Formed by Claes Strängberg and his brother Per in 2004, Immanu El was joined by Michael Persson and Emil Karlsson soonafter where they began to work on their first release.
The band name, Immanu El, is a play on words (of sorts) on the Hebrew Bible's prophecy of Immanuel, the prophesied Messiah, and the Semetic word for God, El (deity), and "with us" (Immanu). The band's name takes on even deeper meaning in light of the Judeo-Christian philosophies of Jesus being simultaneously the Jewish Messiah and God in one.
After touring, supporting such bands as Logh and Loney, Dear they got the chance in 2005 to play a set on the 'Rookie Stage' in the Hultsfred Festival; an opportunity for unsigned bands to perform at a major event.
They released their first EP titled Killerwhale, before being signed to And the Sound Records in 2006. The following year, Immanu El recorded and released their first full-length album They'll Come, They Come. Building on the success of their first album they released their second album Moen in 2009, followed by In Passage in 2011.
Aerial
Immanu El Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
City blooming
Pounding beat
Passing while I long away
Something lasting that will stay
As a window flashes by
Bronze figures by my side
Catching speed
And singing loud their anthems
As the wings of white surrounds me
Through skylines we're aiming
In your eyes I see a consternation
'til dawnlight I'm flying
I'm whirling forward
In boundless speed
Through loops and turns
By love streams
Come sweep away
In this transcendence
By bosom of air
And as you gaze
I see your face
In consternation
Reaching out
I'm not here
Sweet voices lift me up
And streets are flashing by
You sing loud
You sing of love
Come closer
As the wings of white surrounds me
Through skylines we're aiming
In your eyes I see a consternation
'til dawnlight I'm flying
The song Aerial by Immanu El is a beautiful depiction of a person's escape from the crowded and chaotic city life. The lyrics talk about the emptiness of the crowded streets and the city blooming, while the pounding beat overwhelms and passes the listener by. But amidst all this chaos, the singer longs to find something that will last and stay with them forever. As they pass by the flashing windows, they see bronze figures, giving the impression that they are not alone in their quest for something profound.
The person then takes flight, dressed in light, and rises above the buildings and bustling streets. They catch speed and sing the anthems of the white wings that surround them. Through the skylines, they aim to find a deeper meaning and purpose to life, even though they see the consternation in the eyes of those they leave behind. They whirl forward in boundless speed, through loops and turns that take them away, and they find themselves in the transcendence of love streams. The bosom of the air engulfs them, and they're free from the city that once entrapped them.
In the end, the person sees a familiar face in the crowd, the same consternation haunting them from the start. But they're not scared anymore. Sweet voices lift them up, and they sing of love, even as the streets flash by. They aim to transcend beyond their physical body, beyond the noise of the city, and reach out for something that will last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Emptiness of crowded streets
Despite the busy roads, there is loneliness and a sense of emptiness
City blooming
The city is alive and flourishing
Pounding beat
The rhythm of the city pulses loudly
Passing while I long away
While moving along, there is a yearning for something more fulfilling
Something lasting that will stay
Searching for a meaningful and enduring presence in life
As a window flashes by
Traveling fast and catching brief glimpses of surroundings
Bronze figures by my side
Statues serve as constant companions along the journey
Dressed in light I lift off among them
Taking flight in a radiant glow, joining others on the journey
Catching speed
Accelerating quickly through the sky
And singing loud their anthems
Joining in with the songs of the others on this journey
As the wings of white surrounds me
The encompassing wings of purity and light protect and lift me up
Through skylines we're aiming
Traveling through towering buildings and structures, towards a final destination
In your eyes I see a consternation
Looking to someone for support, and seeing fear or unease in their eyes
'til dawnlight I'm flying
Continuing to journey through the night, until the sun rises
I'm whirling forward
Moving quickly and with purpose
In boundless speed
Traveling without limitations, at an incredible pace
Through loops and turns
Navigating twists and turns in the journey
By love streams
Traveling alongside the love and support of others
Come sweep away
Being carried away by the experience
In this transcendence
Experiencing a heightened and spiritual state of being
By bosom of air
Being carried along by the nurturing embrace of the atmosphere
And as you gaze
Looking into the eyes of someone for reassurance
I see your face
Recognizing the person's identity and desire to connect with them
Reaching out
Desiring to form a deeper connection with the person, despite the surrounding journey
I'm not here
Being lost in the experience and disconnecting from reality
Sweet voices lift me up
Feeling lifted emotionally and spiritually by the music and other voices around
And streets are flashing by
The journey through the city continues, with the surroundings passing by quickly
You sing loud
Others continue to sing their songs of support and encouragement
You sing of love
The music reminds the listener of the power and importance of love
Come closer
Encouraging someone to draw near and share the experience
Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tremolo3
When those guitars hit at 1:10 damn <3!!