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.
On Wide Shoulders
Immanu El Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
by the railing we are
watching boundries pass
and high billows lift our keel
on wide shoulders we are
carried through the vast-
Within
carries through our quest
something in your voice
keeps me hold fast
Fill my swelling sails
hear the darkening clouds
sing with troubled oceans
My heart
felt your striking hand
heard you call my name
through the roaring storms
i am safe
i am brave
Come raging waves
break my bow
come lashing winds
drench my words
come thunderstorms
strain me down
i will stand tall
holding fast
The lyrics to Immanu El's song "On Wide Shoulders" speak to the idea of voyaging through the unknown, both physically and emotionally. The opening lines of "heavy fogs are leaving me" describe the fading of obscurity, allowing one to see more clearly the world around them. The singer and someone else are standing at a railing, watching boundaries pass as they are carried through vast, unknown waters on "wide shoulders." The use of this metaphor describes a level of comfort and safety, as though they are being held up and carried through the waves.
The lyrics then shift to a more introspective tone with the line "something's in my chest," followed by the acknowledgement of the singer's connection to their companion through their voices. The swelling of the sails and the darkening clouds symbolize the imminent arrival of a storm, and the "troubled oceans" indicate an atmosphere of unease and uncertainty. Despite this, the singer's heart is reassured by the touching of a hand and the sound of their name being called, bringing a sense of safety and bravery. The final lines of the song indicate a willingness to face even more challenges, as the singer declares their resolve to stand tall and hold fast in the face of raging forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy fogs are leaving me
The singer is leaving behind confusion and finding clarity.
by the railing we are
The singer and someone else are together, observing their surroundings.
watching boundaries pass
The pair is watching as they pass through different phases of life.
and high billows lift our keel
The waves are supporting them on their journey.
on wide shoulders we are
They are being carried by something greater than themselves, through something vast.
carried through the vast-
This vastness could refer to the ocean or to something spiritual.
Within
The singer is turning inward to reflect.
something's in my chest
The artist is feeling something deep within themselves.
carries through our quest
Whatever this feeling is, it is helping them on their journey.
something in your voice
The other person is also a source of strength for the artist.
keeps me hold fast
The other person is helping the singer remain steady.
Fill my swelling sails
The artist is calling for strength to continue on their journey.
hear the darkening clouds
The singer is aware that difficult times may be ahead.
sing with troubled oceans
The singer is finding beauty even in the midst of turmoil.
My heart
The singer is again turning inward to their emotions.
felt your striking hand
The other person has been a guide for the artist.
heard you call my name
The other person has been a source of comfort for the artist.
through the roaring storms
The other person has been a constant presence through difficult times.
i am safe
The singer has found a sense of security.
i am brave
The artist has also found a sense of courage.
Come raging waves
The artist is anticipating difficult times.
break my bow
The artist is acknowledging that they may not always succeed.
come lashing winds
The singer is also acknowledging that they may be battered by the winds of life.
drench my words
The artist may struggle to find the right words in difficult moments.
come thunderstorms
Again, the singer is anticipating difficult times.
strain me down
The singer may feel like they are being pulled under at times.
i will stand tall
Despite all of this, the singer will remain strong.
holding fast
The artist will cling to the other person and to their own inner strength.
Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.