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.
Tempted
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
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A flannel for my face
Pyjamas, a hairbrush
New shoes and a case
I said to my reflection
'Let's get out of this place'
Passed the church and the steeple
The laundry on the hill
The memories of it still
Keep calling and calling
But forget it all I know I will
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Since you have gone
There's no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I'm at the carpark, the airport
The baggage carrousel
The people keep on prying
And wishing I was well
I said it's no occasion
It's no story I can tell
At my bedside empty pockets
A foot without a sock
Your body gets much closer
I fumble for the clock
Alarmed by the seduction
Oh I wish that it would stop
I bought a novel, some perfume
A fortune all for you
But it's not my conscience
That hates to be untrue
I ask my reflection
Tell me what is there to do
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Since you have gone
There's no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
The lyrics of Mathilde Santing's song "Tempted" tell a story of a person who has recently gone through a breakup and is trying to move on. The person buys new things - a toothbrush, some toothpaste, flannel, pyjamas, a hairbrush, new shoes, and a case - and says to their reflection, "Let's get out of this place." The person passes by a church, a steeple, laundry on a hill, billboards, and buildings, but keeps hearing memories calling to them. However, they decide to forget it all.
The chorus of the song is "Tempted by the fruit of another, tempted but the truth is discovered. What's been going on since you have gone, there's no other. Tempted by the fruit of another, tempted but the truth is discovered." The person is tempted to be with someone else, but they know that it won't bring them any happiness or solve their problems.
In the second verse, the person is at the airport, picking up their baggage, and feeling like everyone is judging them. They tell people that there's no occasion, and it's no story they can tell. They are alone in bed with empty pockets and one foot without a sock. They feel the seduction of being with someone else, but wish it would stop. The person buys a novel and some perfume for someone else, but they ask their reflection what they should do.
Line by Line Meaning
I bought a toothbrush, some toothpaste
I purchased basic hygiene items
A flannel for my face
I bought a washcloth for my face
Pyjamas, a hairbrush
I bought sleepwear and a hairbrush
New shoes and a case
I bought new shoes and a suitcase
I said to my reflection
I spoke to myself in the mirror
'Let's get out of this place'
I suggested leaving this location
Passed the church and the steeple
I walked past a church and its tower
The laundry on the hill
I saw laundry on a nearby hill
The billboards and the buildings
I saw advertisements and structures
The memories of it still
Those memories remain with me
Keep calling and calling
They persistently haunt me
But forget it all I know I will
But I will try to forget it
Tempted by the fruit of another
I'm tempted by another person's charms
Tempted but the truth is discovered
But I know the truth and consequences
What's been going on
What has happened
Since you have gone
Since you left me
There's no other
There's no one else
I'm at the carpark, the airport
I am at the parking lot or airport
The baggage carrousel
I am at the luggage conveyor belt
The people keep on prying
People are still asking questions
And wishing I was well
And hoping I'm doing okay
I said it's no occasion
I said there's no reason
It's no story I can tell
It's not something I can explain
At my bedside empty pockets
I have nothing in my pockets beside my bed
A foot without a sock
My foot is bare without a sock
Your body gets much closer
Your body approaches mine
I fumble for the clock
I struggle to find the clock
Alarmed by the seduction
I'm worried about the temptation
Oh I wish that it would stop
I wish the temptation would go away
I bought a novel, some perfume
I bought a book and fragrance
A fortune all for you
I spent a lot on these gifts for you
But it's not my conscience
But it's not my moral compass
That hates to be untrue
That dislikes dishonesty
I ask my reflection
I question myself in the mirror
Tell me what is there to do
What can I do about this situation?
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.