Sister
Olsen Angel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Saw it in her eyes
Oh, it wasn't what she said
She came together like a dream
That I didn't know I had
From the sleeping life I lead
All the colors I have seen
I can't help but recognize
The brighter one in front of me

Oh, the truth I thought I learned
And then it finally came along
Turned around and then it's there
All the love I thought was gone

I want to know you
I want to show you
I want to be there
I want to see her
Piece us together
Know it's forever
Show me the future
Tell me you'll be there
I want to go where
Nobody knows fear
I want to follow
My heart down that wild road

Everywhere I go
I can see your face
Alive and gone at once
Hey, that's the way I see this place
And all this blessing was a curse
Before I opened up my heart
You learn to take it as it comes
You fall together, fall apart

I want to know you
I want to show you
I want to be there
I want to see her
Live it through your eyes
Piece us together
Know that this wild road
Will go on forever
I want to live life
I want to die right

Next to you
Next to you
Next to you

All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change

(All my life I thought I'd change)
(All my life I thought I'd change)

All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change

All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change

All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change

All my life I thought I'd change
All my life I thought I'd change

Overall Meaning

In "Sister," Olsen Angel sings about a deep connection with someone that feels almost too good to be true. The singer explains that they saw something in this person's eyes that they couldn't quite put into words, and that being with them feels like living a dream they never knew they had. The singer is grateful for this person's presence in their life because it has brought a new sense of color and truth to everything they experience. They also express a desire to know this person on an even deeper level, and to live life to the fullest with them by their side.

The chorus repeats the singer's desire to be close to this person, to follow them down a "wild road" where there is no fear or uncertainty. They long to see the world through their eyes and to experience all of life's ups and downs together. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer has been searching for this kind of connection their whole life, and that being with this person has shown them that they don't need to change themselves to be happy.

Overall, "Sister" is a love song that speaks to the universal desire for deep connection and understanding. The lyrics are open-ended enough that listeners can apply their own experiences to the song, but Olsen Angel's performance is so emotional and genuine that it's hard not to be moved by it.

Line by Line Meaning

Saw it in her eyes
I could sense something from her that she never verbalized

Oh, it wasn't what she said
She didn't explicitly say it, but I understood what she meant

She came together like a dream
Meeting her felt like a surreal experience

That I didn't know I had
I didn't realize I had this dream until I met her

From the sleeping life I lead
I was living a monotonous life before she came along

All the colors I have seen
All the experiences I've had in the past

I can't help but recognize
I immediately noticed

The brighter one in front of me
How much more vibrant and alive she was compared to my current life

Oh, the truth I thought I learned
I thought I had it all figured out before I met her

And then it finally came along
When I met her, everything changed

Turned around and then it's there
It was a complete turnaround that happened suddenly

All the love I thought was gone
I didn't think I was capable of feeling that type of love again

I want to know you
I want to truly understand you

I want to show you
I want to share my world with you

I want to be there
I want to always be there for you

I want to see her
I want to witness her and her experiences

Piece us together
Let's build a life together

Know it's forever
I want our love and commitment to each other to be forever

Show me the future
Let's imagine and plan our future together

Tell me you'll be there
I need to know that you'll always be by my side

I want to go where
I want us to explore new experiences together

Nobody knows fear
I want us to be fearless together

I want to follow
I want to join you and follow wherever you lead

My heart down that wild road
I want to take a risk and follow my heart with you

Everywhere I go
Even when I'm away from you

I can see your face
I see you in everything around me

Alive and gone at once
I feel both your presence and absence at the same time

Hey, that's the way I see this place
That's how I view the world now - through the lens of our relationship

And all this blessing was a curse
All the positive changes that have come from our relationship have been difficult to manage

Before I opened up my heart
Before I allowed myself to be vulnerable

You learn to take it as it comes
You need to be able to handle changes and challenges as they come

You fall together, fall apart
We will experience ups and downs, but we are in it together

I want to live life
I want to experience life to the fullest

I want to die right
I want to die peacefully, knowing that I lived a full and happy life with you

Next to you
By your side, always

All my life I thought I'd change
I used to believe that I could change myself and my outcomes

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ANGEL OLSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@SiretEster

8y↑267

I saw it in her eyes
All it wasn't what she said
She came together like a dream
That I didn't know I had
From the sleeping life I lead
All the colours I've seen
I can't help but recognize
The brighter one in front of me
Oh the truth I thought I learned
And then it finally came along
Turned around and then it's there
All the love I thought was gone

I want to know you
I want to show you
I want to be there
I want to see her
Piece us together
Know it's forever
Show me the future
Tell me you'll be there
I want to go where
Nobody knows fear
I want to follow
My heart down that wild road
Everywhere I go
I can see your face
Alive and gone at once
Hey, it's the way I see this place
And though this blessing was a curse
Before I opened up my heart
You learn to take it as it comes
You fall together, fall apart

I want to know you
I want to show you
I want to be there
I want to see her
Live it through your eyes
Piece us together
Know that this wild road
Will go on forever
I want to live life
I want to die right

Next to you

All my life I thought I'd change

All comments from YouTube:

@jamesondrinker

4y↑183

“All my life I thought I’d change” hits so hard like- I know sis.

@sks4hpd

7y↑447

"All my life I thought I'd change".. its such a pleasure to listen to this song

@elaborator

5y↑9

a lil Fleetwoodmaction!

@danis7070

3y↑195

I love how she just totally describes my experience of realising that I was in love with a woman so effortlessly and accurately

@tracyjohnson9198

2y↑3

Yes. Such pain and pleasure knowing I was in love with my friend. But alas.....

@taunicheree

32w↑1

So its not about... a sister...? lol

@russelllamb7549

6y↑69

I will always support Angel. She is proof that we have contemporary artists fit to become legends. Woman of my heart!

@yasservayani7269

3y↑59

I spent the whole of Sunday, 15th November 2020 listening to Angel Olsen... its was a great day!

@Demitrival

I love that!

@f.ence.

8y↑191

If someone told me I could only listen to one song for the rest of my life, I think it'd be this one.

@denverpotts3928

4y↑4

what about heart shaped face

@dominicaaaaa5547

So many great songs on the album I think

@breehaskell45

2y↑31

This is honestly just one of the best songs ever written "All this blessing was a curse, before I opened up my heart"

@jj80808

14w↑1

Agreed!

@gracecamaxtli7090

6y↑62

It's really a mystery how anyone could break this girl's heart

@AdamSpade

It was me.

@tas6029

7y↑10

Probably one of the best songs ever written

@cooper712

7y↑109

The part where she just lets loose on the guitar is absolute bliss

@dominicaaaaa5547

Hmm I was wondering if she played guitar on this one checked Wikipedia and it says vocals but nothing about guitar ..but then no other musicians are listed there at all so maybe she plays everything?

@dominicaaaaa5547

2y↑2

10 out of 10 song though and I hardly rate anything a 10

@elle6022

2y↑1

@@dominicaaaaa5547 she might play everything and as cool as that sounds i know that she has a band that she works with when she's recording music so it could also be ppl from her band😊

@dominicaaaaa5547

2y↑1

@@elle6022 👽 well sounds great either way

@honeyglisten

3y↑93

After she came out as gay I really have a different feeling listening to this. It's like she was really torn between the two. Especially with the line "all my life I thought I'd change" 😭 makes me more emotional ❤️

@Mark.mp3

3y↑5

I never thought about it that way. The lyrics of this song perfectly describe the feeling of being queer 😔💛

@cecilia1171

2y↑6

WHAT???? SHE IS WHAT??? you are going to gime me the best news of my life if she is

@honeyglisten

2y↑7

@@cecilia1171 she is!! She posted about it on her Insta. Her partner uses they/them pronouns ☺️

@cecilia1171

2y↑11

@@honeyglisten I.started crying. As a lesbian woman who has been listening to her music for 2 years now this is something that makes me so happy to know.

@ilovemydog2299

7y↑144

I love how watching her music videos feels like you're viewing a very intimate part of her soul. Her emotions are raw and you glimpse a bit of her personality and it's addicting

@SiretEster

8y↑267

@voonta8599

2y↑2

💙

@maryjanestarr7900

14w

I love it to hits.

@yaolin6014

3y↑16

My favorite song from Angel Olsen and how lucky am I that this song is 8 minutes

@BTVS666

7y↑27

Somebody please help me. I just can't stop listening to this song over and over again.

@albertsosa4333

5y↑74

I’m convinced Angel Olsen is the reincarnation of a Goddess who graces the world with her voice and presence.

@ChristianAllen904

We rly need to protecc her at all costs

@bretthernan7589

2y↑5

I hope Angel Olsen decides to act in films one day.

@tristessa119

5y↑38

How do I live in a world where not every human knows she’s already iconic

@nikkilewisceramics8875

3y↑26

Transformative song, tears falling out of eyes on the last half. Im on this journey with you Ms Olsen.

@TKillDomLuizCataleya

3y↑7

cant tell u how many times ive watched this.............. everytime it males emotional...............her power..

@wildmercuryfilms

3y↑3

females emotional

@ramzi60jbr

7y↑237

Damn this song nudged me from casual to committed fan. Buying this album. With money.

@brrnay

5y↑9

as opposed to chewed gum and number two pencils?

@knitchywa

💘

@mcblahflooper94

5y↑383

This song has a very strange... nervous calmness to it. Like someone calming themselves down after an emotional breakdown.

@JackieJustice

4y↑12

That was explained perfectly

@thatsockwrd8285

4y↑6

Spot on.

@Justbecause568

4y↑6

Great analysis

@lepracaunmckelvey486

4y↑1

RIP "Sister"(Pattie Wren...

@tombeeducamion

@@JackieJustice p

2 More Replies...

@thestoneyside

8y↑150

This may be Angel's best album yet and that is saying something. I can't wait.

@sleepyhead3432

8y↑2

it is

@TheKevlar4

8y↑13

It is. It's amazing. One of the best albums of the year.

@lovelyrita2789

8y↑3

check out Globelamp - The Orange Glow

@FelipeGomes-gl1nd

8y↑3

I've heart it. It is good, some tracks stand out. But IMO it isn't the best one

@tomroberts5805

8y↑2

That is of course purely opinion! My personal favourite will always be halfway home

2 More Replies...

@jetskihernia

8y↑33

The progression of this song is amazing. You've done it again, Angel.

@bernardusmuller1109

3y↑17

I think the meaning of the song is that you must be happy with who you are now, you are going to change but you are also perfect now at this moment.

@vellitaful

3y↑4

Amazing point of view, you're absolutely right. Sometimes you live your life fighting your own, trying to be somebody else...

@Pr0bablyVic

14w↑2

Something so deeply resonates with every unbound sincere emotion in this heartbreakingly beautiful song, in its most fragile, most vulnerable moment it can be just as crushingly painful as much as almost spiritually liberating.
Although late to discovering the sheer magic of, Angel Olson, everything by her I've heard shimmers with glittering hope, as much scalds with such shattering, personable pain.
Sister, a song that has and can have endless interpretations, to me, is the perfect ode to that harrowing silence between those ever effacing moments of unfiltered, raw realization of where lies truly your reason to live, what/who you can really never stop craving for.... As time goes on, as you learn to act mature, and life grinds you down, it's just those few fleeting effacive moments you fill up on some will to live when you look without holding back at what/who you're running away from. Even for the briefest time, it makes everything worth suffering for, every price worth paying..
On every consecutive listen, something more or different emerges from getting submerged in the poignant landscape of this sublime artistic work, wrapped in its many emotional layers are experiences that feel so real whether lived or not... :)

@brajandzoganovic8565

7y↑50

I missed this kind of music in 2016. That guitar solo restored my faith in music.

@am_pm.17

1y↑1

This kind of music became quite widespread in 2016, and since then it's grown further. Lovely stuff.

@brajandzoganovic8565

This song came to be my song of the decade. The crescendoing instrumental, the final release with the above mentioned solo peaks as the lyrical momentum is built upon self realisations. Thank you Angel Olsen for creating this masterpiece.

@hestonblumenthal4263

8y↑8

Her smile at the end makes me so happy

@stevelogan895

8y↑91

I've had her new album on high rotation for the last two weeks, and the vibe reminds me of The Velvet Underground - Mazzy Star - and even Fleetwood Mac!. There's even some dream pop on it - got to say my fav album of this year. So depressed about David Bowie dying, and along comes Angel to heal. Love the way it's in two halves - with the more restrained music at the end, an old Bowie trick.

@widM_

7y↑2

you pretty much summed up all my thoughts.

@aka0709

16w

I'll take that :)

@daniterrykelly

3y↑4

This so Fleetwood Mac! I love it x

@jonathanlee8930

1y↑5

I had an out of body experience when she and the Big Time Band performed this in Durham on Saturday, especially during the guitar solo towards the end. These are the sort of musical experiences I live for.

@unreciever_

8y↑30

her voice is so unique and pretty

@tylercarlson4571

1y↑1

dang it I wish this beautiful human being knew how much her fans loved her

@clairecherie5656

5y↑8

this is what heartbreak sounds like and I can’t stop

@mikebuchanan8647

8y↑60

The bass line on this has a very Fleetwood Mac - Dreams vibe. I wonder if this song was partially borne from her Dreams cover?

@cmerenuge

yeah, i can see what you mean

@lindsayjee

I thought the exact same thing!

@insomnia5173

37w↑2

This is such a great and beautiful song💕🌙💋

@gwakon

3y↑10

LOVE THAT LAURA PALMER SMILE.

@derekamos3725

7y↑51

the first three mins im thinking mmm ok this is nice. then somewhere between 3:00-4:00 she takes it somewhere heavenly. she transforms the nice into the gorgeous.

@obiwon9

Moi Aussi!!!

@AS-ov4fh

2y↑2

So I’m a huge Hendrix, Rush, Band Maid, Heart fan. Your music is really beautiful. Your voice has some really deep soul. I just checked my Ticketmaster app and I don’t see you coming to the DC area. Please do…you are extremely beautiful and I would love to just hear your voice for a few hours live. Thank you

@salemkitschtrials791

5y↑7

i cant hear this song without crying

@leahcotton5315

8y↑13

This song is magical.

@alev8527

4y↑6

She is so beautiful and talented.

@mellingmichael777

8y↑334

Judas priest, my lucky day! Here I am an old geezer sitting in a Starbucks in Reno and wondering who the gorgeous voice belongs to and so I asked someone and he held up his walking phone and I got the name and now get to watch her videos! (I'll have to now stop going around saying today's music is garbage, btw.)

@acolor83

5y↑4

I also discovered Angel Olsen at Starbucks,! Changed my life forever! <3

@ericsteven91

5y↑9

From one old soul to another, listen to Pain by The War on Drugs. They will really make you believe that today's music has potential.

@1985cactus

4y↑24

Walking phone

@susiegomez4102

4y↑1

That makes 2 of us.
It's 2020 and just heard this beautiful song on the radio.
I went to the playlist and found out who the artist was.
Truly a beautiful song.
Love the video as well.

@eventtrading

4y↑2

Angel's an angel.

5 More Replies...

@liaa1878

4y↑2

It's a sad night but now it's a beautiful sad night

@modarXmodar

8y↑132

This song is brilliant!!!!!!!! !! I'm obsessed with "Intern" and this one seems to be my next obsession :)

@f.ence.

8y↑3

You'll move onto "Woman" soon, or at least I did.

@danielsaredi

Same

@mintynovember8458

7y↑4

'Not gonna kill you', that's the one. Nothing else comes close to that.

@modarXmodar

7y↑6

I love the whole album, I listened to it more than any other album this year

@polarbearfelly

7y↑1

Intern is such a mesmeric song!

@youlostmeatsfork

7y↑6

If it moves you to tears, you know its something special. LOVE HER

@dinastiachowfan1401

7y↑8

THE MVP OF 2016: Angel Olsen.

@XDduffy

6y↑12

Thanks to Angel and God for this 8:41 minutes of eargasms.

@SpreadingMySeed

7y↑42

I love how in all her videos Angel laughs at some point when having to act morose or fixed in thought

@ericn1450

4y↑3

I agree, it really humanizes her. She is pretty charismatic as it is though.

@picturepicture6990

4y↑3

heart-wrenching, mortal, mournful

@taniyagupta8649

3y↑4

It is a crime to dislike this song and video. How can anyone dislike it?

@Heisenberg_0721

22w↑4

This music never disappoints me. I've been listening to music for 3 hours, and I chose you to finish my session. The progression of this music is just a piece of art. And the ending, 6:01 , literally gives me goosebumps. From head to toes.
You are a F* beast! 👏🏻

@MrMonikerjay

8y↑5

Finally some good music from a real artist.

@longislandteam

2y↑8

This is such a beautiful song, audibly and emotionally, thank you.

@jackthomas8361

8y↑1

This might be the best yet

@katiemckay

4y↑22

Her voice reminds me of Hope Sandoval in this song 💜

@lalareal180

nope

@guillermotell5641

Nada que ver en mi opinión

@CikisHelyzet

3y↑1

A little yes... the style maybe

@danielcallaghan3029

3y↑2

The smile

@aquaria182

3y↑185

SHE CAME OUT AS GAY OMFG she's got a point, she is a legend and she is the moment, come awn now

@mercileon278

3y↑14

so proud of her!!!

@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat

2y↑3

Quite an accomplishment.

@babumo-xp4yl

1y↑1

Sjsceer

@ronrice4727

1y↑1

Yes

@lisacolbert5987

51w

As a homo myself, when I learned of it, I SO hoped it was just a phase she was getting out of her system. I’d give my left tit to be straight.

4 More Replies...

@7modau

5y↑15

I cry to this song. every night

@9errante771

4y↑2

🖤

@bulibilbuli

3y↑2

All my life I thought I’d change. Damn it.

@olivianaab6363

8y↑2

I really love that you included the two guys who were like "are you shooting a music video???"

@hazirahhamzah1556

6y↑18

Truly a masterpiece...im crying

@danielsaredi

7y↑14

Not only is the song and lyrics pure pefection,.. the movie maker simply is on another level!!! Great DoF, cuts and a amazing sense for detail!!
I salute you and hope you are doing well!! <3

@brianmunson4828

5y↑18

Sometimes I smile back at her when she's climbing out of the pool

@joshliam1967

5y↑3

One of the best songwriters in the world right now.

@laismduarte

3y↑6

Arrepiei aqui

@shanehollingsworth2722

7y↑67

I'm not crying, YOU'RE CRYING 😢😢

@1gaia

4y↑1

You're right. I am crying.

@june3192

3y↑1

Yeah I am

@siddappasalira5059

@caerulea0

8y↑10

beautiful, creative and inspiring

@ndg43

7y↑2

There is something so special about Angel. Can't wait to see her in Montreal in Dec!

@johnnybarber3893

3y↑4

So beautiful

@morris676

4y↑3

very beautiful song .....don't cry because you are fantastic Angel..merci for your pretty voice!

@HOLLAHfoDOLLAH

8y↑37

Gotta love smoggy Los Angeles.

@urchocolatecake3025

4y↑3

She’s absolutely gorgeous

@flyingchic3n

3y↑1

I really hope this summer is a good one

@NemeSys192

7y↑8

The most intense 8 minutes of my day. such a brilliant music and video!

@eddress2

8y↑31

i love this! i need the album already

@alvareo92

8y↑1

it leaked like two weeks ago. it's amazing

@eddress2

alvareo92 do you have a link?? i need it!

@alvareo92

Eduardo Arroyo look for it on your favourite torrent site (it's on TPB for one!)

@hestonblumenthal4263

8y↑13

I hope you will still buy the album. She deserves that much at least instead of pirating her music

@Dangermoose-rv6bb

Oi Heston, it might be ok for you baldy but some of us cant afford to pay for music and pay for fancy 3-figure tasting menus too, mate.

2 More Replies...

@jonwakeman888

7y↑1

How lovely. Soul of Roy Orbison vision of O'Keefe, voice of an......Angel.

@Melechkibitzer

3y↑4

angel is so awesome

@isabellaatholwood2924

5y↑4

why do i always end up crying listening to angel olsen, damn

@evanwilliams4302

6y↑3

This is Angel Olsen's Stairway to Heaven.

@johnnybarber3893

3y↑3

I lost my little sister 6 weeks ago it's the hardest thing I have ever known it kill me In side broken 💔 I just want to see her face

@iwashere368

2y↑1

this music video is simply too good

@jamoralp

6y↑4

This just has to be easily her best song. So many emotions here... always makes me cry <3

@VictorMilane

8y↑2

this is beautiful

@juliapartlow8615

5y↑3

This song is still perfect

@fifeco

5y↑2

This is simply one of the greatest things in music of the past 10 years.

@manueladallan3735

6y↑4

I swear I come back to watch this way too much.

@pentamommy

4y↑5

I love this song. Everything about it is so beautiful

@Otto-Webb

3y↑1

I love your shoes. I already noticed that you have a particular take on the shoes on the tiny desk concert, shoes, wow.

@iguessimryan

8y↑338

So much Stevie Nicks vibes mannnnnnnn !!!!

@DottyDiggler

8y↑9

no doubt. her voice has changed since Burn your Fire

@iguessimryan

8y↑1

Certainly

@literaticrux8292

8y↑3

saw her in philly 2 nights ago (and met her!). Said the same thing to one of my friends, that there is a fleetwood mac vibe afloat. She and the band were so on point!

@SteveAnthonyart

OMG

@zbyszekfilipiak6599

7y↑1

I thought exactly the same.

12 More Replies...

@FukaLata

7y↑6

Simply a gem.

@pukakeneki905

5y↑4

This song will forever hold a special place in my heart as I was listening to this during my short stay in South Africa,

@farragutspikes1

8y↑4

She's amazing. Wow. Can't wait for this record to drop.

@CatarinaT

8y↑92

love you

@TheTrisonik

8y↑5

RUA sub human who asks these questions?

@CatarinaT

8y↑7

Just have a strong jawline but thanks!

@TheTrisonik

8y↑10

apparently the douche deleted his comment to make me look like a douche bag

@urbium

What did he say?

@benware8031

3y↑3

This is superb

@emilianovillanueva6791

6y↑2

My God! I already thought this movie was beautiful without watching the video, but now I think it is just perfect. The photography is so neutral to look at and Angel makes this video great every time she appears on screen

@knute70

4y↑1

Some of the best music is coming from this artist...now and then.

@emilierose619

6y↑7

can't get enough of this sound

@MrJmanjj

8y↑41

My favorite album of 2016 so far!.... Even better than A moon shaped pool!

@narizota

8y↑1

ughhhhh u right....

@keonsohn

7y↑9

Haven't heard this album, but AMSP was the best album I've heard in like 2 years. Biased cuz I'm a Radiohead fan, but still.

@MrJmanjj

7y↑2

Same, I'm a big radiohead fan!

@big120treez

5y↑21

💜 Self Actualization 💜
I struggled to put into words what these lyrics meant to me then I pulled them up on Lyrics Genius and the description it starts off with is a perfect narrative for a large part of my life. The more I get to know myself the more I wish I had shown the world more of me, more often, because I Fn rock. 😎😉💜💋 Love how music and writing creates this outlet.
Be You & Love You!

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