Tender World
Nitin Sawhney feat. Nicki Wells Lyrics


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Reject and owe what you held
Disappeared inside yourself
The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Reject and owe what you held
Disappeared inside yourself
The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa
Pa dha ni ni
Ni dha pa
Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa aah

You lived from dream to dream
Sacrificed the way between
Put your fragile life on hold
Into an empty soul

Reject and oh what you held
Disappeared inside yourself
The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Reject and owe what you held
Disappeared inside yourself
The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa
Pa dha ni ni
Ni dha pa
Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa aah

So now what memories take your bed
Chasing daydreams in the air

Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa
Pa dha ni ni
Ni dha pa
Sa ni sa
Sa ni re
Sa ka re
Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa aah

Reject and owe what you held
Disappeared inside yourself
The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Reject and oh what you held
Disappeared inside yourself




The endless game of life you played
Is faded into yesterday

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nitin Sawhney feat. Nicki Wells's song "Tender World" lead to an insightful interpretation of the struggles of self-discovery and existentialism. The repetition of "reject and owe what you held, disappeared inside yourself" gives the impression of self-abandonment, and a loss of sense of self. The "endless game of life you played" is described as fading into yesterday, indicating that the character has accepted their past but struggles with their present. The use of "Sa ni sa, Sa ni re, Sa ka re, Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa, Pa dha ni ni, Ni dha pa" is a part of Indian classical music, and while it may not have a direct translation, it adds a unique cultural aspect to the song.


The lyrics lead to the assumption that the character has lived their life from dream to dream, sacrificing the path between. The character has put their fragile life into an empty soul, indicating that the character does not feel a sense of fulfillment. The line, "So now what memories take your bed, chasing daydreams in the air," creates the impression that the character is now attempting to remember and connect with past dreams and dreaming of a more profound understanding of their self. The repetition of "Sa ni sa, Sa ni re, Sa ka re, Ma ga re sa re ni sa pa, Pa dha ni ni, Ni dha pa" throughout the song can be interpreted as a search for harmony and balance in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Reject and owe what you held
Let go and take responsibility for what you were holding onto


Disappeared inside yourself
Lost touch with your true self and inner world


The endless game of life you played
The constant struggle and competition in life


Is faded into yesterday
Is now in the past and no longer affecting the present


You lived from dream to dream
You existed in an alternate reality, not truly living in the present


Sacrificed the way between
Sacrificed the path towards true fulfillment for short-term desires


Put your fragile life on hold
Paused your own life and progress for someone or something else


Into an empty soul
Lost connection with your own soul and inner being, feeling empty


So now what memories take your bed
What memories haunt you and deprive you of sleep


Chasing daydreams in the air
Pursuing unattainable and unrealistic dreams


Reject and oh what you held
Let go of what you were holding onto and take responsibility


Disappeared inside yourself
Lost touch with your true self and inner world


The endless game of life you played
The constant struggle and competition in life


Is faded into yesterday
Is now in the past and no longer affecting the present




Writer(s): NITIN SAWHNEY

Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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