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.
The Right Place
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This night the colour of blue glass
The warm wind is in our hair, summertime is everywhere
It's funny how today just flew past
I've been in the wrong place, I've been in the wrong place
Long enough to know I'm in the right place now
Five or ten lifetimes ago, there lived a girl that you don't know
She walked about and answered to my name
I've turned around and I'm looking at a new day
I've been in the wrong place, I've been in the wrong place
Long enough to know I'm in the right place now
I've been waiting so long, I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
Now I don't mind if the sun goes down
The night can't hurt me now
The summer's young and the road is clear
I thank whatever brought me here
I've been in the wrong place, I've been in the wrong place
Long enough to know I'm in the right place now
I'm in the right place now
In Mathilde Santing's song The Right Place, the singer expresses a sense of contentment with her present moment as she travels out of town at night. The opening lines describe the lights being on their side, suggesting perhaps a feeling of being in control or being guided towards their destination. The colour of blue glass is evoked, which could signify a sense of calm or serenity. The warm wind in their hair and the mention of summertime creates a sense of ease and enjoyment.
The singer reflects on a past version of herself, a girl who walked about answering to her name but who is now a stranger. She makes it clear that she doesn't want to talk about this past self, and instead focuses on the present moment. The repetition of "I've been in the wrong place" suggests that the singer has had experiences in the past that were not fulfilling or perhaps even harmful. However, she knows that she is now in the right place, and has been waiting for this moment for a long time. She expresses a sense of gratitude, thanking whatever brought her to her current situation.
The song as a whole seems to be a celebration of the present moment and a recognition of the journey that has led the singer to this point. The gentle, melodic quality of the song underscores this sense of peace and contentment.
Line by Line Meaning
The lights are on our side, driving out of town tonight
We are leaving town tonight and the lights are in our favor.
This night the colour of blue glass
The color of the night is dark blue, like glass.
The warm wind is in our hair, summertime is everywhere
It is summertime and the warm wind is blowing through our hair.
It's funny how today just flew past
Today went by quickly.
I've been in the wrong place, I've been in the wrong place
I have been in the wrong place before.
Long enough to know I'm in the right place now
I know I am in the right place now.
Five or ten lifetimes ago, there lived a girl that you don't know
A girl with my name lived a long time ago, but you don't know her.
She walked about and answered to my name
She had the same name as me.
But let's not talk of strangers now, of where and when or why and how
Let's not talk about strangers or the past right now.
I've turned around and I'm looking at a new day
I have turned around and am facing a new day.
I've been waiting so long, I've been waiting so long
I have been waiting a long time.
Now I don't mind if the sun goes down
I don't care if the sun sets.
The night can't hurt me now
The night cannot harm me now.
The summer's young and the road is clear
It is early in the summer and the road ahead is clear.
I thank whatever brought me here
I am grateful for whatever brought me to this point.
I'm in the right place now
I am currently in the right location.
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.