Laleh now lives in Los Angeles where she mainly writes and produces music for other pop artists, working on her own music in parallel. She is driven by the fact that the pop industry is dominated by men, and wants to be an example for younger women getting into the pop world.
She studied music and drama at Hvitfeltska Gymnasiet.
She had a major acting role in the Swedish movie Jalla! Jalla!, directed by Josef Fares, which was a big success at the Swedish box office in 2000.
Sway
Laleh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May your dreams come true
May your wishes
Be good for you
Fly free like the bird you are
Don't forget what you can do
Stretch your wings
Do what you have to
Letting their leaves go
So, what do the trees see
That is beyond me
Sway, sway, sway away
Honey,
Honey needs no sugar pines
You just be yourself
I'm sure that you'll be fine
Fight for the light you are
Don't let anybody fool you
May your thoughts be bright
And get you through
So, what do the trees know
Letting their leaves go
So, what do the trees see
That is beyond me
Sway, sway, sway away
Beauty in the fall
In the loss, autumn leaf, sway
Beauty in a fall
In the pain, autumn leaves
Sway away
Sway
The lyrics to Laleh's song "Sway" are about encouraging someone to pursue their dreams and be true to themselves. The opening lines "May your dreams come true, may your wishes be good for you" express a desire for the person to achieve their goals and to make choices that will lead to their happiness. The next few lines, "Fly free like the bird you are, don't forget what you can do, stretch your wings, do what you have to," are a reminder that the person has the ability to soar and that they should take necessary steps to reach their full potential.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "so what do the trees know, letting their leaves go," is a reflection on the seasonal changes that trees go through. The metaphor of the leaves falling off the trees can be interpreted as a symbol of letting go of the past and embracing change. The line "beauty in the fall, in the loss, autumn leaf, sway" acknowledges that even as things come to an end, there is still beauty to be found in the process of letting go. The final line of the chorus, "sway, sway, sway away," can be seen as an encouragement to keep moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty.
In the second verse, Laleh continues to offer words of support and encouragement to the person she is singing to. The line "honey needs no sugar pines, you just be yourself, I'm sure that you'll be fine" is a reminder that the person is already valuable and loved just the way they are. The following line, "fight for the light you are, don't let anybody fool you" is a call to stand up for oneself and to not allow others to undermine one's sense of self-worth. The final line, "may your thoughts be bright and get you through," is a hope that the person can maintain a positive attitude and use their inner resources to navigate the challenges that may arise.
Overall, "Sway" is a song about positivity, growth, and resilience. It is a powerful reminder that even when things are difficult, there is always a way forward and there is beauty to be found in the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, honey
Addressing someone in a loving manner
May your dreams come true
Wishing good fortune towards fulfilling one's desires
May your wishes
Continuing the wishful sentiment from the previous line
Be good for you
Adding the qualifier that these wishes should be beneficial
Fly free like the bird you are
Encouraging someone to embrace their freedom and potential
Don't forget what you can do
Advising against losing sight of one's capabilities
Stretch your wings
Visualizing someone spreading their wings and reaching new heights
Do what you have to
Urging someone to do what it takes to succeed
So, what do the trees know
Pondering what insights nature may offer
Letting their leaves go
Observing that trees lose their foliage and still stand tall
So, what do the trees see
Continuing to consider the perspectives of trees
That is beyond me
Acknowledging that some mysteries are beyond human understanding
Sway, sway, sway away
Invoking the image of leaves swaying in the autumn breeze
Honey,
Resuming the term of endearment
Honey needs no sugar pines
Asserting that the person being addressed doesn't need artificial sweetness
You just be yourself
Encouraging authenticity
I'm sure that you'll be fine
Offering reassurance that everything will work out
Fight for the light you are
Urging someone to defend their own worth and potential
Don't let anybody fool you
Warning against being deceived
May your thoughts be bright
Wishing for positive and empowering thoughts
And get you through
Clarifying that these thoughts can be a source of strength in tough times
Beauty in the fall
Noting that even in decline, there can be beauty
In the loss, autumn leaf, sway
Expanding on the metaphor of leaves swaying in the autumn breeze as a symbol of accepting loss
Beauty in a fall
Restating the idea that there is beauty even in decline
In the pain, autumn leaves
Expanding the metaphor of falling leaves to include the pain of letting go
Sway away
A final invocation of the image of leaves being carried away by the wind
Sway
A word that summarizes the whole song's message of embracing change and finding beauty in the midst of it
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Zac
Hermosa y profunda canción!
Eva Fohlin
So talent...and she record everthing by herself. She has her own studio . Love her songs. Eva from Gothenburg Sweden.
kuhluehr
What a song! Simply ingenious in lyrics and music.
Parivash Allahyari
You are best Laleh!!!!!
Anna Bring
underbar song, Laleh!
Tim lam
She is my new discovery of talent. Wonder where was that photo taken.
pali david
krása....
Инна Одинцова
супер!
autumn rain
5 stars
Inkeri Seppälä
Älskar <3