Gundersen's music banks on strong lead vocals, boasting a poetic and lyrical charm, backed by ambient backgrounds of strings and percussion. Gundersen's music has been called a blend of melancholy folk and electric euphoria, occasionally drawing comparisons to the likes of Elijah Wyman, David Wilcox, and Damien Rice. Drawing the attention of crowds across the South Puget Sound region, Noah Gundersen regularly performs in a variety of settings, ranging from small college basements to more prestigious venues such as the Triple Door, the Crocodile Cafe, and the Columbia City Theater.
Gundersen and his younger sister usually create studio work on their own - together they have produced two EPs, a live album, and most recently two full length albums:
• Brand New World EP (Noah Gundersen) - 2008
• Live at The Triple Door (Noah Gundersen & The Courage) - 2008
• Saints & Liars EP (Noah Gundersen & The Courage) - Oct. 9, 2009
• Fearful Bones (The Courage) - Sept. 11, 2010
• Family (Noah Gundersen) - Aug. 6, 2011
Official site: noahgundersenmusic.com/
The Difference
Noah Gundersen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why try and fix it
Little doll
Little broken doll in stitches
Maybe you were made this way
Maybe the pieces were intentionally different
So why try
Why try and fix it
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
So I hope
I hope I don't miss it
Thought I know
I probably just won't get it
Maybe we were made this way
Maybe we weren't made
Maybe we just got here
Learning from our mistakes
Maybe there are no mistakes
Maybe we don't know
What we're looking at
The ever pressing question takes a toll
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
Why try and fight
All of this missing
Hope I get it right
Before the ending
Ending
Noah Gundersen's song "The Difference" discusses the idea of accepting oneself as they are, rather than trying to fix oneself to fit societal norms. The lines "Maybe you were made this way, Maybe the pieces were intentionally different" imply that everyone is unique and should embrace their individuality, rather than striving for homogeneity. The lyrics "If you were right, what makes it different, If you were wrong, would you know the difference" suggest that right and wrong might not exist, or are subjective concepts, further emphasizing the idea of embracing one's individuality and not conforming to societal expectations.
The words "Little doll, little broken doll in stitches" can be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who has been damaged but being stitched up and put back together again, which also suggests that the person was made to be whole in that way, and that trying to "fix" them would be going against their true nature. The lyrics "Maybe we were made this way, Maybe we weren't made, Maybe we just got here, Learning from our mistakes, Maybe there are no mistakes" touches upon the idea of existence and purpose, and suggests that life could simply be a learning experience rather than having a specific plan or meaning.
In the last lines of the song, Gundersen sings "Why try and fight, All of this missing, Hope I get it right, Before the ending, Ending." This could be interpreted as a call to embrace the uncertainty of life and appreciate the journey rather than endlessly trying to find a sense of purpose or meaning, as everything could simply be a mystery.
Line by Line Meaning
Why try
Questioning the purpose of trying to fix something broken
Why try and fix it
Questioning why someone would attempt to mend what's already damaged
Little doll
Referring to someone who could be vulnerable or delicate
Little broken doll in stitches
Referring to someone who is trying to fix their own brokenness with temporary measures, like stitches
Maybe you were made this way
Entertaining the idea that certain flaws in oneself don't solely stem from personal failures, but could be divinely instilled
Maybe the pieces were intentionally different
Proposing that our unique differences might not be accidental, but purposely designed
It's all gonna change
Asserting that nothing stays the same forever and that the current situation will pass
If you were right
Asking what difference it would make if one's beliefs turned out to be true
What makes it different
Asking what distinguishes one person's rightness from another's
If you were wrong
Asking if someone would even notice if they were incorrect in their beliefs
Would you know the difference
Asking if someone could differentiate between what's true and what's not
I hope I don't miss it
Expressing a desire not to overlook important moments or events
Thought I know
Although they believe they know something,
I probably just won't get it
the person acknowledges the possibility that they don't fully understand a situation or concept
Maybe we were made this way
Reiterating the idea that there could be a divine reason behind people's differences
Maybe we weren't made
Challenging the belief that humans were purposely created by a higher power
Maybe we just got here
Suggesting that humanity's existence on earth could be attributed to chance
Learning from our mistakes
Acknowledging that errors happen, but sometimes the most valuable lessons are learned from them
Maybe there are no mistakes
Questioning the idea that mistakes even exist, and that all experiences can be used for growth
Maybe we don't know
Hypothesizing that sometimes people perceive information incorrectly or have incomplete knowledge
What we're looking at
Questioning people's ability to perceive the world around them accurately
The ever pressing question takes a toll
The constant questioning and seeking of answers can have a negative effect over time
Why try and fight
Wondering why someone would bother with the effort of resisting feelings of loss and emptiness
All of this missing
Acknowledging the presence of feeling like something is missing in life
Hope I get it right
Having desire to navigate through life in a way that is fulfilling and successful
Before the ending
Wanting to achieve this success and happiness before the end of life
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sweetz157
this is pure art, love, passion, is about living and feeling not surviving or being there...
lyrics:
Why try
Why try and fix it
Little doll
Little broken doll in stitches
Maybe you were made this way
Maybe the pieces were intentionally different
So why try
Why try and fix it
It’s all gonna change
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
So I hope
I hope I don’t miss it
Thought I know
I probably just won’t get it
Maybe we were made this way
Maybe we weren’t made
Maybe we just got here
Learning from our mistakes
Maybe there are no mistakes
Maybe we don’t know
What we’re looking at
The ever pressing question takes a toll
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
Why try and fight
All of this missing
Hope I get it right
Before the ending
Ending
kevinaviles30
Powerful music & amazing songwriter! My brother introduced me to your music specifically, "Heavy Metals" after my father's passing. And now So many of your songs hit home for me like your writing specifically for me. I am sure that's because you capture the human experience so well with your writing. Keep making your music brother, you possess a gift to put life's experiences into words so profoundly and eloquently that so many of us just have to sit back and appreciate it. Ty for sharing your gift with the world from this song, Robin Williams, Ledges, jealous love, Heavy Metals, and the list goes on and on...Keep them coming!
Sweetz157
this is pure art, love, passion, is about living and feeling not surviving or being there...
lyrics:
Why try
Why try and fix it
Little doll
Little broken doll in stitches
Maybe you were made this way
Maybe the pieces were intentionally different
So why try
Why try and fix it
It’s all gonna change
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
So I hope
I hope I don’t miss it
Thought I know
I probably just won’t get it
Maybe we were made this way
Maybe we weren’t made
Maybe we just got here
Learning from our mistakes
Maybe there are no mistakes
Maybe we don’t know
What we’re looking at
The ever pressing question takes a toll
If you were right
What makes it different
If you were wrong
Would you know the difference
Difference
Why try and fight
All of this missing
Hope I get it right
Before the ending
Ending
Alex Johnson
Fell in love with your music 4 years ago. Keep the magic flowing like an endless river. Noah fan for life.
Haneen
I watched this over, and over, and over again. It's beautiful, Noah - thank you.
Joseph Eastwood
I really like the part when his friends come in and he instantly cheers up
Austin FTA
You can actually see how happy he was and how sad he looked when they left
Haley Smith
Joseph Eastwood
Aleksandar Bakaloski
Noah you made me fall in love again with music and religion....you are art,love you mate
Savanna
Complete work of art, beautiful words, voice and the video is very eye opening. Never fail to just blow me away. Noah, simply incredible.
Mibs
I really love the idea behind this video. People come in and out of our lives and we never know how they are going to affect us.