Wagner has been writing songs since the age of 16. Her self-titled debut album was released in February 2011 by the Finnish indie label Kioski. It was later released in United Kingdom and Europe by Bone Voyage Recordings and in North America by Friendly Fire Recordings. In August 2012 Time Magazine listed Wagner as one of the ″11 Great Bands You Don’t Know (But Should)″. Although her debut album was not a big success, it caused a lot of attention and in February 2014 Wagner was signed by the American record label Sub Pop.
Wagner's second album When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day was released in August 2014. The album peaked number one at the Finnish Album Chart. It was a nominee for the 2014 Nordic Music Prize which is an annual award for the Best Nordic Album Of The Year. She won the prize.
On 21 April 2015, Wagner performed on the music television show Later... with Jools Holland.
She also did the trailer song for Gore Verbinski's 2017 film A Cure for Wellness, which was a cover of The Ramones song "I Wanna Be Sedated".
Despair
Mirel Wagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of a big black wave
down on the floor said you’re the one
that I've been looking for
it said dance with me 'till all
the stars begin to fall
dance with me till there's nothing
left of you at all
despair came riding on the crest
of a big black wave
thin as a scream and shouting
out my name
it said no need to beg no need to fight
that voice sends a shiver that brakes
my spine
all the stars come down tonight
despair came riding on the crest
of a big black wave
and I was like child looking
for a safe place to hide
despair was standing with its jaws open wide
and it swallowed me whole in to the
big black night
all the stars come down tonight
The lyrics of Mirel Wagner’s “Despair” are powerful and evoke a sense of hopelessness and despair. The song begins by describing despair as riding on the crest of a big black wave, a metaphor for the feeling of being overwhelmed and powerless when faced with immense pain and suffering. The persona in the song addresses the feeling, acknowledging its presence and states that it has finally found her, as if it has been searching for her all along.
As the song progresses, the persona describes despair as a thin figure, screaming out her name, but also assuring her that there is no need to beg or fight. The persona acknowledges the fear that despair creates within her, making her spine shiver. The repetition of the line “all the stars come down tonight” emphasizes the depth of despair and the feeling of desolation experienced by the persona.
In the final stanza, the persona compares herself to a scared child, desperately searching for a safe place to hide. Unfortunately, despair finds her and takes her in its jaws, swallowing her whole into the big black night. The song concludes with the repetition of the line “all the stars come down tonight,” indicating that the darkness of despair is absolute, and there is no hope of light or comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
despair came riding on the crest of a big black wave
The overwhelming feeling of despair emerged abruptly.
down on the floor said you’re the one that I've been looking for
Despair found its target, its victim.
it said dance with me 'till all the stars begin to fall
Despair invited the victim to experience complete darkness and hopelessness.
dance with me till there's nothing left of you at all
Despair demanded complete surrender and destruction of the victim's spirit.
all the stars come down tonight
Darkness and hopelessness suffuse everything.
thin as a scream and shouting out my name
The voice of despair was so nothing that it penetrated every fiber of existence and revealed itself as the voice of despair.
it said no need to beg no need to fight
The victim can not escape from the feelings of despair.
that voice sends a shiver that brakes my spine
The victim was paralyzed by the voice and the ensuing feelings of despair.
despair came riding on the crest of a big black wave
The overwhelming feeling of despair emerged abruptly.
and I was like child looking for a safe place to hide
The victim sought comfort from the overwhelming feeling of despair.
despair was standing with its jaws open wide
Despair welcomed the victim with open arms and took them in.
and it swallowed me whole into the big black night
The victim was consumed by despair, leaving only darkness.
all the stars come down tonight
Darkness and hopelessness suffuse everything.
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.