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
Lean
Oh Land Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you try to defend me when I was weak
Did you pick me up that lonely night
When the lights died out
And they turned to the gray side
Did you carry me when I was asleep
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
Lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me
Did you lie for me
To keep me safe
Did you bare with me
When I misbehaved
Far from here could you feel my fear
When the lights died out
And they turned to the gray side
Did you lie for me
To keep me safe
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me
Lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me
Lean on me
Water falling down
Frozen on the ground
I'm trying to stop the light
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me
Lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me
Lean on me
The lyrics of Oh Land's song "Lean" reflect on the presence of a supportive person in the singer's life. She starts by questioning if this person, in the past, carried her while she was asleep, defended her when she was weak, and even picked her up when she was feeling lonely. The second verse asks if this person lied to protect her, and if they stood by her during times of bad behavior. The singer then wonders if this support extended despite a physical distance between them, if this person could sense her fear "from far from here."
The chorus brings the focus back to the present, with the realization that it is now the singer's turn to support this person who she sees to be out on a "bottomless sea". She calls for them to "lean" on her, eliciting the sense of the lifting, supporting role that the person they seek to help had for them before.
The image of the "bottomless sea" could be interpreted in several ways - it could symbolize a sense of emotional distance or loneliness, or a sensation of feeling lost in a career or life path, for example. The mention of the "gray side" and the contrast of light and dark could also serve as a metaphor for life's ups and downs, the moments of brightness and moments of darkness that this supportive person helped the singer through in the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lean" highlight the importance of mutual support and gratitude in relationships, embodying the idea of reciprocity and the cycle of giving and receiving help.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you really carry me when I was asleep
Did you truly support me when I was unable to take care of myself?
Did you try to defend me when I was weak
Did you make an effort to protect me when I couldn't protect myself?
Did you pick me up that lonely night
Did you rescue me on that night when I felt all alone and helpless?
When the lights died out
When everything seemed to be falling apart
And they turned to the gray side
And everything became gloomy and depressing
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
Now you face a difficult and uncertain situation
So it's time for you to lean on me
It's time for you to rely on me for support
Did you lie for me
Did you tell a falsehood to protect me from harm?
To keep me safe
In order to ensure my security
Did you bare with me
Did you patiently tolerate my mistakes and imperfections?
When I misbehaved
When I acted badly or irresponsibly
Far from here could you feel my fear
Even when you were far away, could you sense my anxiety and distress?
Water falling down
Tears streaming down my face
Frozen on the ground
Unable to move forward or make progress
I'm trying to stop the light
I'm struggling to avoid or delay the inevitable
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
Now you're in a perilous and unpredictable situation
So it's time for you to lean on me
It's time for you to rely on me for support
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NANNA FABRICIUS, DANIEL CAREY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stardust
Did you really carry me when I was asleep?
Did you try to defend me when I was weak?
Did you pick me up that lonely night
When the lights died out and I turned to the gray side?
Did you carry me when I was asleep?
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Did you lie for me to keep me safe?
Did you bear with me when I misbehaved?
Far from here could you feel my fear
When the lights died out and I turned to the gray side?
Did you lie for me to keep me safe?
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Words are falling down
Frozen on the ground
I'm trying to stop the light
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
thuy duong vuong
her voice is unreal, flawless like an instrument. and she release the depth of emotion in such playful and casual way.
Matheus Macedo
I'm writing a story, at the epic end when everything is falling apart I'm playing this song and replaying it, helps to write, to get the right mood. So glad I found this.
Stardust
Did you really carry me when I was asleep?
Did you try to defend me when I was weak?
Did you pick me up that lonely night
When the lights died out and I turned to the gray side?
Did you carry me when I was asleep?
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Did you lie for me to keep me safe?
Did you bear with me when I misbehaved?
Far from here could you feel my fear
When the lights died out and I turned to the gray side?
Did you lie for me to keep me safe?
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Words are falling down
Frozen on the ground
I'm trying to stop the light
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
Now you're out on the bottomless sea
So it's time for you to lean on me, lean on me
PianoRel
I need this on spotify please! 🙏 (I'm like 6 years late lmao)
Ami K.
2 years later I tried to find this on Spotify because I thought this was the original song when I was younger. Now I’m back here
Kahnju
This album was and is still utter perfection. Every song is so good, and as the list plays on, it just gets better and better. It's an injustice it never got the recognition it deserved.
Ron Marshall
This is one of the freshest new artist that has come along for awhile now, looks like we're in for a great ride. Support this artist, get out there and see her if she come's to your town and enjoy some live music.
bianca2blue
I cried listening to her voice singing along with the violins! Its so beautiful. Words can't express!
laura29mama
Im so happy she is finally getting more attention, Oh Land is an amazing talent, this performance takes my breathe away....
Sweet Robyn
I can't believe it's been over 7 years since this version was uploaded! I still prefer listening to this live version. Such a stunning performance by everyone! <3