José González (born 1978 in Gothenburg, Sweden) is a Swedish indie folk sin… Read Full Bio ↴José González (born 1978 in Gothenburg, Sweden) is a Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist (of Argentinian extraction). In 2003, he released his debut album, Veneer, in Europe. The album has since been released in the UK, on April 25, 2005, and in the United States on September 6, 2005. González is also a member of the Swedish band Junip, along with Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn.

The song Crosses, from Crosses EP and the later Veneer, appeared on the finale of the second season of the popular American television comedy-drama The O.C.. His cover of Heartbeats (also from Veneer) was used in a popular Sony BRAVIA TV commercial featuring coloured bouncing balls in San Francisco and an episode of Zach Braff's Scrubs

His song Far Away was also prominently featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption.

His trademark sound is solo acoustic guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of great hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Born in the U.S.A., and Teardrop.

González also appears in the Zero 7 album The Garden, in which he sings on three tracks and on a re-worked version of Crosses.

Sensing Owls
José González Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're not using a designated driver
To show you around
The folders are a bit too ordered
The sailors seem a bit too bored

Mountain tops seem nice from a distance
Close, rough and not so smooth
So these streets have been walked upon for centuries

I'm sensing owls, aren't you? Aren't you?

You're not using a designated driver
To show you around
The folders are a bit too ordered
The sailors seem a bit too bored

Mountain tops seem nice from a distance
Close, rough and not so smooth
So these streets have been walked upon for centuries
I'm sensing owls, aren't you? Aren't you?

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Come on, come out from where ever you are
Come on, come out from where ever you are
Come on, come out from where ever you are

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Come on, come out from where ever you are

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Come on, come out from where ever you are

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sensing Owls" by José González present the idea of being lost or feeling out of place in a seemingly familiar environment. The reference to not having a designated driver to show you around suggests a lack of direction or guidance. The folders being too ordered and sailors being too bored further emphasize the monotony and lack of excitement in one's life. González then juxtaposes the idea of mountain tops appearing nice from a distance but being rough and not so smooth when up close, to the streets that have been walked upon for centuries. This could be interpreted as the idea that what may seem familiar at first glance may not be as predictable or comforting upon further inspection.

The repetition of "I'm sensing owls, aren't you?" throughout the song almost serves as a mantra or a call to action. This line could be interpreted in different ways. Owls are nocturnal creatures and are often associated with a sense of mystery or the unknown. Perhaps González is suggesting that we should be more aware of our surroundings, beyond what is familiar or expected. The repetition of the phrase also adds to the hypnotic and meditative nature of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

You're not using a designated driver
You're not being guided or led in the right direction

To show you around
To help you navigate through life's experiences

The folders are a bit too ordered
The world seems a bit structured and rigid

The sailors seem a bit too bored
People seem to be unsatisfied with their current situation

Mountain tops seem nice from a distance
Things may seem better from afar

Close, rough and not so smooth
The reality of things can be harsh and rough

So these streets have been walked upon for centuries
The path to success and happiness is well-travelled

I'm sensing owls, aren't you? Aren't you?
I feel like there is something mysterious or unseen going on, don't you?

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Don't be afraid to show yourself or take a risk

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Embrace life and the unknown

Come on, come out from where ever you are
Explore and discover what the world has to offer