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."
When I Grow Up
Fever Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me
When I grow up
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me
I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad
I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you
I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and cry for you
You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long
I wait for him to catch me
Waiting for you to embrace me
The lyrics of Fever Ray's song "When I Grow Up" is a reflection of the artist's desire for a simple and peaceful life. In the first verse, the artist expresses her wish to be a forester and run through the moss on high heels. This could be interpreted as a longing for nature and freedom from societal norms that dictate what is "normal" for a woman to do. She throws a boomerang and waits for it to come back, symbolizing her faith in the universe and that her dreams will come to fruition.
In the second verse, the artist talks about her desire to live near the sea, have crab claws, and bottles of rum. She stares at the seashell and waits for it to embrace her, indicating a deep yearning for a sense of belonging and acceptance. The artist puts her soul into what she does and last night drew a funny man with dark eyes and a hanging tongue. This could be interpreted as her past experiences of getting attached to someone who didn't reciprocate her feelings, hence the sad look.
The artist is also in touch with nature as she is good with plants and cares for them when her friends are away. She rests on the seventh day for a minute or two, which is a Biblical reference to the day God rested after creating the world. The last lines of the song talk about waiting for someone to embrace her, indicating a need for love and affection that the artist craves.
Line by Line Meaning
When I grow up
Looking forward to the future and what the singer wants to become
I want to be a forester
The singer wants to work in natural surroundings surrounded by trees and woods
Run through the moss on high heels
The singer wants to live freely and confidently, and not be held back by anything
That's what I'll do
Asserting the artist's determination to achieve their dreams
Throwing out boomerang
Taking action and sending something out, waiting for it to come back
Waiting for it to come back to me
Looking forward to the eventual results of their actions
I want to live near the sea
Desiring to live near the water, and enjoy the beach and the ocean
Crab claws and bottles of rum
Enjoying seafood and alcoholic drinks associated with the beach life
That's what I'll have
Envisioning a future where the artist has everything they want
Staring at the seashell
Taking in the beauty of the ocean and its treasures
Waiting for it to embrace me
Longing to be a part of the natural world and to feel its embrace
I put my soul in what I do
Giving everything they have to the things they do, pouring their soul into their passions
Last night I drew a funny man
Engaging in creative activities, expressing themselves through art
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
Creating something unique and different, not conforming to societal norms
It goes way bad
Things don't always turn out as planned, sometimes leading to negative outcomes
I never liked a sad look
Disliking seeing sadness in others, especially those who desire love and affection
From someone who wants to be loved by you
Empathizing with others who are seeking love and affection, feeling for their emotional pain
I'm very good with plants
Having a talent for taking care of and nurturing plants
When my friends are away
Having time to themselves when their friends are not around
They let me keep the soil moist
Taking care of their friends' plants, keeping them healthy and growing well
On the seventh day I rest
Taking time to rest, as if following a schedule or routine
For a minute or two
Only taking a brief break, not wanting to stop for too long
Then back on my feet and cry for you
Resuming their regular activities, but still feeling emotional about the person they long for
You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Noting something unusual or odd about the person they are addressing
Too much time spent on nothing
Critiquing someone's perceived lack of purpose or productivity
Waiting for a moment to arise
Passively sitting and waiting for something to happen, rather than taking initiative
The face in the ceiling
Observing something peculiar or unsettling in their surroundings
And arms too long
Noticing something physically unbalanced or awkward
I wait for him to catch me
Desiring to be rescued or caught by someone, possibly a romantic interest
Waiting for you to embrace me
Longing for someone to embrace or hold them, continuing the theme of desire for love and affection
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARIN DREIJER ANDERSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hugh Manne
Fever Ray was a captivating performer. We need more like her, though she is totally unique.
Petunia Amber Supreme Baxter
Ring0fSaturn was????
Davidian Alter
I was there and this set literally blew my mind
scott tester
Hey me too
Dave2100
My friend who was there at the set still talks about it with extreme reverence. Suffice to say that it was his favorite set in Coachella history for him
Kenneth Demeester
Physically she is on stage, mentally, she is so somewhere else in the nowhere .. This is a true example of being fully into a performance. Thanks for existing !!
petitorca
This is, IMO, probably the best live Fever Ray video on YouTube. The band had refined the production of their live set and the close-up shots give you a great sense of her profound intensity.
steve c
I believe that she's a channel for some very positive energy for the souls that can feel it! As you say, on one level she's aware but ultimately she is an individual as we all are. We find love and strength in our similarity to one another against the powers of darkness that are at large in the world outside of ourselves. Allow yourself to be touched by it, pass it on!
MaiaShardik
She knows how powerful she is...on one level she does, on another-she's just as mesmerized as we are
Anthony Dabor
This song will stay with me forever. She sounds just like the songs from her album :D