Born Domenica Costa on 4th June 1972 in Tokyo, Japan, she is relatively unknown in the United States, although she has achieved impressive commercial success overseas, most notably in Australia and Germany. She is the daughter of Don Costa, an arranger and producer of pop music, with whom she recorded several albums as a child, many of which have gone platinum. Frank Sinatra, a close friend of her father's, was her godfather. She is married to her songwriting partner and producer Justin Stanley.
Nikka has released 7 full length albums, 4 as an adult (Butterfly Rocket (1996), Everybody Got Their Something (2001), can'tneverdidnothin' (2005) and Pebble to a Pearl (2008)) as well as one EP PRO★WHOA! (2011).
She also had a career as a young singer starting in the 1980s, releasing 3 albums (Nikka Costa (1981), Fairy Tales (1983) and Here I Am... (1989)).
http://www.nikkacosta.com
Tug Of War
Nikka Costa Lyrics
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When our hearts fear our minds
We can't afford to ignore
What our hearts are beating for
My soul wants to go one way
But my heart and mind playing
A tug of war with me baby
Cut to the truth and watch it bleed
And in the wounds just what we need
It's everywhere if we dare
To trust the fall to lead you there
My soul wants to go one way
But my heart and mind playing
A tug of war with me baby
Let me out of this cage
I'm begging for mercy
I'm being your slave
What do you want me to see,
My eyes are inflamed
With the rage that's among us
When we come of age
There's nothing I don't know,
Just hasn't come to me yet
We're only trying to remember
What we choose to forget
Everybody's a child
That is open and free
If we can trust ourselves
To be indiscreet
With our love
The song "Tug Of War" by Nikka Costa is a powerful ballad that reflects the struggle between the mind and the heart, particularly during moments of uncertainty. The lyrics emphasize the importance of following one's heart's desire despite the confusion and resistance that the mind often presents. The opening lines describe a common experience where sometimes the heart is afraid to act on its desires because it conflicts with the mind. The lyrics express a call to action, urging listeners to acknowledge what their hearts are telling them because it ultimately determines one's purpose in life.
The chorus takes on a passionate, almost pleading tone, as the singer is feeling stuck between their thoughts and emotions. The line, "My soul wants to go one way, but my heart and mind playing a tug of war with me baby," emphasizes the internal struggle. The following verse features an existential reflection on the human experience, using imagery of blood and wounds to indicate that pain is necessary for growth. The singer pleads to be released from the figurative cage that their mind has created, to be set free by the power of their heart. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, as time is fleeting, and in the end, we are left only with memories of the risks we didn't take. The closing lines suggest that although we may grow and mature, our inner child remains, and it is through love that we can trust ourselves to take risks and follow our hearts' desires.
Line by Line Meaning
There are times in our lives
Sometimes in our lives
When our hearts fear our minds
When our emotions conflict with our rational thoughts
We can't afford to ignore
Ignoring our heart's desires could have negative consequences
What our hearts are beating for
We must pay attention to what we are passionate about
My soul wants to go one way
My innermost self desires a certain path
But my heart and mind playing
However, my emotional and logical sides are in conflict
A tug of war with me baby
This is causing me internal struggle
Cut to the truth and watch it bleed
Dig deeper and face the raw reality of the situation
And in the wounds just what we need
In facing the painful truth, we may find what we truly require
It's everywhere if we dare
The truth is present for all to see, if we have the courage
To trust the fall to lead you there
Allow yourself to take a risk and let fate guide you
Let me out of this cage
I feel confined and limited in my current situation
I'm begging for mercy
I am desperate for relief
I'm being your slave
I feel enslaved by external expectations
What do you want me to see,
What is it that I am meant to understand?
My eyes are inflamed
I am emotional and overwhelmed
With the rage that's among us
With the anger that surrounds us
When we come of age
As we mature
There's nothing I don't know,
I feel that there are no secrets left for me
Just hasn't come to me yet
Just the right piece of information has not presented itself
We're only trying to remember
We are attempting to recall something we have forgotten
What we choose to forget
What we have intentionally suppressed or ignored
Everybody's a child
We all have a youthful innocence within us
That is open and free
Which allows us to be vulnerable and uninhibited
If we can trust ourselves
If we can have faith in our own abilities
To be indiscreet
To take risks and be bold
With our love
With our emotions and affections
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NIKKA COSTA, XAVIER CUGAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind