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.
This Town
Nicolai Dunger Lyrics
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It's just that love conquers faith, and you fint it hard to believe that those are the days.
when you see that time is laughing at you, and trust ain't a gift, you take a walk through this town to feel the warmth of his gun.
Trade you sin, peel your skin. It's over by midnight.
it's a thorn you planted in my side that drags us around.
Anytime you hear the sound of him, just run for your lifr.
yes, her mind is made of cars and juices, and her body is a highway.
she breaks you down and spits you out, yet she's so warm in the night.
trade your sin, peel your skin. It's over by midnight.
The lyrics of Nicolai Dunger's song "This Town" suggest a sense of entrapment that comes from staying in the same town for too long. The phrase "when you know you want to leave this town, love comes around" could be interpreted as suggesting that it's just when a person feels they need to move on that they find someone they could have stayed for, but it's too late now. The song states that love is always there, but it can be hard to believe when it feels like time is against you and trust is not freely given. The imagery of taking a walk through the town to "feel the warmth of his gun" suggests that staying in the town feels like a dangerous game, but perhaps also that there is comfort in the familiarity of the place.
The singer then suggests that there is a "thorn" in his side that is dragging him around, which could be interpreted as referring to some kind of negative past event or trauma that he can't escape from. He advises to "trade your sin, peel your skin" which could mean letting go of past mistakes and shedding the layers that keep you weighed down. The toxic love in the town is personified as "his beloved" who owns the place, and it seems that everyone is aware of her power as the song advises to "run for your life" upon hearing the sound of her. The vivid image of her mind being "made of cars and juices" and her body being a "highway" suggests that she is part of the town's machinery and is not to be messed with. Yet, despite her destructive nature, she is "so warm in the night" which may indicate that people cling to her because she provides some kind of comfort despite her dangerous hold over them.
Line by Line Meaning
when you know you want to leave this town, loves comes around. and you know it's always there.
Leaving this town seems like a great idea until love strikes unexpectedly, and you realize that love exists everywhere.
It's just that love conquers faith, and you find it hard to believe that those are the days.
Love is a force that can overshadow even the strongest beliefs, making it difficult to remember the past.
when you see that time is laughing at you, and trust ain't a gift, you take a walk through this town to feel the warmth of his gun.
When life feels like a joke and trust is scarce, walking around town alone can help you feel safe and powerful.
Trade you sin, peel your skin. It's over by midnight.
Making a deal with the devil may seem like a solution, but it's only temporary and will only cause pain in the end.
it's a thorn you planted in my side that drags us around.
The ongoing pain in a relationship is caused by both parties, and neither can escape it.
Anytime you hear the sound of him, just run for your life.
The presence of danger can be felt instinctively, and it's best to avoid it at all costs.
His beloved owns this town and she's so warm in the night.
The person in charge in this town is in a position of power and comfort, and everyone else must live by her rules.
yes, her mind is made of cars and juices, and her body is a highway.
The leader of this town may seem unconventional or even bizarre, but she is in complete control of herself and others.
she breaks you down and spits you out, yet she's so warm in the night.
The leader of this town has a way of overpowering those around her, but she also offers them temporary comfort and security.
trade your sin, peel your skin. It's over by midnight.
Once again, making deals with the devil only leads to temporary relief and lasting pain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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