Nicolai Dunger is a singer and acoustic songwriter from Piteå in Sweden. He… Read Full Bio ↴Nicolai Dunger is a singer and acoustic songwriter from Piteå in Sweden. He has released eleven EPs and albums, singing primarily in English, and collaborated notably with Will Oldham, Mercury Rev, the Esbjörn Svensson jazz trio and Ebbot Lundberg.

Biography

A former football player, Nicolai was signed by the Telegram label of Warner records, releasing two albums that did not sell enough copies to enable him to give up his part-time job as a gardener.

A meeting with Ebbot Lundberg of the Swedish band Soundtrack of our Lives led to two further albums, a tour with Emiliana Torrini and the use of one of his songs in an advertisement for an oil company. This small influx of cash enabled the production of a trio of vinyl albums with the Esbjörn Svensson jazz trio.

This steady production of somewhat experimental acoustic music attracted the attention of Americana luminaries Will Oldham and Jonathan Donahue, and a contract with the Dolores Recordings branch of Virgin Records followed. The first album on this label, Soul Rush with backing from the Esbjörn Svensson trio attracted some limited attention in 2001, but the next album, 2003's Tranquil Isolation, achieved widespread, especially thanks to its input from Will Oldham.

A third album, Here's My Song, You Can Have It followed in 2004.

He is currently touring the USA with Mercury Rev.

Clouds
Nicolai Dunger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When clouds are gathering
Around my door
I meet the day, I meet the day
Without you by my side
My life′s so different
From all the rest
But there's a song, there′s a tune
You whisper in my ear when day is through

No I'm not wishing
In the midst of it all, just to fall
And tremble like a branch in a mountain fog

Cause you're just so far away
Mmmm

When clouds are gathering
Around my door
I meet the day, I meet the day
Without you by my side

Cause you′re just so far away

You know just what to say to me
Mmmm

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nicolai Dunger's song "Clouds" seem to be a reflection on the singer's personal experiences of facing difficult times alone. As clouds gather around his door, he faces the day without the presence of a loved one by his side. He acknowledges the difference in his life without the person and how their voice and words reverberate within his mind in the moments of solace. The singer does not wish to falter in the midst of the turmoil, afraid to be vulnerable as a branch in a mountain fog.

The repetition of "when clouds are gathering around my door, I meet the day without you by my side" highlights the recurring difficulties that the singer faces. Despite the hurdles in his path, he overcomes them bravely, but the absence of his loved one makes the victory bittersweet. The distance between them makes it hard, but the words exchanged between them echo in his ears and provide solace. The song ultimately speaks about the courage to face tough situations without relying solely on the comfort of a loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

When clouds are gathering
When troubles and worries surround me

Around my door
In my life, in my immediate surroundings

I meet the day, I meet the day
I face the day with courage and determination

Without you by my side
Despite missing someone who is no longer with me

My life's so different
My life is unique and unlike others

From all the rest
Compared to everyone else's lives

But there's a song, there's a tune
But there is a melody that brings me comfort

You whisper in my ear when day is through
Thoughts of you come to me at the end of the day

No I'm not wishing
I am not hoping for anything specific to happen

In the midst of it all, just to fall
In the midst of my struggles, just to fail

And tremble like a branch in a mountain fog
And be uncertain and unsteady in the mist of uncertainty