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".
Violence of the World
Midnight Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stranger, I'm about to fall
The well that once drew will
Have no more, no more to give
Angel, hear my say
Stranger, come light my way
For many a prayer's escape
Angel, I lie awake
Stranger, don't let me break
The violence of the world
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
Angel, hear my call
Stranger, I'm about to fall
A world so hard to bear
Got no choice, oh Lord I swear
Angel, I lie awake
Stranger, don't let me break
The violence of the world
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
Angel, I lie awake
Stranger, don't let me break
The violence of the world
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
At its core, "Violence of the World" by Midnight Choir is a plea for help in the face of overwhelming despair. The song begins with a call for an angel to save the singer from falling into a dark place - a place where the "well that once drew will have no more to give." As the song progresses, the singer's desperation intensifies. He begs the stranger - perhaps a passing traveler or a higher power - to "come light [his] way" and save him from a world that is "so hard to bear." Ultimately, he acknowledges that he has no choice but to keep going, swearing to God that he will not break under the weight of the world's violence.
On one level, the song can be read as a commentary on the state of the world itself - a world where violence and despair seem to be everywhere. But more than that, it is an intimate expression of one person's struggle to find hope in the midst of darkness. The singer is alone in his suffering, unable to find solace in the prayers of others - "for many a prayer's escape, save this one, it's getting late." In the end, he can only hope that his plea will be heard, and that some kind of salvation will come before it's too late.
Overall, "Violence of the World" is a haunting and deeply emotional song, characterized by its sparse, echoing instrumentation and the haunting beauty of the lead singer's voice. It is a reflection of the human longing for connection, hope, and salvation in the face of despair and darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Angel, hear my call
I am calling upon something greater than myself for help
Stranger, I'm about to fall
I am in desperate need of assistance from a stranger
The well that once drew will
Have no more, no more to give
I have exhausted my resources and have nothing left to offer
Angel, hear my say
I am speaking to an angel for guidance
Stranger, come light my way
I need someone unknown to me to show me the way forward
For many a prayer's escape
Save this one, it's getting late
I have prayed many times before, but this one is urgent and time is running out
Angel, I lie awake
I am unable to sleep due to my troubles
Stranger, don't let me break
I am afraid of breaking down and need someone to prevent it
The violence of the world
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
The cruel and harsh realities of the world have deeply affected me
A world so hard to bear
Got no choice, oh Lord I swear
The world is so difficult to handle, and I feel like I have no other options but to swear to a higher power
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
The pain and suffering I have experienced have left a profound impact on me
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aggelos Marinellis
Επικό τραγούδι σε μια επική σειρά!!!
Sally Stewart
Just bought this from Amazon. Love the musical arrangement.
Paulina S.
Angel, I lie awake
Stranger, don't let me break
The violence of the world
Took a hold, a hold of my soul
<3
0lestria
Υπέροχοι στίχοι...
Antonis S.
so beautiful.
kounelaki kr
με τρελένει έτσι όπως αρχίζει...
john clarke
so ready to put this down. Sorry, I can' t. It' s pretty damn good. Haunting if you will. Good group, greaqt sound, and I'll buy into this group. Refreshing with their efforts.
petros pappas
The violence of the world.Took a hold, a hold of my soul...Angel,hear my call?
liveloyla
amazing
11Fl0oW11
hey, could you pls upload "snow in berlin" from the same album? that'd be very nice of you :D