He approached his music with a new found freshness and decided to put some songs down on record. His grandmother told him he had a distant cousin in London in the music business. Borrowing money from those that would lend it, he recorded his demo and sent it off to his cousin, renowned producer and film composer, David Arnold (Bjork, James Bond). Arnold liked what he heard and provided enough money for Damien to buy his own mobile studio.
Damien Rice formerly sang with Lisa Hannigan and released his debut solo album, O, in Ireland in early 2002. In July 2002 O was released in the UK and it received widespread critical acclaim. In June 2003 O was released in the USA and Europe, with Rice appearing on The Letterman Show and receiving more acclaim from publications such as Rolling Stone, Newsweek and The Boston Globe. Arnold joined him on stage in New York to perform a version of the Björk/Arnold track Play Dead.
He gained further popularity after some of his most famous songs were included in the media. An example of this is 9 Crimes used in the soundtrack of the summer blockbuster Shrek Three and The Blower's Daughter was featured in the movie Closer. Delicate was also featured in the hit T.V. show Lost.
Damien Rice is an intense live act - with emphasis laid on emotional intensity and experiments, rather than technical perfection. At a 2005 concert, for instance, he threw out big cheeses to the audience. This can sometimes be more demanding for the listener than the radio hit edit of the song Cannonball suggests. 'Cannonball' was re-mixed in 2004, for UK radio, to make it more radio-friendly. Rice later was reported to be very unhappy with it, saying to Tom Dunne on PetSounds (Today FM) that he did not "...really like it". He stated that he had allowed the remix to go through only if he signed a contract that would forbid anyone from ever remixing one of his songs ever again.
Damien spent 2004 and 2005 recording the follow-up to O. The album, 9, was released in Ireland on November 3, 2006, on November 6 in the rest of Europe, and in North America on November 14, 2006. Even though the new album maintained Rice's sense of "emotionality," some argued that it did so through volume and intensity rather than with the reflection and lyrical commentary that characterized his first release, O.
Rice has also developed a reputation as a live performer, selling out at venues across Europe and the United States. He is a performer who gives a lot of himself to the audience.
As of March 25th, 2007, this was posted on the Damien Rice official website: After much thought and discussion Damien has decided that his professional relationship with Lisa Hannigan has run its creative course. As a result Lisa will not be appearing at any of the upcoming live shows. Lisa is embarking on her own artistic endeavours and there are no plans for them to work together in the foreseeable future. The current band on tour at the moment are - Damien Rice, Joel Shearer, Shane Fitzsimons, Tom Osander, and Vyvienne Long.
Rumors that Damien Rice is currently dating Mélanie Laurent, a French actress, has not been verified. However, there have been reports that he is working with the actress to record her debut album.
Cold Water
Damien Rice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold water
Surrounds me now
And all
I've got
Is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Loved
One's daughter
Allow me that
And I can't
Let go
Of your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
(Uh, I love you
Don't you know I love you?
And I always have
Hallelujah
Will you come with me?)
Cold
Cold water
Surrounds me now
And all (cold)
I've got (cold water)
Is your hand (surrounds me now)
Lord
(Can you hear me?)
Lord
(Can you hear me now?)
Lord
(Can you hear me?)
Lord
(can you hear me now?)
Lost
Am I lost with you?
Lost
Am I lost without you? (am I lost?)
Lost
Am I lost without you? (am I lost?)
Lost
Am I lost with you?
The lyrics to Damien Rice's "Cold Water" describe a feeling of being lost and in need of guidance. The cold water that surrounds the singer represents the confusion and uncertainty they feel in their life. The repetition of "Lord, can you hear me now?" reinforces the idea that the singer is searching for something greater than themselves to provide answers and comfort. The mention of a loved one's daughter indicates that the singer has lost someone close to them, making their feeling of disconnection even more profound. Despite this loss, the singer holds onto the hope that they can stay connected to the person they have lost through their hand, which is a symbol of support and reassurance.
There is a certain vulnerability and honesty in Rice's lyrics that allow the listeners to empathize with the singer's situation, reminding them of the importance of community and support when facing difficult times. The final lines of the song express the singer's desperation and fear, questioning whether they are lost with or without their loved one. The use of repetition in the chorus and the bridge reinforces the singer's emotional state, making it clear that they feel alone and adrift.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold
The author feels the intense coldness of the water that is surrounding them.
Cold water
The author specifically notes that the water around them is cold.
Surrounds me now
The author is currently in the cold water that is around them.
And all
Despite being in the cold water, there is nothing else around the author to rely on.
I've got
The only thing the author has to rely on is another person's hand.
Is your hand
The person the author is relying on is holding the author's hand.
Lord, can you hear me now?
The author is talking to God, asking if they are listening and can hear the author's plea for help.
Or am I lost?
The author questions whether they are lost and unable to find their way out of the current situation.
Loved
The person the author is referring to is someone they love.
One's daughter
The person the author loves is someone's daughter.
Allow me that
The author is asking for permission to love the person they care about.
And I can't
The author is unable to let go of the hand of the person they love.
Uh, I love you
The author expresses their love for the person they care about.
Don't you know I love you?
The author asks if the person they love is aware of their feelings.
And I always have
The author has held onto their feelings for the person they love for a long time.
Hallelujah
The author exclaims in joy, possibly because of their love for the other person.
Will you come with me?
The author invites the person they love to join them on their journey.
Lost
The author is questioning their current state of being.
Am I lost with you?
The author wonders if they are lost because they are with the person they love.
Lost
The author is still questioning their current state of being.
Am I lost without you? (am I lost?)
The author is questioning if they are only lost when they are without the person they love.
Lost
The author is still questioning their current state of being.
Am I lost without you? (am I lost?)
The author is still questioning if they are only lost when they are without the person they love.
Lost
The author is still questioning their current state of being.
Am I lost with you?
The author wonders if the person they love is contributing to their feeling of being lost.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMIEN GEORGE RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sila Kiral
"Cold Water"
Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Love one's daughter
Allow me that
And I can't let go of your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
[chanting] Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Anonymous
Lyrics :
Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Love one's daughter
Allow me that
And I can't let go of your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
[chanting] Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Joe Mug
Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Love one's daughter
Allow me that
And I can't let go of your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Cold, cold water surrounds me now
And all I've got is your hand
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Lord, can you hear me now?
Or am I lost?
Somos más que dos
This song reminds me when I lost my daughter.. I used to listen to this song in the Hospital all day long... now 6 years later it still makes me feel a lot of things... sweet dreams baby girl ♥
Karloffrules
There may be no more sincerely sung, and beautifully written a lullaby as this. For the living, and for the dead.. Wishing you resilience and peace. I am walking a similar path; stumbling at the moment.
Somos más que dos
Karloffrules Thank you, I wish you too resilience and acceptance. Grieve is a long and hard path, but worth it at the end. (even if the end does not exist)
Karen Custy
Karloffrules
I can feel your pain...sometimes getting lost in the moment of an amazing song with a voice that penetrates deep into your soul can get you through the grieving process with less pain...I relate...losing my beautiful daughter sears my being with torturous grief....you are not alone..
Joao Lenares
***** Ohhh I am so sorry for you, hope God confort your heart.
Somos más que dos
João Lenares Thank you! I am healing and learning every day ♥
Joy Stanley
Never has any other artist had such an impact. Incredible music from the heart - every word, every sigh, every silence meaningful
Sophie Stephens
Goosebumps, always when he sings!
purpleghostlife 42
I always listen to this song when I am feeling especially sad, like today.. it really helps to lift me when I feel like I’m drowning.
Jaynne
Não canso, não canso nunca de ouvi-lo! ❤