Her father is Italian and her mother Icelandic. Emilíana grew up in Kópavogur where, at the age of 7, she joined a choir as a soprano. She continued with the choir until she went to opera school at the age of 15. Later she worked as waitress at her father's restaurant. In 1994, Emilíana became well-known at the age of 17 after winning the song competition for junior college students (Icelandic: Söngkeppni framhaldsskólanna), singing "I Will Survive".
Prior to her appearance on the worldwide stage, she released 3 other albums in Iceland: Spoon in 1994, Crouçie D'où Là in 1995, and Merman in 1996. Emilíana also worked with trip-hop group Gus Gus on their debut Polydistortion (1997) on two songs: Is Jesus Your Pal? and Why?.
Later Torrini continues to collaborate with other artists, notably composing Kylie Minogue's international #1 track Slow with Dan Carey in 2003, and providing the voice for Gollum's Song, the closing theme for the film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Also in 2002, she sang vocals on Paul Oakenfold's song Hold Your Hand taken from his Bunkka album.
In 2003 she collaborated with Thievery Corporation on two songs Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes and Until the Morning from The Richest Man in Babylon (2005), and Slovo's debut album, Nommo.
Emilíana Torrini released her international debut album, Love In The Time Of Science in November 1999. This trip-hop album was produced by Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. Four singles were issued: Dead Things, Baby Blue, To Be Free, and Unemployed in Summertime.
Working with Dan Carey, her second major album release released in 2005, Fisherman's Woman, signified a departure from her earlier electronic roots to an acoustic-folk sound; applying the ethereal beauty of her voice in a much more intimate setting, reminiscent of the work of Nick Drake and fellow Icelanders múm. The singles Lifesaver, Sunnyroad, and Heartstopper supported the album.
Her third album, Me and Armini was released on 8 September 2008, to generally good reviews. The album was promoted by three singles: Me and Armini, Big Jumps, and Jungle Drum. The single Jungle Drum became Emilíana's most successful song, reaching #1 in Iceland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, #5 on Finland, and #11 in Switzerland.
Her fourth international studio album, Tookah was released in 2013.
http://www.emilianatorrini.com/
Torrini has lately worked with Canada's Kid Koala, providing vocals on the ambient album Music To Draw To: Satellite, released in January 2017.
The album is described as "...his first non sample-based album, with all the instruments and effects being manipulated by him and him alone) and lyricist (a collaboration with Icelandic vocalist Emilíana Torrini, who somehow makes this sometimes stark, often celestial-sounding record even more chilling with her captivating performances on tracks like "Collapser" and "Adrift") — is able to transport listeners to the depths of space, or wherever their imagination wills them, with ease."
http://exclaim.ca/music/article/kid_koala-music_to_draw_to_satellite
Beggar's Prayer
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama say eventually this hurting will end
But the shock waves on my bones will linger
Like the ghost of you here in my bed
When I was lost you thought me a beautiful find
Sometimes I think of you sleeping, so sleep for a while
I find myself asking who'd do this to love
Lord you just dropped me here by the side of this road
Out here's too cold and I don't want to walk it alone
I've got a bottle of your blood inside me
And an old beggar's prayer on the tip of my tongue
Mama said lift your head from the sieve of your hands
Mama say eventually this hurting will end
The song Beggar's Prayer by Emilíana Torrini is a heart-wrenching portrayal of loss, grief and the struggle to move on. The opening lines of the song, "Mama said lift your head from the sieve of your hands, Mama say eventually this hurting will end," speaks of the singer's hopelessness and despair while facing a devastating loss. The singer's mother offers comfort and reassurance, but the pain continues to linger. The "shock waves on my bones will linger, like the ghost of you here in my bed" represents the enduring emotional pain.
The chorus, "Lord you just dropped me here by the side of this road, out here's too cold and I don't want to walk it alone," depicts the sense of abandonment and betrayal the singer feels after being left behind. The line "I've got a bottle of your blood inside me" adds a surrealistic touch to this imagery, and emphasizes the intense connection the singer once had with the subject of the song. The "old beggar's prayer on the tip of my tongue" speaks of the singer's desperation and the hope for redemption or closure.
The song is a powerful and raw representation of the complexities of grief and loss. The vivid and poetic lyrics, along with Emilíana Torrini's haunting and melancholic voice, creates a deeply emotional and thought-provoking experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama said lift your head from the sieve of your hands
My mother told me to stop holding my head in my hands and being so consumed by my pain.
Mama say eventually this hurting will end
My mother assured me that the pain won't last forever.
But the shock waves on my bones will linger
Despite my mother's reassurance, the intense pain will remain in my bones for a long time.
Like the ghost of you here in my bed
Just like how the presence of your ghost haunts me in bed, the pain will continue to haunt me.
When I was lost you thought me a beautiful find
When I was feeling lost, you found me and saw the beauty in who I am.
Sometimes I think of you sleeping, so sleep for a while
I sometimes think about you sleeping, so go ahead and rest.
I find myself asking who'd do this to love
I can't help but wonder who would cause someone to feel this much pain in the name of love.
And the white shouldered mountains they pointed above
Looking up at the mountains, towering and white, made me feel small and insignificant in comparison.
Lord you just dropped me here by the side of this road
It feels like you just left me stranded on this road without any guidance.
Out here's too cold and I don't want to walk it alone
It's too cold and lonely out here to continue walking alone.
I've got a bottle of your blood inside me
I can feel your presence inside of me, even though you're not here physically.
And an old beggar's prayer on the tip of my tongue
I'm left with nothing but a desperate prayer on my lips.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMILIANA TORRINI, FRANCIS EG WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sylisthedemon
Mamma said, lift your head from the sieve of your hands.
Mamma said eventually this hurting will end.
But the shockwaves on my bones will linger,
Like the ghost of you here in my bed.
When I was lost you thought me a beautiful find.
Sometimes I think of you sleeping, so sleep for a while.
I find myself asking who'd do this to love,
And the white-shouldered mountains they pointed above.
Lord you just dropped me here by the side of this road.
Out here's too cold and I don't want to walk it alone.
I've got a bottle of your blood inside me,
And on old beggar's prayer on the tip of my tongue.
Mamma said, lift your head from the sieve of your hands.
Mamma said that eventually this hurting will end...
@emilyhazzard3687
I heard this on Grey's Anatomy and loved it, but couldn't find it, then I heard it on Castle and I had to find it! Addicting song
@juliannevillecorrea
i heard it on castle bang in the opening ... it just seeped into me #sound #voice #mean #music Sefra Correa Marielyn Correa Wilson Correa hazel gonsalves ***** what a beautiful thing
@yashr060
Same reason gal same reason loved it on Grey's Anatomy
@user-cn9dp8hc7c
Искала это, потому что услышала в сереале "Касл" :))
@1freckleface2
i remember this!!!! with the frozen body!! i love it! so calming
@joshuaowensjr8694
Castle
@beatmess66
this song is about her dead fiancé ..like "Sunny Road" and "today has been okay" ... it is so brilliant, raw and real ... it is magnificiently sad ..
@sxq108
Castle 1x05.
Amazing song!
@emmaschoendorf
n r YEAH 😍😍😍😍
@lishi13228
I’m also here because of Castle😂😍