New to Nashville's singer-songwriter scene is artist Fleurie, the musical moniker of Lauren Strahm, a 24-year-old hailing from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. The French word, meaning "in bloom" was chosen by the artist herself, who wanted an alias that accurately represented her sound. With an array of musical influences, including Coldplay, Imogen Heap, Dashboard Confessional, and The Fray, Strahm cites that her goal in writing every song is staying honest and true to the sound within her and the story being told.
The first EP from Fleurie, Fear & Fable, was released in October of 2013. Though it bears some darker tones thematically and lyrically, Strahm manages to deliver them softly and quite vulnerably to the listener. Fear & Fable is a collection of carefully constructed stories inhabiting haunting melodies woven through organic sounds - very much so a minimalist approach but with sonic depth.
Since moving to Nashville and the release of Fear & Fable, Fleurie has been at work exploring new sonic landscapes and delving into writing the part of the story she finds herself journeying now. Fleurie has a new EP in the works for release spring/summer of 2015.
http://www.fleuriemusic.com/
https://soundcloud.com/fleuriemusic-1
http://noisetrade.com/fleurie
https://www.musicbed.com/artists/fleurie/43148
Hymn
Fleurie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had long forgotten I belong to you
Some unconscious stream of twisted logic
Caught me in its whirlwind, left me black and blue
I was senseless, battered and defenseless
Rain became relentless, leaving barren skies
I was broken, all I left unspoken
Left me torn wide open, barely still alive
Under my pretenses, buried out of view
I recalled it hidden in a notebook
Tattered, ruffled pages old but good as new
I was listless, how could I have missed this?
If you are the groundswell, I'm tossed in your tide
I was certain if I'd seen it comin'
I'd have started running back at the starting line
Well I faltered, left you at the altar
Offering my apologies and my gratitude
Now there's a sinking feeling in my chest
You're gonna love me less when I return to you
But you were never one to keep a record
One to hold against me all I failed to prove
I've been tethered, floating like a feather
Anxious in my roaming, stranded on the move
In "Hymn," Fleurie seems to be reflecting on a past relationship that has left her feeling lost and disconnected. At the beginning of the song, she describes feeling adrift, "somewhere high up in the air," and having forgotten that she belongs to the person she is addressing. She then suggests that some deep-seated but unconscious beliefs have led her to self-destructive behaviors, leaving her "battered and defenseless" and surrounded by "barren skies." Despite this despair, Fleurie discovers a letter from her former lover that reminds her of their connection and moves her to repentance. She acknowledges having "faltered" and left this person waiting at the altar, but hopes that they will forgive her and that their love can be restored.
Throughout the song, Fleurie's language is rich with metaphors that suggest a struggle between freedom and constraint. She describes being "tossed in your tide," "floating like a feather," and "roaming," suggesting a desire for independence and self-discovery. At the same time, she acknowledges being "tethered" and "stranded" in her wandering, suggesting a need for guidance or stability. Ultimately, it seems that Fleurie finds a sense of belonging and purpose in reconnecting with her past, suggesting that growth and self-discovery are not incompatible with connection to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere high up in the air there
I felt untethered from reality
I had long forgotten I belong to you
I lost sight of my connection with you
Some unconscious stream of twisted logic
My thoughts were muddled and illogical
Caught me in its whirlwind, left me black and blue
I was swept up in the chaos and left feeling battered
I was senseless, battered and defenseless
I was helpless and powerless
Rain became relentless, leaving barren skies
My surroundings were gloomy and hopeless
I was broken, all I left unspoken
My emotional state was shattered and I kept my feelings hidden
Left me torn wide open, barely still alive
I was left vulnerable and barely holding on
Found your letter sealed away in storage
I stumbled upon a letter I had stored away
Under my pretenses, buried out of view
I intentionally hid the letter from myself
I recalled it hidden in a notebook
I remembered that I had written it down in a notebook
Tattered, ruffled pages old but good as new
The notebook was old and worn, but the message was still relevant
I was listless, how could I have missed this?
I felt aimless and confused about how I could have overlooked the letter
If you are the groundswell, I'm tossed in your tide
You are the force that moves me and I feel helpless to resist
I was certain if I'd seen it comin'
If I had anticipated the situation
I'd have started running back at the starting line
I would have taken action sooner and tried to prevent the situation from occurring
Well I faltered, left you at the altar
I failed and let you down
Offering my apologies and my gratitude
Expressing remorse and appreciation
Now there's a sinking feeling in my chest
I feel regretful and sad
You're gonna love me less when I return to you
I expect you to be disappointed and less affectionate when I come back
But you were never one to keep a record
I know you will not hold my mistakes against me
One to hold against me all I failed to prove
You will not judge me based on what I did not accomplish
I've been tethered, floating like a feather
I have been aimlessly drifting
Anxious in my roaming, stranded on the move
I feel uncertain and lost despite moving forward
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.