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.
TINY DEMONS
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
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Another one makes me smell things that aren't there
And they know where to hide
And they know everything that's inside of my head
Tiny demons inside me
One of them ties a lasso around my heart
Another one makes me nod when I drive the car
But they won't show their faces to me
And they wait till I feel
Like they're gone and they jump out and steal my relief
Tiny demons
And they know where to hide
And they know everything that's inside of my head
Tiny demons
And they won't ever leave
But they won't show their faces to me
Tiny demons inside me
The lyrics of Mathilde Santing's song, "Tiny Demons," depict a feeling of being haunted by one's personal demons. The song conveys the idea that people have demons inside them that control their thoughts, emotions and actions. The singer identifies that within her, there are small creatures that she calls tiny demons. These demons seem to have a mind of their own, in the sense that they control her thoughts, make her see things that are not there, make her nod when she drives, and play the piccolo in her ears.
The singer's use of the metaphor 'Tiny Demons' may represent the darker aspects of her personality that are causing chaos and disorder in her life. The singer is aware of these tiny demons, understands how they work, but she also knows that they won't show themselves to her. They are always in hiding, but they never leave. The demons wait until she feels like they're gone, and then they jump out, steal her relief and re-assert their control over her life.
Overall, the song 'Tiny Demons' exhibits a real sense of vulnerability and self-discovery, as the singer exposes her innermost demons to her audience. The song addresses themes such as inner conflicts, emotions, and personal torment. The song creates an atmosphere of gentleness and honesty, underscoring the fact that confronting one's demons is a struggle that everyone goes through at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
One of them plays the piccolo in my ear
One of my inner demons whispers distracting thoughts in my ear
Another one makes me smell things that aren't there
Another of my inner demons creates false sensations in my mind
And they know where to hide
My inner demons know how to hide and avoid detection
And they know everything that's inside of my head
My inner demons understand my deepest fears and doubts
Tiny demons inside me
My inner demons are small but powerful in their influence
One of them ties a lasso around my heart
One of my inner demons pulls at my emotions and causes heartache
Another one makes me nod when I drive the car
Another of my inner demons causes me to lose focus and endanger myself while driving
And they won't ever leave
My inner demons will always be a part of me, despite my efforts to push them away
But they won't show their faces to me
My inner demons hide from me, making it difficult to confront them head-on
And they wait till I feel
My inner demons bide their time and strike when I am vulnerable
Like they're gone and they jump out and steal my relief
My inner demons create a false sense of security, only to snatch it away and cause distress
Tiny demons
My inner demons may seem small, but they have a powerful effect on my well-being
Contributed by Adam N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.