Members were Al DeLoner (born Atle Byström), Paal Flaata and Ron Olsen.
Midnight Choir were founded - as Hashbrowns - in 1992.
The band's name stems from the Leonard Cohen song "Bird on the Wire".
The 1998 album "Amsterdam Stranded" won the band a best rock album of the year award in their native Norway.
Besides producing Midnight Choir's albums, Chris Eckman also collaborated with Midnight Choir member Al DeLoner, under the common project name Höst. Höst released one album, "The damage suite", in 2001.
Midnight Choir split in 2004 with the individual band members pursuing solo careers afterwards. 2005 saw the release of a double best of album called "All tomorrow's tears: The best of Midnight Choir".
Lift Me Up
Midnight Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been sweating all out
I've been down on my knees
For crying out loud
Wake up at night
With your name on my tongue
Begging for you to forgive
The wrong things I've done
Living it plain
Can't go another round
It's such lousy pay
Gotta get to the call
And get it all this way
I'm just sitting her waiting
It's such a heavy way
So lift me up
Take me in your arms
Let me stay this time around
So lift me up
Don't drag me down
I need your help this time around
So sick and tired of all the people
That don't understand what I'm all about
So sick and tired of all the dealing
Gonna come my way one fine day
So sick and tired of all the people
That don't understand what I'm all about
I know three chords and a bunch of lies
And I've learned to live it well
So lift me up
Take me in your arms
Let me stay this time around
So lift me up
Don't drag me down
I need your help this time around
So lift me up
Take me in your arms
Let me stay this time around
So lift me up
Don't drag me down
I need your help this time around
I need your help this time around
The lyrics of Midnight Choir's song Lift Me Up speak of a person who feels tired and heavyhearted in life, struggling with guilt and searching for redemption. The opening lines, "I've done a lot of thinking / I've been sweating all out / I've been down on my knees / For crying out loud" shows the deep introspection and effort the person is putting into finding a way out of their struggles. However, they seem to be stuck in a cycle of guilt and regret, with the lines "Begging for you to forgive / The wrong things I've done."
The person seems to be looking for a way out, possibly through the help of someone they trust. The lines "So lift me up / Take me in your arms / Let me stay this time around" reveal a plea to be lifted from their troubles and be given a chance to start anew. However, there is also a sense of weariness expressed in the line "Can't go another round / It's such lousy pay" which suggests a feeling of being tired of the struggles and wanting them to end once and for all.
The repetition of the phrase "So sick and tired of all the people / That don't understand what I'm all about" highlights the person's frustration with feeling misunderstood by others. They also seem to be self-aware of their limitations, saying "I know three chords and a bunch of lies / And I've learned to live it well." However, the repeated plea for help in the chorus suggests a hope that they can find a way out of their struggles.
Overall, Lift Me Up speaks to the human experience of feeling lost, guilty, and exhausted, and the search for redemption and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I've done a lot of thinking
I have been reflecting on my life and my choices
I've been sweating all out
I have been working hard to improve myself
I've been down on my knees
I have been praying and asking for forgiveness
For crying out loud
I am expressing my frustration and desperation
Wake up at night
I am disturbed by my thoughts and my feelings
With your name on my tongue
I am thinking about someone specifically
Begging for you to forgive
I am asking for forgiveness and hoping for mercy
The wrong things I've done
I regret the mistakes and the bad choices that I have made
I can't take another day
I am overwhelmed and exhausted by my struggles
Living it plain
My life is unfulfilling and empty
Can't go another round
I am too weak and too tired to keep fighting
It's such lousy pay
My efforts are not rewarded as they should be
Gotta get to the call
I have to answer the higher purpose of my life
And get it all this way
I have to give my all and do everything I can
I'm just sitting her waiting
I feel powerless and helpless, waiting for help
It's such a heavy way
My burdens and my emotions are weighing me down
So sick and tired of all the people
I am frustrated and exhausted by the lack of support and understanding from others
That don't understand what I'm all about
I feel misunderstood and unappreciated for who I am
Gonna come my way one fine day
I believe that my luck will eventually turn and things will get better
I know three chords and a bunch of lies
I am aware that my skills and my talents are limited and flawed
And I've learned to live it well
I have accepted my limitations and my mistakes, and I have found a way to cope with them
Take me in your arms
I am seeking comfort, protection, and love
Let me stay this time around
I am hoping to find a place where I belong and where I can thrive
Don't drag me down
I don't want to be pulled back into my struggles and my pain
I need your help this time around
I am reaching out for help and support, and I am open to receive it
I need your help this time around
I am repeating my request for help, emphasizing my vulnerability and my dependency
Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.