“I’m definitely very influenced by composers like Ravel and Chopin,” Laufey explains, “but when I discovered the Great American Songbook and the music of George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers, it felt like this middle ground between jazz and classical that suited me perfectly.”
Laufey dove into the music headfirst, captivated by the lush arrangements and dreamy vocals, and by her teenage years, she was already turning heads with a mesmerizing style that belied her young age. After landing a prestigious Presidential Scholarship to the Berklee College of Music,
Laufey moved to Boston, where she began writing her own songs blending sophisticated jazz melodies and slow-burning R&B grooves. Unable to tour due to COVID-19, she began performing a mix of originals and vintage classics on Instagram and TikTok, and within a year, she would find herself racking up millions of likes, topping the Icelandic radio charts with her debut single, “Street By Street,” and earning support from Billie Eilish and Willow Smith.
She earned her first Grammy on February 4th, 2024 and won the category for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Haunted
Laufey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to go to sleep yet
Pale moonlight, misty eyes
I'll allow myself to have him just tonight
I hold on to every ounce of sin
I know he don't love me quite like I love him
I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn
Rose perfume, low-lit room
I'll pretend you'll stay forever
Lay me down, ghostly sounds
Haunt the hallways as he wraps me around
And I hold on to every ounce of sin
I know he don't love me quite like I love him
I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn
This will end, 'til he haunts me again
The lyrics to Laufey's song "Haunted" depict a bittersweet and passionate encounter between two lovers. The singer indulges in the moment, seeking temporary solace and affection from their partner. The opening lines, "One more kiss, wine stained lips, I don't want to go to sleep yet, Pale moonlight, misty eyes, I'll allow myself to have him just tonight," convey a sense of urgency and desire. The singer is fully aware that this encounter is fleeting, but they choose to surrender to the allure of the moment.
The lyrics further portray a sense of longing and unrequited love. The line, "I hold on to every ounce of sin, I know he don't love me quite like I love him," suggests that the singer is fully aware that their partner's feelings may not be as deep or intense. Despite this knowledge, they continue to hold on, allowing themselves to be haunted by the memories of their time together.
The chorus, "I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn, this will end, 'til he haunts me again," captures the cyclical nature of their relationship. Although the singer acknowledges that the encounter will eventually come to an end, they are unable to escape the hold their partner has over them. The haunting quality of their connection lingers even in the absence of their lover, leaving a yearning for more.
Line by Line Meaning
One more kiss, wine stained lips
I desire another passionate kiss, feeling the lingering taste of wine on our lips
I don't want to go to sleep yet
I resist the idea of ending this moment and falling asleep
Pale moonlight, misty eyes
Under the faint moonlight, my eyes fill with a misty, melancholic longing
I'll allow myself to have him just tonight
I permit myself to indulge in his presence for this one night only
I hold on to every ounce of sin
I cling to every bit of forbidden pleasure and wrongdoing
I know he don't love me quite like I love him
I am aware that his love for me does not match the intensity of my own love for him
I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn
I make a personal promise as he departs in the early morning
This will end, 'til he haunts me again
Our affair will come to a close, but I know he will continue to occupy my thoughts and emotions
Rose perfume, low-lit room
The air carries the scent of roses in a dimly lit room
I'll pretend you'll stay forever
I will deceive myself into believing that you will remain with me indefinitely
Lay me down, ghostly sounds
As I lie down, I hear eerie noises, resembling the presence of spirits
Haunt the hallways as he wraps me around
As he embraces me tightly, his essence lingers throughout the corridors, leaving a haunting presence
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Laufey Lin Bing Jonsdottir, Spencer Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dom3306
Noticed too
This whole album is like sequels to already existing songs like this and it breaks my heart 😢
I noticed
Fragile - haunted
Street by street - dreamer
Also
Lovesick - from the start
Promise - California and me
Don't know if count those since they are both on this album
@mariasoule9856
Lyrics!
One more kiss
Wine-stained lips
I don't want to go to sleep yet
Pale moonlight
Misty eyes
I'll allow myself to have him just tonight
I hold on to every ounce of sin
I know he don't love me quite like I love him
I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn
This will end
'Til he haunts me again
Rose perfume
Low-lit room
I'll pretend you'll stay forever
Lay me down
Ghostly sounds
Haunt the hallways as he wraps me around
And I hold on to every ounce of sin
I know he don't love me quite like I love him
I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn
This will end
'Til he haunts me again
@moondream1838
0:13 the fact that this song is like the sequel of fragile is KILLING ME 😭 laufey has done it again y’all
@jonreyjim123
Omgg i noticed that too😭
@1tiger_172
I thought it sounded similar toooo
@dom3306
Noticed too
This whole album is like sequels to already existing songs like this and it breaks my heart 😢
I noticed
Fragile - haunted
Street by street - dreamer
Also
Lovesick - from the start
Promise - California and me
Don't know if count those since they are both on this album
@momoo8277
I KNEW IT SOUNDED SIMILAR TO FRAGILE
@-marylovestoast-3531
I NOTICED THE GUITARR
@khalidbayati4122
I respect you so much Laufey for keeping jazz and classical music alive :)
@hosseun9i
Thank you this waht i tookin about ❤
@eduardreamerrr
exactly!
@Urfavyanxin
YES and she broke the all time record as the biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify in history!! This woman is amazing I LOVE HER SO MUCH 💗💗💗💗