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.
Texas Girl
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
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round in circles sailing
like a ship that never comes in
standing all alone
Sing a sad song for a good man
sing a sad song for me
Sing a sad song for the sailor
Here I am, alone on a plain
Sun's going down
it's starting to rain
Papa, we'll go sailin
The lyrics of "Texas Girl" by Mathilde Santing depict a person who is lost and wandering aimlessly. The imagery from the very first line that describes being "lost in the wind" effectively sets the tone for the rest of the song. The main character feels like a ship that's never coming in, and even though they are surrounded by the vastness of the sea, they are still standing all alone. These lines metaphorically describe a person who is disconnected from their surroundings and possibly feeling a deep sense of loneliness despite being surrounded by people.
The second verse is particularly poignant as it speaks to the need for connection and empathy. The idea of singing a sad song for a good man or for the singer herself highlights the struggle of feeling unheard or unseen. The sailor who is so far from the sea also evokes a sense of being out of their element or feeling stuck. The chorus is repetitive and effective as it reinforces the theme of isolation and pain.
The last verse has a sense of finality to it as the singer is alone on a plain with the sun settling down, and the rain starting to pour. The addition of the line "Papa, we'll go sailing" at the last moment gives a glimmer of hope that alleviates the heavy weight of the rest of the song. It might suggest that there is still some possibility for adventure or for a way out of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am, lost in the wind
I feel lost and uncertain, constantly being tossed around like the wind
round in circles sailing
I'm going around in circles, not making any progress or moving forward
like a ship that never comes in
Just like a ship that can't find a harbor to dock in, I feel like I can't find my place in life
standing all alone
I feel isolated and lonely
Sing a sad song for a good man
I want to mourn the loss of someone who was a good person
sing a sad song for me
I want someone to sing a sad song for me because I'm feeling down and depressed
Sing a sad song for the sailor
I want to commemorate the sad fate of a sailor who's a long way from home
a thousand miles from the sea
The sailor is a great distance from the ocean
Here I am, alone on a plain
I'm by myself on an open stretch of land
Sun's going down
The sun is setting
it's starting to rain
It's beginning to rain
Papa, we'll go sailin
I'm envisioning a time when I'll go sailing with my dad or a father figure, which creates hope for the future
Writer(s): Randy Newman
Contributed by Declan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.