Their first release was a double-A-side 7" single on Off The Wall (later signed to Peacefrog) that had two tracks: "Twice" and "Test".
Nagano was born and raised in Göteborg to a Japanese father and American mother. She grew up listening to American folk, but always had an affinity for R&B. Keyboardist Wirenstrand spent his childhood in Småland before moving to Göteborg where listened to a lot of Swedish folk music before getting into electronic music. Bodin grew up listening to early hip-hop and jazz. Fredrik was influenced by experimental, noise and electro house.
Nagano and Bodin play live with José González. Bodin also drums with Peps Perrson, a Swedish blues/reggae artist. Swedish electronic jazz duo Koop's albums Waltz for Koop and Koop Islands feature Yukimi Nagano's vocals on several tracks.
The band collaborated with Gorillaz on two tracks ("Empire Ants" and "To Binge") from their 2010 released album, Plastic Beach. Little Dragon also collaborated with Maximum Balloon (the solo project of David Andrew Sitek, producer and member of TV On the Radio), for one track entitled "If You Return". In 2011, the band's collaboration with SBTRKT on "Wildfire" was released as the lead single from his self-titled début LP.
Looking Glass
Little Dragon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But all the water pass
Was sinking fast
Gave our all until the saw was digging in
I watch it bleed
I let it be
Made me have to throw the looking glass
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You you
The moon the dust the dreams the rust are shattered now
I let them pass
I let them dance
Stolen time the crooked line is pointing up
Were stars away blazing
Made me have to throw the looking glass
You you
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You you
In Little Dragon's song "Looking Glass," the lyrics discuss the struggle of a relationship that has ultimately come to an end. The opening line of "spilled our hearts our souls until it forced us to swim" alludes to the depth of emotions that were shared between the two individuals, possibly leading to a feeling of being overwhelmed. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to keep the relationship afloat, with "all the water pass[ing], sinking fast." The second verse goes on to describe the pain that each person felt while giving their all to the relationship, "until the saw was digging in." The singer is left to watch it all fall apart, as they watch the relationship "bleed" and eventually "let it be."
The chorus of "made me have to throw the looking glass, you you, made it cold and made my summer pass, you you" relates to the metaphorical symbolism of a looking glass or mirror, representing the need to reflect upon oneself and one's relationships. In a sense, the looking glass represents a way to see and understand the situation at hand, and the need to throw it away suggests a desire to move on from it. The repetition of "you you" highlights the idea that the other person was a significant factor in the relationship's downfall, and perhaps contributed to making it "cold" and causing the singer's "summer" to pass them by.
Line by Line Meaning
Spilled our hearts our souls until it forced us to swim
We shared our deepest emotions until we were fully immersed in them
But all the water pass
However, all of that emotion has now passed
Was sinking fast
We were drowning in our own emotions
Gave our all until the saw was digging in
We gave everything until it was painful and destructive
I watch it bleed
I saw the emotional pain we caused each other
I let it be
I let the pain and sadness be, without trying to fix it
Made me have to throw the looking glass
Our relationship became too painful to reflect on, like smashing a mirror
You you
You were the cause of this destruction
Made it cold and made my summer pass
Your actions made me feel cold and distant, making my happiness fade away
The moon the dust the dreams the rust are shattered now
Everything we once held dear is broken beyond repair
I let them pass
I let go of these broken dreams and memories
I let them dance
I allowed these emotions to play out, without interfering
Stolen time the crooked line is pointing up
Our time together feels wasted and betrayed, with no clear direction forward
Were stars away blazing
We were once passionately in love, but that flame has now faded and we are far apart
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Erik Oskar Bodin, Fredrik Daniel Wallin, Hakan Wirenstrand, Yukimi Eleanora Nagano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tenjetu
Spilled our hearts our souls until it forced us to swim but all the water pass
Was sinking fast
Gave our all until the saw was digging in
I watch it bleed
I let it be
Made me have to throw the looking glass
You You
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You You
The moon the dust the dreams the rust are shattered now
I let them pass
I let them dance
Stolen time the crooked line is pointing up
Were stars away blazing
Made me have to throw the looking glass
You You
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You You
tenjetu
Spilled our hearts our souls until it forced us to swim but all the water pass
Was sinking fast
Gave our all until the saw was digging in
I watch it bleed
I let it be
Made me have to throw the looking glass
You You
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You You
The moon the dust the dreams the rust are shattered now
I let them pass
I let them dance
Stolen time the crooked line is pointing up
Were stars away blazing
Made me have to throw the looking glass
You You
Made it cold and made my summer pass
You You
MicEmasaur
They were the opening band for a concert I went to see, and this was the first song they played. They did a light show during it that was trippy as hell, and she sounded even better live. Love at first song?
caerulea0
Swedish electronica doesnt get any better than LD, Yukimi's voice icing on the funky ass cake. Wondorous
Heavy metal chainsaw -
I love this song. It's got the right energy and super heavy groove. Heard it a few months ago and was like "who is this?" and man. Little dragon kicks ass.
Demonkai Mugen
thats some crazy new wave 80s sound i grew up on....i like how they did this track
Mitsu Bishi
This song sounds so good Live
D THE CHEMIST
i love this track and i just heard about the group today...i see they have hella music i like. so many styles. But this one and the other one gives me such a teenage nostalgic 80s vibe.....but this particular track favors the hell out of Prince but in all great taste!
therealsoulproduct
I love it. It's like Depeche Mode meets Erykah Badu.
jimmayjimmayjj
I went into FYE to buy something, and this album was on in the store. I knew i needed it as soon as i heard it.
theonegift
This is an amazing album! get it! :D
SteamFaery15
I love this song. Little Dragon kicks ass. Yukimi Nagano is awesome.