In 1999, DeLange released live-album Dear John, an album full of covers by John Hiatt, after a very successful performance at the "Marlboro Flashbacks". The album went platinum in the Netherlands, for selling more than 80,000 copies.
In 2000, DeLange released her sophomore album Livin’ On Love. Although there was a good amount of promotion for the album, it could not compete with the success of its predecessor. It peaked at #5 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Its lead single “Livin’ On Love” became a minor Top 40-entry. Meanwhile, Warner Music attempted to promote this release as her "breakthrough" release in the United States. Although World Of Hurt was planned to be released in the States, the record labels in America thought the album was too old-fashioned for the 2000s. It was eventually shelved.
In 2003, DeLange released her third album Clean Up. It became another success for the Dutch singer, peaking at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 for five weeks. Its single “Shine” with Rosemary's Sons became a surprise Top 40-hit. Despite the success, the first single “No Reason To Be Shy” was a commercial failure and the record company decided not to release any further singles.
Later that same year, DeLange released her first compilation album Here I Am (1998-2003). She also collaborated with Kane on “Before You Let Me Go”, which was recorded live in Rotterdam. It peaked at #4 on the Dutch official Top 40, earning DeLange her first ever Top 10-hit. At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch section of record company Warner Music was disbanded and DeLange lost her contract.
She then signed with Universal Music. In 2006, she released her fourth album The Great Escape. Its lead single of the same name became an unexpectedly big hit, charting for more than five months on the Dutch official Top 40. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and was certified double-platinum within its first month. Its follow-up singles “The Lonely One” and “I Love You” both entered the Top 40 as well.
In 2008, DeLange released her fifth album Incredible. Its lead single became a breakout success, peaking at #6 on the Dutch official Top 40. It also won the Schaal van Rigter prize. The follow-up single “Miracle” became an even bigger hit, topping the Dutch official Top 40 and earning DeLange her first Number 1-single. The album was also a commercial success, becoming her fourth Number 1-album and being certified quintuple-platinum.
In 2010, DeLange released her first EP titled Next To Me. Its lead single of the same name became another Top 10-hit. In 2011 she started working on a new album, which was later shelved after her father’s death.
In 2012, DeLange released her seventh album Eye of the Hurricane. The single “Hurricane” became the album’s breakout single. This new album was promoted with a concert in the 'GelreDome' stadium. It earned DeLange another Number 1-album on the Dutch Album Top 100.
In 2013, DeLange replaced Nick & Simon as a coach on The Voice of Holland. She returned to The Voice of Holland as a coach for its fifth season in August 2014. On 15 January 2015, it was announced that DeLange would be replaced as a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Holland by Miss Montreal lead singer Sanne Hans.
DeLange represented the Netherlands, with singer Waylon as The Common Linnets, during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the song “Calm After The Storm”, the band finished in second place behind the winner Conchita Wurst from Austria, the Netherlands’ best result in more than a decade. The song became a hit single across Europe, reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band’s eponymous album also became very successful, 50.000 copies within a week in The Netherlands alone.
On 7 December 2017 it was revealed that DeLange would have a recurring role in the final season of the ABC/CMT musical-drama series Nashville.
In 2018 created DeLange her own record label, Spark Records, as part of Firefly/Universal Music. She also released her new eponymous album. The album debuted and peaked at #3 on the Dutch Album Top 100. It failed to produce a significant hit single.
DeLange was part of the Dutch delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as an artistic consultant and mentor to the Dutch representative Duncan Laurence, whom she coached during the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. Laurence went on to win the contest with his song "Arcade".
In September 2019 DeLange released the roots-album Gravel & Dust. Recorded in Nashville, this album was made with producer T Bone Burnett. It debuted at #2 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Quickly thereafter, DeLange released her new album Changes. The album debuted and peaked at #4 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and became a surprise hit in German-speaking countries. It peaked at #14 on the German Top Album Charts and a Top 10-album in Switzerland. The success inspired DeLange to tour through Germany in 2023.
DeLange participated in the seventh season of Sing Meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert. The episode where DeLange was the central guest, suddenly increased the sales of DeLanges old albums and singles.
The Lonely One
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told the lake, to go dry and wash away
Am I wrong? Am I strong? Walk away
Do I know there are no words to say?
Am I yours? Am I mine, anyway?
Do I know there are no words?
I am the only princess, I am indestructible
I am the distant planet, I am the golden sun
I am the broken pieces, I am the lonely one
Asked the sky to fall down on you
Asked the night to be solid proof
Am I good? Am I bad, or the same?
Am I bad? Am I worse? Stay away
Is there anything else left to say?
Are there really any words?
I am a flying spaceship, identifiable
I am the perfect lover, tell me, I am lovable
I am the distant planet, I am the purple sun
I am the highest mountain, I am the lonely one
So here's me now, without you
I turn the lights out, without you
Should I be frightened, without you
Always night now, without you
I am the darkest morning, I am the sleeping fool
I am the wandering gypsy, I am right here next to you
I am the distant planet, I am the golden sun
I am the empty canyon, I am the lonely one
The lonely one
The lyrics to Ilse DeLange's song, The Lonely One, are a reflection of the singer's inner turmoil and uncertainty in a relationship. The singer expresses their desire for their emotions to be heard, but at the same time, they feel powerless and disconnected. The opening lines of the song, "I told the sun, not to shine and stay away, I told the lake, to go dry and wash away" illustrate the singer's attempt to exert control over their environment, possibly as an attempt to reflect the pain they feel inside. However, they question their own actions when they ask themselves, "Am I wrong? Am I strong? Walk away, do I know there are no words to say?" They are unsure whether their actions are right or wrong, and they question their own strength while contemplating whether or not they should walk away from the relationship.
In the chorus, the singer describes themselves as the only princess, indestructible yet also breakable. They are the distant planet and golden sun, but also the broken pieces and lonely one. These descriptions reflect the rollercoaster of emotions and the uncertainty that the singer is experiencing. They wonder if they are good or bad, lovable or unlovable, and ultimately, whether there are any words to describe what they are feeling. The final verse, "I am the darkest morning, I am the sleeping fool, I am the wandering gypsy, I am right here next to you, I am the distant planet, I am the golden sun, I am the empty canyon, I am the lonely one," shows that the singer feels alone and isolated, despite being in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I told the sun, not to shine and stay away
I tried to push away all things that give brightness and warmth in my life.
I told the lake, to go dry and wash away
I attempted to erase all the calming and soothing things that make me feel good inside.
Am I wrong? Am I strong? Walk away
I am unsure if my decision to push away positivity is correct, but I am attempting to move forward with it anyway.
Do I know there are no words to say?
I understand that my feelings cannot be eloquently expressed in language.
Am I yours? Am I mine, anyway?
I am questioning if I belong to someone else or if I am solely responsible for my own actions.
Do I know there are no words?
I realize that my emotions cannot be fully conveyed through words.
I am the only princess, I am indestructible
I am confident and unbreakable like royalty.
I am winged victory, I am so breakable
I am like a symbol of success, but I am also fragile.
I am the distant planet, I am the golden sun
I can be both a far-off celestial body and a radiant source of light and energy.
I am the broken pieces, I am the lonely one
I am shattered and alone.
Asked the sky to fall down on you
I wished for something terrible to happen to you.
Asked the night to be solid proof
I requested evidence of my pain and suffering to be visible in the darkness.
Am I good? Am I bad, or the same?
I am unsure if I am a morally good or bad person or if I'm just stagnant.
Am I bad? Am I worse? Stay away
I am wondering if I am a terrible or even worse person, and I am telling others to stay away from me because of it.
Is there anything else left to say?
I am questioning if there is anything else worth communicating or if everything has already been said.
Are there really any words?
I am questioning the effectiveness and purpose of language.
I am a flying spaceship, identifiable
I am imaginative and unique, yet recognizable and grounded by reality.
I am the perfect lover, tell me, I am lovable
I am seeking validation and reassurance that I am capable of being a great love interest.
I am the distant planet, I am the purple sun
I am still far off and otherworldly, but I have taken on a new and unusual color.
I am the highest mountain, I am the lonely one
I am elevated and grand, but also disconnected and by myself.
So here's me now, without you
I am acknowledging that I am currently without your presence and influence.
I turn the lights out, without you
I am living without the brightness and warmth that you once provided in my life.
Should I be frightened, without you
I am uncertain if being without you should scare me.
Always night now, without you
I am continuously in a state of darkness without you here with me.
I am the darkest morning, I am the sleeping fool
I am at my lowest point, feeling like a foolish sleeper during the early hours of the day.
I am the wandering gypsy, I am right here next to you
I am both a free spirit, wandering and exploring, and physically present beside you.
I am the distant planet, I am the golden sun
I am still far off and celestial, but I also shine with warmth, light, and life-giving energy.
I am the empty canyon, I am the lonely one
I am vast and empty, like a canyon, but also deeply alone.
The lonely one
I am the one who is alone and feels disconnected from the world around me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ILSE DE LANGE, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind