Sand" by Bonjah tells the story of a woman who is struggling with addiction and trying to overcome the pain of a broken relationship. The images of blood, love, and redemptive hope run throughout the lyrics, emphasizing the deep emotional wounds that the woman is grappling with. The opening lines capture the sense of futility and failure that she feels, acknowledging that some things in life are simply not meant to be won. The woman then cuts the name of her lost love into the sand, symbolizing both her longing for connection and her sense of powerlessness to change the past.
The middle section of the song shifts from describing the woman's emotional turmoil to a more surreal and dreamlike tone. She is found "on the river left for dead," yet she also sees "divine silhouettes" in her mind. There is a sense of spiritual yearning and a quest for something deeper than the surface-level pain and addiction that she is struggling with. The singer of the song, presumably a friend or loved one who is trying to support her, acknowledges that they have tried to give her hope, but that sometimes hope is hard to hold onto when everything seems to be falling apart.
The repeated refrain of "nobody told us that she was broken" underscores the idea that the woman's pain and struggles were hidden from others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. In many ways, the song is a call to break down those barriers and to be more open and compassionate with those around us who might be struggling with similar issues.
Line by Line Meaning
blood
The song starts with the word 'blood' which sets the tone for the song, indicating it is about something intense and emotional.
red love
The love being referred here is intense and passionate, like the color red.
some things aren't meant to be won
The line could refer to the fact that some things are just not meant to be or cannot be achieved, like conquering someone's heart, just because there is no winning or losing in love.
and she cuts your name in the sand
The woman the song is about is cutting the name of the person she loves in the sand, which could symbolize their temporary or short-lived relationship, like the sand will be washed away after some time.
and out of her head
Despite writing the name of her love in the sand, she can't get him out of her head.
she was found on the river left for dead
The woman was found on the riverbank in bad shape, left for dead, which could mean she had given up on life, love or anything else.
black sky above
The black sky above could represent the darkness or sadness the woman is feeling.
she saw lights (yeah)
The light could represent hope or something to look forward to in a dark time.
dream on, sweet relent
The singer is urging the woman to not give up on her dreams or hopes and to keep going despite the challenges.
I tried to give you the hope that won't bend
The singer is saying that he tried to give the woman unbreakable hope or optimism but it seems to be not working.
broken down, a wild wind through her bed
The woman is broken down and disturbed, as though a wild wind is blowing through her bed, which could signify a stormy life full of troubles.
redemption sings
The idea of redemption or salvation is singing out to the woman, giving her hope or something to look forward to.
don't believe in the words you hear
The singer is warning the woman to not believe everything she hears, indicating that people might not always be honest about their intentions or what they say.
divine silhouettes in her mind
The woman has divine or holy images in her mind which could symbolize the purity of her soul or the purity of her love.
were you there
The singer is asking someone if they were there for the woman when she needed them, indicating that she might have felt abandoned or alone.
were you there when she needed you
The repetition of the line shows the importance of being there for someone in their time of need.
a blood red
The color Red here could indicate passion, anger or love.
a black night
The black night here could be symbolic of darkness, emptiness or despair.
and the needle
The needle could represent any addiction or habit that the woman may have to cope with the difficult times and emotions, giving temporary relief.
nobody told us that she was broken
The singer is saying that nobody told anyone about the woman's troubles, indicating that people might be hiding their problems and suffering in silence.
nobody here let us know
The singer is blaming people who knew about the woman's condition but didn't reveal it, resulting in the woman feeling isolated and alone.
cold stone nights
Cold stone nights could represent the loneliness or isolation the woman is feeling and the struggle she is going through.
on the back of temptation she hides
The woman is hiding behind temptation or some other vice, which could make her feel better temporarily, but might be harmful in the long run.
her eyes, like a storm in the dawn
The woman's eyes are compared to a storm in the dawn, highlighting the intensity of her emotions, ranging from rage to hope.
and the blood under her skin
The blood under her skin could represent pent up anger, pain, or struggle that is hidden but can be sensed.
let her drift through the game again
The singer is saying that the woman is drifting through life again, playing the game of life, but not really living.
white sand
The white sand here could represent purity or innocence, which could contrast with the darkness and struggles of the woman's life.
through her hands
The woman feels like the white sand is slipping through her hands, which could symbolize her inability to hold on to anything that brings her joy or hope.
and she needed it
The repetition of the line shows the desperation of the woman for something that gives her comfort, be it love or something else.
ohhh no
The line indicates a final note of hopelessness, indicating that the woman's struggles are far from over.
Contributed by Isabella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.