Nouela is a multi-instrumentalist/singer from Seattle.

Born to Norw… Read Full Bio ↴Nouela is a multi-instrumentalist/singer from Seattle.

Born to Norwegian and Korean parents, Nouela Johnston spent the first 11 years of her life living in Korea and learning to love music.

In her own words: "My parents were both music professors when I was growing up. My mom has a doctorate from Juilliard, my dad has a PhD in composition from Princeton. They were both such hardcore musicians who spent their entire lives practicing, they essentially decided they didn't want that for their children. They raised me in a musical vacuum. I really didn't have too much to listen to in the house other than my mother's classical playing/practicing and my father's records, which were the Beach Boys, Pet Shop Boys, Beatles, Kraftwerk, Monk, Mingus, and some Weird Al Yankovic."

Emerging from this distinctive musical climate, Nouela performed her first piano recital at the age of 4. At 11 she moved to Seattle and immediately joined her school's jazz band."I wanted to learn how to play everything. I took guitar and flute lessons, then branched to clarinet, saxophone, jazz piano, and bass. In high school I started playing shows in jazz combos for money, and started fucking around on drums. I really just wanted to learn the bembe beat for drum set because a clinic teacher said it was the hardest beat he's ever learned. The main line to the bembe is in 'Doubts.'

Nouela spent her teens and early twenties fronting bands (Mon Frere, People Eating People) and cut her musical teeth recording and touring with both local Seattle groups and national acts (The Fall Of Troy, Say Hi, Schoolyard Heroes, Cursive). After having worked with a diverse stable of musicians and producers including members of The Blood Brothers and Minus the Bear, Nouela decided to streamline her creative processes and play nearly every instrument herself on debut album Chants, even going so far as taking on the role of co-producer.

Fight
Nouela Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm holding on by a thread, I'm held together by tape
I'd love something more permanent, but I don't wanna raise the stakes
I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna fight
I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna fight

And what is all this work for but instant satisfaction
Are these seams worth the ache, and all the wasted effort
But we are the chosen few,

We're born to be pompous, born to be heard

And we love it, don't we; the famous taste of fame
Begging every jaded journalist to write your name
And we'll just back down
And the sons, and the doctors, and lawyers'll get there first

With every love song,
With every lost friend
We scream with mouths shut that
We'll do better, we'll do better now
Don't know what good is
Don't know what great means
But til' we find it,
We'll do better, we'll do better now

I'm holding on by a thread, I'm held together by tape
I'd love something more permanent, but I don't wanna raise the stakes
I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna fight
I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna fight

When everything was hopeful (I don't wanna fight)
And everything was promised (I don't wanna fight)
When you believed that people told you (I don't wanna fight)
You were born to do this (I don't wanna fight)
Before you planned it out (I don't wanna fight)
Before you signed the papers (I don't wanna fight)
Before we realized that (I don't wanna fight)
Ignorance is so much safer (I don't wanna fight)

I'm so tired of screaming (I don't wanna fight)
I'm so tired of wishing (I don't wanna fight)
That a Cadillac in a cul-de-sac (I don't wanna fight)
Would be a life worth living (I don't wanna fight)
Another girl is waiting (I don't wanna fight)
Hiding in empty space and (I don't wanna fight)
She is chasing her dreams while
I am chasing all these lines in my face

I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die
I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die

With every love song,
With every lost friend
We scream with mouths shut that
We'll do better, we'll do better now
Don't know what good is
Don't know what great means
But til' we find it,
We'll do better, we'll do better now

Another love song (another lost friend)
Another lost friend (We scream with mouth shut that we'll do better, we'll
Do better now)

Another love song(Don't know what good is, don't know what great means)
We scream with mouth shut that we'll do better, we'll do better now

Overall Meaning

In Nouela's song "Fight", she speaks about the overwhelming stress and pressure that comes with ambition and the pursuit of success. She is held together by tape, meaning that she is just barely keeping it together, and is exhausted from constantly trying to reach a goal that feels unattainable. She doesn't want to fight anymore, she's tired of the constant struggle and feeling like she's not enough.

Nouela questions the worth of all the effort that is put into chasing fame and success, wondering if those small glimpses of satisfaction are worth the struggle that comes with it. The chosen few that are born to be heard, are the ones that beg for attention from the press, backing down when the more "respectable" professions come in.

The song also comments on the uncertainty of life and the pursuit of happiness. Nouela recognizes that she doesn't know what good or great truly means, but she's willing to keep trying until she figures it out. The song ends with her saying that she doesn't want to die, emphasizing her desire to find the answer to her struggles and come out stronger on the other side.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm holding on by a thread, I'm held together by tape
I am barely holding on and only held together by a temporary solution.

I'd love something more permanent, but I don't wanna raise the stakes
I desire a more long-term solution, but I am scared of the potential risk involved.

I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna fight
I don't want to engage in conflict or struggle.

And what is all this work for but instant satisfaction
What is the point of all the effort if it only brings short-term satisfaction?

Are these seams worth the ache, and all the wasted effort
Is the effort and pain involved in maintaining things worth it in the end?

But we are the chosen few, We're born to be pompous, born to be heard
We stand out and are meant to be heard, either through our own choice or circumstances.

And we love it, don't we; the famous taste of fame
We crave and enjoy the feeling of being famous.

Begging every jaded journalist to write your name
We will convince and ask anyone to write about us for more exposure.

And we'll just back down
We will easily surrender and give up.

And the sons, and the doctors, and lawyers'll get there first
Social hierarchy ensures others with different backgrounds or professions will have an advantage in life.

With every love song, With every lost friend
Through every personal experience and heartbreak.

We scream with mouths shut that We'll do better, we'll do better now
We strive to be better, but remain silent about our struggles and progress.

Don't know what good is, Don't know what great means
We are unsure of what true success and greatness entail.

But til' we find it, We'll do better, we'll do better now
We will continue to improve ourselves until we achieve true success and greatness.

When everything was hopeful (I don't wanna fight)
In the past when life was more optimistic.

And everything was promised (I don't wanna fight)
When life seemed full of potential and promises.

When you believed that people told you (I don't wanna fight)
When you trusted the words of others.

You were born to do this (I don't wanna fight)
You were meant to pursue this path.

Before you planned it out (I don't wanna fight)
Before you thought out a strategy or plan.

Before you signed the papers (I don't wanna fight)
Before you fully committed to something.

Before we realized that (I don't wanna fight)
Before we learned the truth or faced the reality of a situation.

Ignorance is so much safer (I don't wanna fight)
Being unaware or avoiding the truth is often easier and less painful.

I'm so tired of screaming (I don't wanna fight)
I am exhausted from trying to be heard or fighting for my goals.

I'm so tired of wishing (I don't wanna fight)
I am tired of hoping for things that may never come true.

That a Cadillac in a cul-de-sac (I don't wanna fight)
Material possessions and superficial things are not worth fighting for or important in life.

Would be a life worth living (I don't wanna fight)
Having material possessions should not be the sole measure of a good life.

Another girl is waiting (I don't wanna fight)
Someone else is pursuing their dreams while I struggle.

Hiding in empty space and (I don't wanna fight)
This person is trying to stay under the radar while pursuing their goals.

She is chasing her dreams while I am chasing all these lines in my face
I am struggling to achieve success and maintain physical appearances, while someone else pursues their dreams freely.

I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die
I want to keep living and experiencing life.

Another love song (another lost friend)
Another experience of love or friendship ending.

Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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