Romano's 2011 album Sleep Beneath the Willow was a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, and his 2013 album Come Cry With Me was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.
If I've Only One Time Askin' was nominated for a 2016 Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
On January 4, 2018, Romano released two simultaneous surprise albums, Human Touch and Nerveless.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Romano released several new albums of both newly recorded and archival material in quick succession. He then recorded a series of albums with a band as Daniel Romano's Outfit.
I Tried To Hold the World
Daniel Romano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tried to swallow the mountains
Spread my tunnel, like a wing
And I was spread beside you
On a bed of down
I tried to make your arching fevered body sing
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
Your scars, a decoration of your reckless recreation
Mine are from the jealousy of war
Somewhere in a bunker, they were calling out my number
As I sank into the shame beneath the floor
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
Some old gypsy found me there
A hundred years from anywhere
She washed my muddy hair in rival blood
Re-born as the survivor
Her hair danced like a fire
As she dragged me through the murder and the flood
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
My mind of wrinkled matter
Has been stretched out on the latter
As she prods it with her finger-nailed swords
We walked the sands of Germany
In a crooked German time to be
The starving incarnation of the Lord
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
She's eleven different lovers, in the irrigated covers
And I hydroplane above her, like a ship of bones and mean
And her, the mouth of trinity
Dropped gently to her wounded knee
And drained my swallowed world between her teeth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I tried to hold the world
In my mouth
In these lyrics, Daniel Romano explores themes of longing, self-destruction, and the human desire to control and possess. The repetitive line "I tried to hold the world in my mouth" serves as a metaphor for the singer's attempt to take on the weight of the world and control everything around them.
The opening lines, "I tried to hold the world in my mouth, I tried to swallow the mountains," suggest a grandiose ambition and a desperate desire to consume and contain everything. The image of spreading oneself like a wing beside someone on a bed of down indicates vulnerability and a longing for intimacy.
The following verse speaks of scars and war, suggesting that the singer's inner turmoil and wounds are a result of conflict and jealousy. The mention of being called out in a bunker and sinking into shame implies a sense of guilt and inner torment.
The third verse introduces an older woman, a gypsy figure who appears to offer some form of salvation or rebirth. She washes the singer's muddy hair in "rival blood," symbolizing a cleansing or purification process. The reference to murder and flood suggests a turbulent and chaotic journey toward redemption or self-discovery.
In the fourth verse, the singer's mind is described as "wrinkled matter" that the gypsy woman prods with her finger-nailed swords. This image conveys a sense of pain and conflict within the singer's psyche. The mention of walking the sands of Germany and being the "starving incarnation of the Lord" alludes to a historical backdrop and the weight of past atrocities.
The final verse introduces a female character who appears to be sexually liberated and promiscuous. The singer describes her as having eleven different lovers and hydroplanes above her like a ship of bones and mean. This suggests a detached and objectifying perspective. The mention of her dropping to her wounded knee and draining the singer's swallowed world between her teeth implies a metaphorical consumption or exploitation of the singer's desires and aspirations.
Overall, these lyrics paint a complex picture of a protagonist grappling with their own desires and attempting to control and possess the world around them. It explores themes of vulnerability, self-destruction, and the search for meaning and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
I attempted to encapsulate the enormity and complexity of the world within my own words and understanding.
I tried to swallow the mountains
I made an effort to internalize and conquer the immense challenges and obstacles in life.
Spread my tunnel, like a wing
I opened up my mind and expanded my perspective, embracing new possibilities and freedom of thought.
And I was spread beside you
I found myself connected and intertwined with someone, sharing a deep emotional bond.
On a bed of down
We were in a comfortable and peaceful state, surrounded by softness and tranquility.
I tried to make your arching fevered body sing
I made an endeavor to bring you pleasure and joy, igniting passion and ecstasy within you.
Your scars, a decoration of your reckless recreation
The marks on your body represent the consequences of your impulsive and daring actions, becoming a part of your identity.
Mine are from the jealousy of war
My wounds and scars are the result of the envy and rivalry experienced during conflicts and battles.
Somewhere in a bunker, they were calling out my number
In a hidden and confined place, my name was being summoned, indicating my involvement in a dangerous and life-threatening situation.
As I sank into the shame beneath the floor
I felt overwhelmed by guilt and humiliation, succumbing to the weight of my actions.
Some old gypsy found me there
An elderly wanderer discovered me in that state of despair and vulnerability.
A hundred years from anywhere
In a distant and isolated location, far away from civilization and the passage of time.
She washed my muddy hair in rival blood
She cleansed my soiled and stained hair with the residue of conflict and rivalry, symbolizing the removal of negativity and purification.
Re-born as the survivor
Through this transformative experience, I emerged as a resilient individual who managed to overcome adversity and survive.
Her hair danced like a fire
Her flowing and vibrant hair moved with a captivating and intense energy, reminiscent of flickering flames.
As she dragged me through the murder and the flood
She forcefully pulled me through periods of violence and chaos, exposing me to the harsh realities of life.
My mind of wrinkled matter
My mind, filled with thoughts and ideas, has become weary and burdened over time.
Has been stretched out on the latter
It has been extended and expanded upon, reaching its limits and stretching beyond what it can comfortably contain.
As she prods it with her finger-nailed swords
She probes and challenges my thoughts and beliefs with sharp and piercing questions, forcing me to confront and examine them deeply.
We walked the sands of Germany
Together, we traversed the landscapes of Germany, symbolizing a shared journey and exploration of history and culture.
In a crooked German time to be
In a period of turmoil and distortion in German history, we found ourselves navigating through its complexities.
The starving incarnation of the Lord
We embodied the hunger and desire for meaning and purpose, searching for a spiritual connection and understanding.
She's eleven different lovers, in the irrigated covers
She has experienced relationships with numerous partners, finding fulfillment and passion within the confines of societal norms and expectations.
And I hydroplane above her, like a ship of bones and mean
I float effortlessly above her, detached and distant, resembling a vessel comprised of bare bones and bitterness.
And her, the mouth of trinity
She embodies the essence of a divine unity, representing a spiritual and physical connection between three distinct aspects.
Dropped gently to her wounded knee
She gracefully descended and kneeled down, paying homage and offering solace to her own pain and suffering.
And drained my swallowed world between her teeth
She consumed and absorbed the whole universe I had tried to encapsulate, taking it into herself and assimilating its essence.
I tried to hold the world in my mouth
Once again, I attempted to grasp the entirety of the world within my own words and comprehension.
I tried to hold the world
My goal was to contain and control the vastness and complexity of the world.
In my mouth
Within the confines of my own being, my capacity for understanding and expression.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Daniel Romano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bigmikeydread
Absolutely stunning how little coverage there is of this musical genius.
@ColtonRoberts95
Probably my favorite from the new album! So catchyyyyyyy, and more fresh than the rest.
@shannonlindsaytaylor
:D