The album is as eclectic as Oren’s home bases of Tel Aviv, Israel (where he was born), Berlin Germany (where he recorded the album), and Los Angeles, CA (the home of his new label). It was released in Europe and immediately garnered great press with Uncut raving in a four-star review that the album is “cinematic and mellow, like Nick Drake in a cheerful summer bonnet…”
Many people in the US will be familiar with Oren’s music as his album track ‘Her Morning Elegance’ was featured in a national ad campaign for Chevy Malibu. He also wrote the end credit “A Dance ‘Round the Memory Tree” for the film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian joining Regina Spektor and Hanne Hukkelberg on the soundtrack.
Born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Oren began his creative journey as a playwright. At the age of 21 he wrote and directed a play for the Israeli Fringe Theater Festival, which won the awards for best newcomer writer and director. He later moved to London on a scholarship to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. While still at school he wrote a play he later directed in an Off West-end theater to critical acclaim. The production was named by Time-Out London as one of the best 5 shows in London during its run. Oren moved to NY where he gradually began to shift his focus from playwriting to a shorter form of storytelling, the song. Two years later he relocated to Berlin and began work on The Opposite Side of The Sea.
In 2007 the album was released in Europe, then found its way to the KCRW playlist in LA. Shortly after that the album track ‘Her Morning Elegance’ was synched to a Chevrolet Malibu TV campaign. Oren, who does not own a television and has not driven a car for 10 years, continues to ride the bus. With the earnings from the TV ad he started his own label in the US, named it, then renamed it, changed it again and finally decided to call it Quarter Past Wonderful. He then released The Opposite Side Of The Sea on iTunes US, where it climbed to #30 on the charts.
Oren Lavie's music doesn't come right at you through the front door; its elliptical nature is mysterious and dense and remains slightly unresolved. His vignettes of life are heartbreaking. One can hear his playwright past in his narratives as his songs unfold like a collection of short stories in musical poetic form.
http://www.orenlavie.com/
4th Time Around
Oren Lavie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Don't waste your words, they're just lies,"
I cried she was deaf.
And she worked on my face until breaking my eyes,
Then said, "What else you got left?"
It was then that I got up to leave
But she said, "Don't forget,
Everybody must give something back
I stood there and hummed,
I tapped on her drum and asked her how come.
And she buttoned her boot,
And straightened her suit,
Then she said, "Don't get cute."
So I forced my hands in my pockets
And felt with my thumbs,
And gallantly handed her
My very last piece of gum.
She threw me outside,
I stood in the dirt where ev'ryone walked.
And after finding I'd
Forgotten my shirt,
I went back and knocked.
I waited in the hallway, she went to get it,
And I tried to make sense
Out of that picture of you in your wheelchair
That leaned up against
Her Jamaican rum
And when she did come, I asked her for some.
She said, "No, dear."
I said, "Your words aren't clear,
You'd better spit out your gum."
She screamed till her face got so red
Then she fell on the floor,
And I covered her up and then
Thought I'd go look through her drawer.
And, when I was through
I filled up my shoe
And brought it to you.
And you, you took me in,
You loved me then
You didn't waste time.
And I, I never took much,
I never asked for your crutch.
Now don't ask for mine.
The song "4th Time Around" by Oren Lavie tells a story of a man who had a rough encounter with a woman, who he perceives as manipulative and controlling. The lyrics suggest that the woman creates a situation where the man is humiliated, made to feel small and insignificant, and that she then demands something from him as payment for the experience. The man tries to reason with the woman, but she is unrelenting and instead throws him out of her house, causing him to feel shameful and embarrassed.
Throughout the song, the man seems to be searching for a sense of identity or purpose, as evidenced by his attempts to communicate with the woman by tapping on her drum or handing her a piece of gum. However, these efforts are met with disdain and rejection, and he ultimately finds more solace in the memories of someone who loved him unconditionally. The line "you loved me then, you didn't waste time" suggests that this other person was able to see the man's worth and value without needing him to prove it or make up for any perceived shortcomings.
The song's lyrics can be interpreted in various ways, such as reflecting on power dynamics in relationships, the struggle to find a sense of self-worth, or the search for meaning in life. The use of vivid imagery and metaphors throughout the song helps to create a sense of surrealism and ambiguity, allowing listeners to find their own meanings and interpretations.
Line by Line Meaning
When she said,
"Don't waste your words, they're just lies,"
I cried she was deaf.
When she dismissed his words and called them lies, he felt like she wasn't listening to him and he was ignored.
And she worked on my face until breaking my eyes,
Then said, "What else you got left?"
She had beaten him so badly that he was helpless and his eyes were swollen shut. She was asking if he had anything else to fight back with.
It was then that I got up to leave
But she said, "Don't forget,
Everybody must give something back
For something they get."
He decided to leave, but she reminded him that everyone has to give something in exchange for what they receive.
I stood there and hummed,
I tapped on her drum and asked her how come.
He stood there nervously and drummed his fingers, asking her why she treated him so badly.
And she buttoned her boot,
And straightened her suit,
Then she said, "Don't get cute."
She rearranged her clothing and warned him not to get smart or cute with her.
So I forced my hands in my pockets
And felt with my thumbs,
And gallantly handed her
My very last piece of gum.
In a desperate attempt to please her, he searched his pockets and offered her his last piece of gum.
She threw me outside,
I stood in the dirt where ev'ryone walked.
She threw him out and he was left standing in the dirty street, surrounded by people.
And after finding I'd
Forgotten my shirt,
I went back and knocked.
Realizing he had forgotten his shirt, he went back to her doorstep and knocked.
I waited in the hallway, she went to get it,
And I tried to make sense
Out of that picture of you in your wheelchair
That leaned up against
He waited in the hallway while she went to get his shirt, and noticed a photograph of someone in a wheelchair that confused him.
Her Jamaican rum
And when she did come, I asked her for some.
He saw her bottle of rum and asked for a drink when she returned.
She said, "No, dear."
I said, "Your words aren't clear,
You'd better spit out your gum."
She denied his request, and he accused her of not speaking clearly because of her gum.
She screamed till her face got so red
Then she fell on the floor,
And I covered her up and then
Thought I'd go look through her drawer.
She became extremely angry and fell to the ground, so he covered her with a blanket and went to search through her things.
And, when I was through
I filled up my shoe
And brought it to you.
After searching through her things, he found something valuable to give to the person he loves.
And you, you took me in,
You loved me then
You didn't waste time.
The person he loves accepted him and loved him right away without wasting any time.
And I, I never took much,
I never asked for your crutch.
Now don't ask for mine.
He never demanded much from the person he loves, and he expects the same in return.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
arya mar'at
Holy cow you guys are good! Excelsior!
teigis
I guess if Radiohead can borrow from Dylan for the title of Subterranean Homesick Alien, then these guys can borrow from Radiohead's arrangement and vibe of that song to make this Dylan cover. Nice version.
bdylanfan90
The music sounds like the Beatles Norwegian Wood
Tom Campbell
Yes, the Beatles were influenced by Dylan.