Her self-titled debut album, Mathilde Santing, came out in 1982 and she gas released well over fifteen studio albums since, most of them sung in English, although she sometimes performs and records in her mother tongue as well. Known for her whispery and vulnerable vocal style, Santing is a prominent gay role model in The Netherlands. She sang at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam.
Santing's biggest chart success came in 1999 with the lush ballad 'Wonderful Life', which hit #6 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was taken from the 1999 album To Others To One, which is her highest charting album in her native Netherlands to date, reaching #4 in the Dutch album charts.
It May Not Always Be So
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I say that if your lips
Which I have loved
Should touch another's
And your dear strong fingers clutch
His heart as mine in time
Not far away
If on another's face your sweet hair lay
Or such great writing words as
Uttering overmuch
Stand helplessly before the spirit
At bay
If this should be
I say if this should be
You of my heart
Send me a little word
That I may go unto him
And take his hands
Saying, accept all happiness from me
Then shall I turn face
And hear one bird
Sing terribly afar in
The lost lands
The song "It May Not Always Be So" by Mathilde Santing is a poignant, heartfelt reflection on lost love and the pain of seeing someone you love move on with someone else. The lyrics of the song convey a sense of longing and despair, as the singer acknowledges that their relationship may not always be what it once was. The first verse begins with the line "It may not always be so," a clear acknowledgement that the singer is aware that their love affair may not last forever.
The second verse is where the lyrics become more emotional and painful, as the singer imagines a scenario in which their love is with someone else. This is a common fear for anyone who has ever been in love, and the way the lyrics are written is very relatable. The line "If on another's face your sweet hair lay" is particularly heartbreaking, as it evokes a vivid image of the person you love with someone else.
The final verse is a plea for closure and acceptance of the situation. The singer asks for a "little word" from their love, so that they can begin to move on and accept that their relationship is over. The final image of the "one bird/ Sing[ing] terribly afar/ In the lost lands" is a powerful metaphor for the sense of loss and isolation that the singer is feeling.
Overall, "It May Not Always Be So" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the complex emotions of love and loss. The lyrics are deeply emotional and relatable, and the melody and performance by Mathilde Santing only serve to enhance the power of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
It may not always be so
Things may change and not always be the same
And I say that if your lips
I mean that if your lips
Which I have loved
That I have loved above all others
Should touch another's
If they were to touch someone else's
And your dear strong fingers clutch
And your strong fingers hold
His heart as mine in time
As they did mine before
Not far away
Soon enough
If on another's face your sweet hair lay
If your hair was to rest on someone else's face
In such a silence as I know
In the same silence as I have experienced
Or such great writing words as
Or in beautiful words as
Uttering overmuch
Saying too much
Stand helplessly before the spirit
Are powerless before the inevitable
At bay
Unable to do anything about it
If this should be
If this were to happen
I say if this should be
I mean if this were to happen
You of my heart
You who are most dear to me
Send me a little word
Please send me a brief message
That I may go unto him
So that I can go to him
And take his hands
And hold his hands
Saying, accept all happiness from me
Telling him to take all the happiness that I have to offer
Then shall I turn face
Then I will turn my face
And hear one bird
And listen to the sound of one bird
Sing terribly afar in
Singing sorrowfully in the distance
The lost lands
A far-off, unknown place of despair
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind