With her opera singer for a mother, theater organist father and Björk’s Homogenic on constant rotation, Oh Land was enraptured by the combination of experimental and classical arts. “My goal is to sound like I’m from 2050, but still feel really classic, like the music is an old friend,” said Oh Land. She spent her days pirouetting as a ballet dancer at the Danish Royal Ballet Academy when an injury forced her to reinvent herself and discover her true talent and passion as a musician. Oh Land was discovered by Kasper Bjørke who soon released her first album, Fauna, which garnered critical acclaim in her homeland of Denmark. Her soundscapes are lavish, crunchy, symphonic, brute and captivated with rhythms that fly apart. She translates the sounds live via her contraption - a homemade one-woman-band music box topped with balloon video projections (seeing is believing). Her music is for movement and new songs such as the thumping Sun of a Gun and euphoric White Nights have proven to make even the most portentous get up and dance. Having been discovered by Epic Records at 2009’s SXSW, she is currently putting the finishing touches on her US debut album and an EP to be released this fall.
www.ohlandmusic.com
Break the Chain
Oh Land Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel the walls around me closing in
And my chest is getting tighter
Cold winds are blowing on
What you left hanging in the air
And your words are getting louder
She said
But my feet just keeps me moving
Trying to break the chain
And I feel like running, and I feel no pain
I feel like running
When I'm lost within my frame
Sharp tongues cut the air
And melt into rain
When it falls on my hand
Is it 'cause I'm gettin' wiser
Far from the ski slope
I feel the earth come running over me
And I feel a little lighter
She said
Sorry but you're never gonna dance again
But my feet just keeps me moving
Trying to break the chain
And I feel like running, and I feel no pain
I feel like running
When I'm lost within my frame
She said
Sorry but you're never gonna dance again
But my feet just keeps me moving
Trying to break the chain
And I feel like running, and I feel no pain
I feel like running
When I'm lost within my frame
The song Break the Chain by Oh Land is a powerful anthem about breaking free from negative patterns and feelings of being stuck. In the first verse, the singer describes feeling trapped and suffocated by her own thoughts and surroundings. She hears echoes of hurtful words and feels the weight of her past experiences bearing down on her. Despite this, she's determined to keep moving and to break the chain that's holding her back. She feels like running away from her problems and escaping her own frame of mind.
The second verse introduces the idea that the singer is growing wiser and more self-aware. She compares the sharp tongues of others to rain, suggesting that their words can be hurtful but also cleansing. She's come a long way from the ski slope, which could be a metaphor for a time or place where she felt lost or stuck. Now, she feels the weight of the earth coming over her, but in a positive way that makes her feel lighter.
Throughout the song, the chorus repeats the message of breaking the chain and running without feeling pain. The singer has been told that she'll never dance again, but she's determined to keep moving anyway. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for living life to the fullest despite setbacks or negativity. As the song ends, the singer repeats the chorus with a sense of empowerment and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold hand surrounds me
I feel trapped and claustrophobic
I feel the walls around me closing in
The world is closing in on me
And my chest is getting tighter
I feel anxiety and stress building up inside me
Cold winds are blowing on
Life is getting harder and harsher
What you left hanging in the air
Unresolved conflicts and issues are still present
And your words are getting louder
The criticism and negativity of others is growing more intense
Sorry but you're never gonna dance again
Someone is telling the artist that she won't succeed or make a comeback
But my feet just keeps me moving
The artist stays motivated and determined to keep going
Trying to break the chain
The artist wants to free herself from whatever is holding her back
And I feel like running, and I feel no pain
The artist has a sense of liberation and relief when moving forward
When I'm lost within my frame
The artist feels trapped or stuck in her current situation
Sharp tongues cut the air
People are being critical or hurtful with their words
And melt into rain
Their negativity has no lasting impact
When it falls on my hand
The artist can't be hurt by the criticism anymore
Is it 'cause I'm gettin' wiser
The artist has gained strength and resilience over time
Far from the ski slope
The artist has moved on from a seemingly glamorous or privileged lifestyle
I feel the earth come running over me
The artist can let go and be grounded in reality
And I feel a little lighter
The artist feels some relief and freedom from her struggles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE MCCRACKEN, NANNA FABRICIUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hannah Curran
This song is so sad! Really lets you know how she felt when she couldnt dance again. Makes me want to cry <3
Kylee Paul
her voice is beautiful, i really appreciate her music :)
Mina
In this song you can hear her dealing with difficult times when she hurt her back and they told her she would not be able to dance again. VIVA Oh Land :)
Susana Vivas Acosta
Sencillo e inspirador (♥) .TODO.
ImCaptivated
Oh Land makes me proud of being Danish.
Jaclyn11495
favorite song from the album
Stacy55ish
Just discovered Oh Land tonight and I'm an instant fan.
Arlette Rodriguez
amazing!
ShaDita Vanbot KSKM
Me recuerda tanto a algo y me hace llorar...
leebeegee
cannot get enough!