Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-songwriter from Akron, Ohio. He is known for his melodic compositions combined with swirling choruses. He was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s and signed to Gabriel's Real World label in 1996. Arthur's first album, Big City Secrets, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.

In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.

Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.

Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

Electrical Storm
Joseph Arthur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do you live cold
Before you're young
You're so old

You're born and then you die
You're born and then you die
And you are born

Past the city and the thieves
Past the wolverines and trees
Until the sunrise
In the electrical storm

Last night with you
When we turned blue
I saw right through
When we turned blue

I can see you now
You are me
Anyhow

You're born and then you die
You're born and then you die
And you are born

Past the city and the thieves
Past the wolverines and trees
Until the sunrise
In the electrical storm

In the sunrise
In the sunrise
And we are born
In the electrical storm

In the sunrise
In the sunrise
And we are born
In the electrical storm

Last night with you
When we turned blue
Were you untrue

When we turned blue
When we turned blue

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Electrical Storm" seem to be a rumination on the mystery and unfairness of death, and how sometimes it can feel like it comes too soon. The line "How do you live cold / Before you're young / You're so old" suggests that life can feel like a struggle from the very start, and that we are born into a world that is harsh and unyielding. The repetition of "You're born and then you die" reinforces this idea, while the final line "And you are born" seems almost like a sardonic punchline to the whole grim premise.

From there, the lyrics shift to a more sensory and existential register. The singer imagines traveling through various natural and urban landscapes ("Past the city and the thieves / Past the wolverines and trees") until reaching the moment of dawn, when an electrical storm takes place. Here the imagery becomes more abstract and poetic, with the electrical storm functioning almost like a metaphor for the chaotic and unpredictable nature of existence.

In the final section of the song, the singer seems to be addressing another person directly, possibly reflecting on a past relationship. Lines like "Last night with you / When we turned blue / I saw right through" suggest a sense of disillusionment or betrayal, while the repetition of "You are me / Anyhow" feels like a more hopeful attempt to find connection or unity in the face of uncertainty and mortality.

Line by Line Meaning

How do you live cold
Asking how someone can live their life in a cold, unfeeling manner

Before you're young
Implying that people become jaded and unfeeling before they even have the chance to truly live

You're so old
Suggesting that people today are old and bored beyond their years

You're born and then you die
Life is a cycle of birth and death

And you are born
Trying to emphasize the repetition of life

Past the city and the thieves
Moving beyond the corruption and chaos of the city

Past the wolverines and trees
Escaping into the wild, untamed nature

Until the sunrise
Metaphor for a new beginning, a new day

In the electrical storm
Metaphor for turmoil and chaos of life

Last night with you
Referring to a memory of a shared experience

When we turned blue
Both of them were emotionally vulnerable