She was born in Ystad, Skåne; her mother, Kärsti Stiege, was a photographer, and her father, Johan Zachrisson, is a member of the Swedish punk-reggae band Dag Vag. Her younger brother, Zacharias Zachrisson, is also a musician. The family moved to Stockholm when Zachrisson was a toddler and when she was six moved to a mountaintop in Portugal where they lived for five years. The family also spent time in Lisbon and Morocco, and winters in Nepal and India. She moved to Brooklyn, New York City, for three months when she was 19. She returned when she was 21 to record her album.
Hanging High
Lykke Li Lyrics
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These razors cutting sharp
And leaves me with an ever bleeding scar
So soft, so suddenly
So that I cannot breathe
I'm drawn into a circle painted black
Oh, won't you let me down?
Back where I started at
You know I'm a little lost
And when it hurts the most
I'll push a little more
I'm back where I started at
You know I'm a little lost
Like lightning in my heart
A kiss so burning hot
I'm hanging on a thread that's bound to drop
Like rain on open skies
Don't know the reason why
But I'll always choose the black in front of white
Oh, I'm hanging high
Oh, won't you let me down?
Back where I started at
You know I'm a little lost
And when it hurts the most
I'll push a little more
I'm back where I started at
You know I'm a little lost
Oh, I'm hanging high
Oh, won't you let me down?
Back where I started at
When it hurts the most
I'll push a little more
I'm back where I started at
The song "Hanging High" by Lykke Li features a deeply personal and emotionally charged exploration of love, pain, and vulnerability. The lyrics of the song describe the singer's feelings of being torn apart by conflicting emotions as they navigate a relationship that is simultaneously exhilarating and painful. The opening line of the song, "Oh, thunder in my heart, these razors cutting sharp," sets the tone for the emotional depth that characterizes the entire song. The singer experiences intense feelings of love and passion that are counterbalanced by the pain and hurt that come with it, leaving them with an ever-bleeding scar.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of being overwhelmed by the intensity of one's feelings. The singer describes being drawn into a circle painted black and hanging on a thread that's bound to drop, powerfully evoking a sense of being suspended in a precarious and uncertain emotional state. There is also a sense of self-awareness and resignation to this state, as the singer acknowledges that they are back where they started and a little lost.
In the chorus, the singer pleads with their lover to let them down from this intense emotional state, but they also acknowledge that they will always choose the black in front of white. This could be interpreted as a statement about the singer's tendency to gravitate towards intensity and passion, even if it means experiencing pain and hurt.
Overall, "Hanging High" is a powerful and poetic exploration of the complex and conflicting emotions that come with love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, thunder in my heart
The feeling of intense emotions inside me is like a thunderstorm
These razors cutting sharp
The emotional pain is so sharp that it feels like razor blades are cutting through me
And leaves me with an ever bleeding scar
The emotional pain is so intense that it feels like a scar that never heals
So soft, so suddenly
The love or affection I feel is gentle yet sudden
So that I cannot breathe
The love or affection I feel is so overpowering that I feel breathless
I'm drawn into a circle painted black
I feel trapped in a dark cycle of emotions
Oh, I'm hanging high
I feel helpless and stuck in my emotions
Oh, won't you let me down?
I'm asking for help to get out of this cycle of emotions
Back where I started at
I feel like I'm back to square one, where I started from
You know I'm a little lost
I feel confused and uncertain
And when it hurts the most
During the most painful moments,
I'll push a little more
I will try to endure even more
Like lightning in my heart
The feeling of love or affection is sudden and intense
A kiss so burning hot
The kiss is passionate and intense
I'm hanging on a thread that's bound to drop
I feel like my emotional state is fragile and could break at any moment
Like rain on open skies
The reason for my emotions is unclear or unknown
Don't know the reason why
I'm uncertain about the reason for my emotions
But I'll always choose the black in front of white
I tend to choose the darker or negative options over the positive ones
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BJOERN YTTLING, LYKKE LI ZACHRISSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind