Dreijer was born on 7 April 1975 in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 1994, they formed the indie rock band Honey Is Cool, where they served as the lead vocalist and guitarist. Together with their brother Olof Dreijer, they formed an electronic music duo The Knife in 1999, and have spanned a series of successful and critically acclaimed albums.
What would you do if one decade into your career you suddenly saw one of your songs turned into a worldwide hit, won six Grammis in your native Sweden and your latest release was declared album of the year by one of the world’s most influential music websites? If you’re Karin Dreijer, the answer is to take a couple of years off and return as a solo artist under a new name: Fever Ray.
In Dreijer's's own words: “I had so many songs to record that I just had to make an album. I thought I was going to have a longer break but I guess it will never happen. I can't stop working. My aim was to finish the album and, now that it's done, I'm a bit restless (good that The Knife has an opera to write then). During the last years, I discovered that I like to sing too, so I hope that my newly found live band Fever Ray will make it to the stages next year. We are rehearsing and building something beautiful and brilliant."
Concrete Walls
Fever Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I took her up she was so warm
I live between concrete walls
In my arms she was so warm
Eyes are open the mouth cries
Haven't slept since summer
Eyes are open the mouth cries
I live between concrete walls
When I took her up she was so warm
I live between concrete walls
In my arms she was so warm
Oh, how I try
I leave the TV on and the radio
Oh, how I try
I leave the TV on and the radio
I live between concrete walls
When I took her up she was so warm
I live between concrete walls
In my arms she was so warm
The lyrics to Fever Ray's "Concrete Walls" paint a picture of confinement and isolation, with the singer describing living between concrete walls. These walls not only confine and isolate the singer, but also seem to isolate them from their own emotions - the repeated refrain "when I took her up, she was so warm" suggests a past moment of intimacy that the singer cannot reclaim in their current state.
The second half of the song introduces the idea of sleeplessness, with the singer stating that they haven't slept since summer - this could be interpreted as either insomnia brought on by the confined space, or a reference to a specific event that happened in the summer that the singer hasn't been able to forget. The final lines of the song show the singer attempting to distract themselves from their situation by leaving the TV on and the radio playing - they are using external stimuli to fill the void left by their isolation.
Overall, "Concrete Walls" is a bleak portrayal of confinement both physical and emotional, with the lyrics painting a picture of a person trapped within themselves and their surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
I live between concrete walls
I feel trapped and isolated in my living space, which lacks any natural elements or organic life
When I took her up she was so warm
I once had a warm and fulfilling relationship, but now it's gone
Eyes are open the mouth cries
I struggle with insomnia and depression, and my body physically expresses my emotional pain by crying
Haven't slept since summer
My sleep issues have been ongoing for a while now, without any relief
Oh, how I try
Despite my struggles, I still make an effort to distract myself from my problems
I leave the TV on and the radio
I try to drown out my thoughts and feelings with constant noise
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARIN DREIJER ANDERSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A.A
That drum n bass outro is amazing
M LO
This was insane live
Teddy Quake
i bet
Iosh79
unfortunately this outro isn’t the same like the live show. For me this was the best part from the whole concert.
Fucsia Junio
A B S U R D A ♡
Robin Noah
Outro is mind-blowing
Ryan Pritchard
Was this version of the intro actually used in any of the live performances? Her vocals sound a lot more processed at the beginning on this version. The end also sounds very different to the videos I've seen. I like the new intro though.
Azazel Qayin
I love this intro
Justinas Miskinis
I love the way Karin evolved
MrKrUgJIbIY
Тащит то музончик