You may… Read Full Bio ↴Kris Orlowski is an American singer-songwriter from Seattle.
You may not know Kris Orlowski — yet — but that’s ok. Sometimes things take time to q, and he’s already turning some influential heads.
You see, Orlowski has an uncanny knack for ending up in the right place at the right time — not to mention an uncanny flair for crafting emotionally rich songs that will have you tapping your toes even as your heartstrings are being tugged. He recently wowed a marquee-level peer over a campfire. It’s easy to see why — unless you’ve had your heart surgically removed, these are songs that will move you.
Conjuring the spirit of Everyman may not be glamorous, but it’s also not easy. Orlowski writes from a real, unguarded place and that accessibility is tangible. There are no walls here — only a palpable honesty and really, really good songwriting.
Ever had your heart broken? Ever felt like love was the only sensible means of escape? Ever felt paralyzed in the wake of wild emotions? Then you’ll relate to “Happiness Is Waiting.”
The Sufi poet Hafiz has this to say:
Greatness
Is always built upon this foundation:
The ability
To appear, speak and act
As the most
Common
Man
Orlowski and his bandmates get that. “Happiness Is Waiting” is a testament to our shared emotion and confusion. It’s also a damn fine album, filled with radio-friendly tunes and bare, unrestrained insight and emotion.
Orlowski’s songs are strong enough to have resonance in the most stripped down of settings, but drummer Tim Rummerfield and bassist Matt Deason provide a colorful backdrop for Orlowski’s songwriting to truly blossom in arrangement and depth.
So curl up and settle in. Pour yourself a cup of tea or a big glass of vino. Let this record soak into your subconscious. As Orlowksi so eloquently puts it,” When hope is in your heart, then you’ll be great.”
Sometimes greatness is subtle. As Orlowski seems to intuitively grasp, sometimes it reveals itself most brilliantly through its simplicity.
Mountains
Kris Orlowski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i came in this world with the blood on my sleeves
i want to know what's worth fighting, the emptiness in what we receive.
all the time we that spend pinning moments
posting rhymes we create, barely moving from the screen
with a blind glaze, starring in the dark.
low
sing to be grounded
free from detractions
lies chased, wondering where we went wrong
constant two second fears, starving silence
shallow minds, quick to rate, lets consume our misery
were stalled in a state of reaction
my swollen eyes start to believe
tell the song bird, her mirth has been noted
tell the haunts, they aren't needed any more
the suns turned, we're singing with the lark
sing to be grounded
sing to be free
free from detractions
lies chased, wondering where we went wrong
sing to the mountains
i won't sing to be seen
i'll fight it forever
the lies chased, wondering where we belong
sing to be grounded
sing to be free
free from reactions
towards lies chased, discovering where we belong
The song "Mountains" by Kris Orlowski is a contemplative exploration of the human condition, centered around the themes of struggle, perseverance, and the search for meaning. The first stanza of the song sets the mood with a depiction of the artist's initial disadvantaged state at birth, equipped with nothing but the reminder of blood on his sleeves. The chorus then interrupts the bleakness, and instead suggests a quest for purpose and joy. The repetitive lyrics sing to be grounded and to be free from detractions, cries for a liberation from the constrains of a modern society in which people are often mired in the quicksand of social media, doubts, and self-absorption. Despite the shadows on the wall and the constant fears, the singer fights against self-doubt and a shallow, negative mentality, striving to find something worth fighting for. He ends the chorus by singing to the mountains, which suggests a yearning for a higher purpose and a sense of awe and wonder.
The second verse repeats many of the same themes as the first, but it doubles down on the singer's determination to overcome despair and embrace a more positive outlook. He speaks to the "shallow minds, quick to rate," that condemn the art and the work of others, thus perpetuate negativity and misery. The song reaches a kind of euphoric fervor in the final chorus, in which the singer proclaims his commitment to singing for the sake of his soul, rather than to be seen or rated by others. His goal is to find a more meaningful, less reactive existence free from the lies that societies frequently espouse. Ultimately, the song celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, the pursuit of truth and human connection, and the capacity for the self to grow and transcend the persistent setbacks and struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
i came in this world without money
I was born into this world with no wealth.
i came in this world with the blood on my sleeves
I was born into this world wearing my struggles on my sleeves.
i want to know what's worth fighting, the emptiness in what we receive.
I want to know what is worth fighting for, including the emptiness that we feel despite what we receive.
all the time we that spend pinning moments
We spend so much time trying to hold on to certain moments.
posting rhymes we create, barely moving from the screen
We post our creations online, but rarely leave the screen to experience real life.
with a blind glaze, starring in the dark.
We stare into the darkness with no clear vision.
low
Feeling down.
sing to be grounded
I sing to keep myself grounded.
sing to be free
I sing to feel free.
free from detractions
I want to be free from anything that might distract me from my goals.
lies chased, wondering where we went wrong
We are haunted by lies and constantly wonder where things went wrong.
constant two second fears, starving silence
We have constant, fleeting fears and struggle with silence.
shallow minds, quick to rate, lets consume our misery
We are quick to judge and often indulge in our own misery.
were stalled in a state of reaction
We are stuck in a state of reacting rather than taking action.
my swollen eyes start to believe
I am beginning to believe despite my struggles.
tell the song bird, her mirth has been noted
I acknowledge and appreciate the joy that the song bird brings.
tell the haunts, they aren't needed any more
The things that haunt me are no longer necessary.
the suns turned, we're singing with the lark
Things are starting to look up, and we sing with the birds.
sing to the mountains
I sing to the mountains as a symbol of overcoming obstacles.
i won't sing to be seen
I don't sing to impress others or for attention.
i'll fight it forever
I will continue to fight forever.
the lies chased, wondering where we belong
We are still haunted by lies and trying to find our place in the world.
free from reactions
I want to be free from reacting to everything around me.
towards lies chased, discovering where we belong
We are working towards finding our place and overcoming the lies that haunt us.
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kira K
This song is so beautiful, I wish more people knew:)
Pay Clark
By far my favorite song in the world. Fell in love when I saw you at the crocodile. You are all amazing!
Jodi-Ann Burrell
Found myself humming along to this song without even realizing it...it's hypnotizing
katabatic222
Low down on the road up my own mountain, your song is the sum of my darkness and fears - that long climb from despair to release. So thanks Kris for providing a PDF of the lyrics on your website. I shall remember them as I gather up hope for the journey....
MrBestMusicman
Great tune, the chorus sounds brilliantly. Greetings form Germany.
Emily Harju
The lyrics are so spot-on!
Insaf H
Constant two second fears, starving silence Shallow minds, quick to rate, lets consume our misery. Were stalled in a state of reaction My swollen eyes start to believe. Tell the song Bird, her mirth has been noted Tell the haunts, they aren’t needed any more. The suns turned, we're singing with the lark. Sing to the mountains I won't sing to be seen. I'll fight it forever the lies chased, wondering where we belong.
Ben S
This is a beautiful song and will probably grow in views after it appears on Grey's Anatomy, but in some ways thats good. Go KO and AJ!
Camille 90
Kris, you rock! Love this song! btw for those wondering Orlowski is Ukrainian.
Kris Orlowski
Clare Smillie Thanks lady, nice to hear from you :)