Immanu El (often typeset as IMMANU EL) is a Swedish post-rock band from Jön… Read Full Bio ↴Immanu El (often typeset as IMMANU EL) is a Swedish post-rock band from Jönköping.

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.

The Threshold
Immanu El Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heartbeats
slowing down
all your senses fight in vain
you're on your way
i've been near you
calling your name
throughout

Come now
silence
safe and sound
close your eyes
i'll watch
holding your hand

Come now
silence
take your time
wave your hand
i'll watch
fall in my arms

Come now
silence
safe and sound

close your eyes
i'll watch you

Overall Meaning

The song "The Threshold" by Immanu El is a very introspective piece that touches on the fragility of human life and the inevitable approach of death. The opening lines, "Heartbeats slowing down, all your senses fight in vain, you're on your way" paint a picture of someone on their deathbed, fighting to hold on to life but ultimately unable to do so. The next line, "I've been near you, calling your name throughout" suggests a loved one or guardian angel watching over the dying person, offering comfort and solace in their final moments.

The refrain, "Come now, silence, safe and sound, close your eyes, I'll watch, holding your hand," is a soothing invitation to let go and surrender to the inevitable. The singer offers a calming presence, assuring the dying person that they are not alone and that everything will be okay. The repetition of "Come now, silence" throughout the song is a reminder that death is a natural part of life and that peace can be found in accepting it.

Overall, "The Threshold" is a powerful and emotionally resonant song that offers a compassionate perspective on death and dying. It is a reminder that despite the inevitability of our mortality, we are never truly alone in our final moments.

Line by Line Meaning

Heartbeats
The rhythm of your heart

slowing down
Decreasing in speed

all your senses fight in vain
Your senses are struggling to function

you're on your way
You're moving towards a destination

i've been near you
I've been by your side

calling your name
Speaking your name

throughout
All this time

Come now
Follow me

silence
Peace and quiet

safe and sound
Without any danger or harm

close your eyes
Shut your eyes