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.

Soul Rush
Nicolai Dunger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vet du sen hur du ska spela?

How long will it take before my soul breaks free
and tastes the salt of morning's first kiss?
Mornings first kiss on my skin
How long will it take before it bursts?
Sunny days lick my soul, lick it free
With days like this and nights like weeping songs

‘cause they belong to anyone who's felt the need,
felt the need for a rush
With days like this and nights like weeping songs
Sunny days lick my soul, lick it free
With days like this and nights like weeping songs
‘cause they belong to anyone
who's felt the need for a rush

Someone waits for you, someone treats you like dirt
Someone changes you, someone makes you stay the same
And someone tells you that you're the only one,
the only one to lick your soul, lick it free
And your sister she's in love, she has children there to prove it
And your brother, he's a beauty, he's so beautiful it hurts
Yes, your sister she's in love and she has children,
and those children lick my soul. They lick it free.
With days like this and nights like weeping songs
‘cause they belong to anyone
who's felt the need for a rush

I've wasted half my life with a guitar and a song
And it's solid and it's dreadful and it's sweet in its breath
I've wasted half my life with this guitar
And these songs lick my soul, they lick it free
I tell you, all people, it's been an honour to be here
And to all of you who have known me as a kid
To be in love and to be loved in return is to lick,
lick your soul, lick it free
With days like this and nights like weeping songs
It'll be free like it's supposed to be

And it belongs to anyone who's felt the need,
felt the need for a rush

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nicolai Dunger's song 'Soul Rush' explore the concept of breaking free from the confines of one's own soul and experiencing the thrill of new experiences. The singer is eager to taste the freedom that comes with life's sweeter moments, such as the salt of morning's first kiss, and is urging the listener to embrace the sunny days that 'lick [their] soul, lick it free'. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing for something that is just out of reach, and the idea that the rush of life is something that can be felt by anyone who has 'felt the need' for it.

The song also contains a sense of family and community, illustrated through the imagery of the singer's sister and brother. The inclusion of these characters suggests a sense of belonging and shared experiences, as their 'children' are described as 'lick[ing] my soul, they lick it free'. This emphasizes the idea that these experiences are something that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone.

In conclusion, 'Soul Rush' is a song that explores the human experience of longing and the desire to break free from the confines of one's own soul. It is a call to embrace the joy of life's sweeter moments and to share these experiences with others, highlighting the sense of community and belonging that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

How long will it take before my soul breaks free and tastes the salt of morning's first kiss?
When will I finally be able to let go of my troubles and experience the joy of a new day?

Mornings first kiss on my skin
The feeling of the sun on my skin in the morning is refreshing and calming

How long will it take before it bursts?
How much longer must I hold onto my emotions before they become uncontrollable?

Sunny days lick my soul, lick it free
Nice weather helps to lift my spirits and ease my mind

With days like this and nights like weeping songs
Although nice weather is enjoyable, there are still moments of sadness and despair

‘cause they belong to anyone who's felt the need,
Everyone has experienced moments of heartache and longing

felt the need for a rush
The desire for excitement and change in life

Someone waits for you, someone treats you like dirt
People have both positive and negative influences on our lives

Someone changes you, someone makes you stay the same
People can inspire us to become better or keep us stagnant

And someone tells you that you're the only one,
Sometimes people give us false hope and make us feel special when we are not

the only one to lick your soul, lick it free
The only person who can truly heal us is ourselves

And your sister she's in love, she has children there to prove it
Family members can find happiness and success in their own way

And your brother, he's a beauty, he's so beautiful it hurts
Beauty can be both awe-inspiring and painful

Yes, your sister she's in love and she has children, and those children lick my soul. They lick it free.
Children can bring joy and innocence into our lives

I've wasted half my life with a guitar and a song
The pursuit of art can sometimes feel like a waste of time

And it's solid and it's dreadful and it's sweet in its breath
Creating art can be both a burden and a privilege

I've wasted half my life with this guitar
Despite the difficulties, music is a central part of the artist's life

And these songs lick my soul, they lick it free
Creating music can lift the artist's spirits and heal their soul

I tell you, all people, it's been an honour to be here
The artist is grateful for their time on Earth

And to all of you who have known me as a kid
The artist acknowledges the people who have supported them throughout their life

To be in love and to be loved in return is to lick, lick your soul, lick it free
Love has the power to heal and create joy

It'll be free like it's supposed to be
When the artist has let go of their struggles, they will feel free and at peace

And it belongs to anyone who's felt the need,
The experience of finding peace and happiness is something that everyone can relate to

felt the need for a rush
People crave adventure and change in their lives

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICOLAI DUNGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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