She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired debut album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000), which was a critical and commercial success that spawned two top-10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light". The first of the two singles won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Furtado's introspective folk-heavy 2003 second album, Folklore, explored her Portuguese roots. Its singles received moderate success in Europe, but the album's underperformance compared to her debut was regarded as a sophomore slump.
Furtado's third album, Loose (2006), was a smash hit and became her bestselling album, with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide, also making it one of the bestselling albums of the 2000s. Considered a radical image reinvention, Furtado continued to explore her Portuguese heritage while leaning heavier into hip hop. The album spawned four successful number-one singles worldwide; "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It Right" and "All Good Things (Come to an End)".
She released her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan, in 2009, which won her a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. In 2012, Furtado released her nostalgia-inspired fifth album The Spirit Indestructible. Furtado split with her management and went independent thereafter, releasing her indie-pop sixth album, The Ride, in 2017 under her own label Nelstar Entertainment.
She has won many awards throughout her career, including one Grammy Award from seven nominations, one Latin Grammy Award, ten Juno Awards, one BRIT Award, one Billboard Music Award, one MTV Europe Music Award, one World Music Award, and three Much Music Video Awards. Furtado has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, and was awarded Commander of the Order of Prince Henry on February 28, 2014, by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the then-President of Portugal.
Spirit Indestructible
Nelly Furtado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got chains on my feet but not in my mind
I'll be dancing all day see the sun outside
Don't know how long it will be can't stop me
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that loving was made for
A body that's a miracle
A heart that was made pure
Unbreakable and that's for sure
Unshakeable so give me more
A-E-I-O-U
Through my tired eyes I phase out the rain
With a meditation I erase my pain
There's a rythym flowing through every vein
And the melody is never-ending
And though they may and though they may
Take you away take you away
You'll never break you'll never break
And though they may and though they may
Take you away take you away
They'll never break they'll never break you
In these lyrics, Nelly Furtado sings about her unbreakable spirit and unwavering determination, despite the physical restraints she faces. She looks through a small window from where she is confined and sees the outside, despite having chains on her feet, her mind is not limited. Nelly exclaims that she will keep dancing, soaking in the sun outside, even though she does not know how long she will be able to do so.
She describes herself as having a spirit that cannot be destroyed or broken, a heart that is full of love, a body that can perform miracles, and a pure heart that is strong and resilient. Nelly sings about her ability to meditate and erase her pain, letting the rhythm flow through her veins. Although someone may try to take away her freedoms, she believes that they will never break her spirit or take away her passionate drive.
The entire song is an ode to the human spirit's strength and resilience to push through challenging situations with the right mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
From my one square foot window I see outside
Despite being confined, I still have hope and can see a world beyond my situation.
I've got chains on my feet but not in my mind
Even though my physical freedom is limited, my thoughts and imagination remain free.
I'll be dancing all day see the sun outside
I am determined to enjoy life, even if it means living vicariously through the beauty of the outside world.
Don't know how long it will be can't stop me
I am resilient and will not let uncertainty or fear keep me from moving forward.
I have a spirit indestructible
I possess an unbreakable essence that cannot be defeated by external circumstances.
A heart that loving was made for
My heart is designed for love and can withstand any obstacle.
A body that's a miracle
My physical existence is a wonder, capable of enduring and healing through adversity.
A heart that was made pure
My heart is untainted and will remain true.
Unbreakable and that's for sure
I cannot be destroyed or defeated, and this certainty empowers me to persevere.
Unshakeable so give me more
I am unbreakable and unshakeable, and am ready to take on whatever challenge comes my way.
A-E-I-O-U
The vowels represent the core of my being and are a symbol of my resiliency, determination, and life force.
Through my tired eyes I phase out the rain
Even when I am feeling worn out or discouraged, I can focus my attention elsewhere and rise above the storm.
With a meditation I erase my pain
Through the calming practice of meditation, I can alleviate the discomfort of hardship.
There's a rythym flowing through every vein
I am connected to the universal rhythm of life, and this flow sustains my strength and perseverance.
And the melody is never-ending
The tune of life continues, and I am determined to keep dancing to its beat.
And though they may and though they may take you away take you away
Even if others try to strip me of my freedom or my inner strength, they will not succeed.
You'll never break you'll never break
My spirit is unbreakable and will always withstand adversity.
And though they may and though they may take you away take you away
Challenges may come my way, but I will not let them take away my spirit.
They'll never break they'll never break you
My resilience and strength will see me through any obstacle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: NELLY FURTADO, RODNEY JERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felipe Seixas
Lyrics:
From my one square foot window I see outside
I've got chains on my feet but not in my mind
I'll be dancing all day, see the sun outside
Don't know how long it will be, can't stop me
…
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that loving was made for
A body that's a miracle
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that was made pure
Unbreakable and that's for sure
Unshakeable so give me more
…
Through my tired eyes I phase out the rain
With a meditation I erase my pain
There's a rythym flowing through every vein
And the melody is never-ending
…
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that loving was made for
A body that's a miracle
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that was made pure
Unbreakable and that's for sure
Unshakeable so give me more
…
A-E-I-O-U
…
And though they may and though they may
Take you away, take you away
You'll never break, you'll never break
And though they may and though they may
Take you away, take you away
They'll never break, they'll never break you
…
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that loving was made for
A body that's a miracle
Spirit, spirit, spirit
I have a spirit indestructible
A heart that was made pure
Unbreakable and that's for sure
Unshakeable so give me more
…
A-E-I-O-U
Elton Roza
Como Nelly Furtado consegue ser tão perfeita meu Deus. Essa mulher só tem hinos, uma música mais maravilhosa que a outra. Amo forte ❤
Afrânio Fróes
Pra mim é uma Sandy internacional. SImplesmente top
Emilly Silva
Elton Roza verdade 👏👏😍
Mozart
Elton Roza também acho. o álbum novo dela que sairá já já também tá maravilhoso.
Brock Cock
Nelly Furtado goes so hard on this, never disappointed. She is not like other rappers who are going viral by using A u t h e n t i c v i e w s to get the views up. Thumbs up who agrees
Raffael Sousa
HINO INJUSTIÇADO, PORRA!! Olha a qualidade da música, sensacional!
darlan dias
verdade ... desde que saiu eu arrepio quando escuto essa música, e até hoje ... Nelly é incrível e esse álbum foi muito injustiçado
vamos ser feliz ?
Eu tbm acho !! Essa música é incrível
Diago Becker
Siiiimmm manoooooo que ódio
Antonio Saldanha
Amo essa música!