Swedish singersongwriterpr… Read Full Bio ↴Lo-fi songwriterstuff for troubled times.
Swedish singersongwriterproject On The Cinnamon is on a lifelong journey, on a neverending urge to draft new bandmembers from around the world.
Beautiful, bright and low-voiced, On The Cinnamon songs will stand right in there on the shelf beside Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, Ane Brun and José Gonzalez.
Lo-fi singer-songwriting at it's most useful.
SAY SOMETHING
On The Cinnamon Lyrics
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I don't know where you're from
Say something
So I can tell where you belong
Don't hide
Like I do
Everywhere you turn
There are people hiding just like you
But we do
We do
Far away
You've been far away but now you've come home
Fade away
Memories fade but some things
They stay true
Like me and you
Some things they stay true
Like me and you
We walked a thousand miles
We came through
We came through
Doors
Everywhere I turn there seems to be these
Doors
Once they were open but now they seem so closed
And you smile
I don't know why you smile
But you do
You smile and the whole world
Smiles at you
At you
The song "Say Something" by On The Cinnamon is about the elusive nature of identity and the fact that sometimes, despite our best efforts to hide ourselves from others, there are those who can still see us for who we truly are. The song is addressed to a person named Sofia, who the singer does not know where she comes from. He implores her to "say something" so that he can tell where she belongs. The singer then admits to his own tendency to hide from the world, but notes that wherever we turn, there are others who are also hiding. However, the hope of remaining unseen is ultimately futile as people are good at spotting those who are hiding.
The image of distance and travel is also present throughout the song, suggesting that the idea of identity and belonging is linked to context, time, and memory. The line "Far away, you've been far away but now you've come home" suggests that Sofia has traveled a long time and far, but now she has come back to a place where she belongs. The repetition of the phrase "We came through" at the end of each verse also reinforces the idea of journey and perseverance, indicating that identity is not just something that is given, but something that is earned through experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Sofia
Addressing someone named Sofia
I don't know where you're from
Expressing confusion about Sofia's origin
Say something
Encouraging Sofia to speak or reveal something about herself
So I can tell where you belong
Explaining the reason for wanting Sofia to speak
Don't hide
Advising Sofia not to conceal anything
Like I do
Admitting to one's own habit of hiding things
Everywhere you turn
Highlighting how common the tendency to hide is
There are people hiding just like you
Noting that others have the same habit of hiding things
Hope that no one will see them
Explaining why people hide things
But we do
Acknowledging that the habit of hiding things does not always succeed
We do
Reiterating the above point
Far away
Referring to a distant place or time
You've been far away but now you've come home
Referencing someone's return from a distant place or time
Fade away
Referring to memories that disappear over time
Memories fade but some things They stay true
Acknowledging that not everything fades with memory
Like me and you
Claiming that the connection between the artist and Sofia remains true despite the passage of time
Some things they stay true
Reiterating the above point
Like me and you
Reiterating the claim about the connection between the singer and Sofia
We walked a thousand miles
Referencing a shared history between the singer and Sofia
We came through
Claiming that the artist and Sofia overcame challenges together
Doors
Referring to obstacles or challenges
Everywhere I turn there seems to be these Doors
Highlighting the ubiquity of challenges in life
Once they were open but now they seem so closed
Expressing a sense of defeat or discouragement
And you smile
Noticing Sofia's smile
I don't know why you smile
Expressing confusion about the reason for Sofia's smile
But you do
Acknowledging that the smile is genuine regardless of its reason
You smile and the whole world Smiles at you
Observing the positive impact of a genuine smile
At you
Clarifying the target of the phenomenon in the previous line
Contributed by Nolan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.