Peter Broderick (b. 20 Jan 1987 in Portland, Oregon) is a US musician and c… Read Full Bio ↴Peter Broderick (b. 20 Jan 1987 in Portland, Oregon) is a US musician and composer. He has been a member of Efterklang. He played and/or toured with several ensembles including Horse Feathers, M. Ward, She & Him, Norfolk & Western and Laura Gibson. His solo work is quite varied, but is often grounded by piano and/or strings.

Broderick he grew up in a small town of Carlton, near Portland, Oregon. Coming from a musical family, he started violin lessons at age 7, and in high school became interested in all different kinds of instruments. He started to play piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, musical saw, and anything else he could find. After high school he moved to Portland, OR, where he studied music theory and filmmaking. During this time he began to play in multiple bands around town, and was able to establish himself as a regular session musician at various recording studios for artists like M. Ward.

In late 2007 he was miraculously invited by some of his musical heroes, the Danish band Efterklang, to move to Copenhagen and join the live band. So he did, and since then he has toured with the band all around the world, playing hundreds of concerts, and opening many of them as a solo act.

Since this move he has released several solo recordings as well. Starting with a few primarily instrumental, piano-based releases in 2007, then branching out into a completely different world with the more folky ‘Home’ in late 2008, which has all but established Broderick as the young composer to watch – with critical acclaim from music magazines (NME/Mojo/Uncut) and broadsheet press alike. ‘A precociously talented, classically trained multi-instrumentalist’ – The Independent / ‘A songwriter of beguiling depth' #19 Album of 2008 – The Sunday Times

2009 saw his first major release, ‘Music for Falling From Trees’, a 30-minute piece, in seven sections, created for a contemporary dance by London-based choreographer Adrienne Hart (Neon Productions). Adrienne was looking for a score of piano and strings, so he left the guitar and his voice aside and focused entirely on those two timbres. ‘I decided to take this literally and make a rule not to use any other instrument. In the script it called for the sound of a ticking clock. I made this sound by tapping on the body of the violin with my fingernails.’ The dance tells the story of a man in a psychiatric hospital, and his struggle to maintain his identity. The music is sometimes melancholic, sometimes playful, sometimes chaotic, but with the combination of piano and strings, full of beauty, reverence and awe. The dance premièred at The Place, London, on January 21st, 2009.

His album "‘These Walls of Mine" was released in 2012.

Colours of the Night
Peter Broderick Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

all colours of the night turn every darkness into light

how could i call anything a stone
and why would i believe that we can ever be alone
how are you even here, tell me how'd i steal your ears
was it pain, was it fun, was it something i have yet to perceive

all colours of the night turn every darkness into light

i may have met god in a dream several times, but always in a dark room
no words, no sound except the breath of something greater than me
and if i ever woke i turned the story to song or a joke
did i listen for a heart, did i embrace any soul

all colours of the night turn every darkness into light

Overall Meaning

In this song, Peter Broderick reflects on the beauty and power of darkness. He begins by questioning the idea of permanence, asking how he could call anything a stone when everything is in a state of constant change. He also rejects the notion of loneliness, stating that it's impossible for anyone to be truly alone. He wonders how he could have stolen someone's ears, suggesting that he's open to learning from others and listening to their experiences. He acknowledges that life can be both painful and fun, and there are always new things for him to learn and understand.

Next, Broderick describes meeting God in a dream multiple times, but always in a dark room. He emphasizes the silence and unknown nature of these experiences, highlighting the idea that there are forces greater than us at work. When he wakes up, he turns these experiences into stories, songs or jokes, implying that creativity and expression are important ways to make sense of the world. He questions whether he's ever truly connected with other people or embraced their souls, hinting at the idea that spiritual connections are just as important as physical ones.

Throughout the song, Broderick repeats the line "all colours of the night turn every darkness into light," emphasizing the transformative power of darkness. He suggests that pain and discomfort can ultimately lead to growth and understanding, and that every experience, no matter how dark or difficult, has the potential to lead us to the light.

Line by Line Meaning

all colours of the night turn every darkness into light
The darkness that surrounds us can be brightened by the colors of the night.

how could i call anything a stone
I am questioning my ability to define something as being set in its ways or unable to change.

and why would i believe that we can ever be alone
I find it hard to believe that we are ever truly alone in this world.

how are you even here, tell me how'd i steal your ears
I am questioning my perception of reality and how I am able to connect with others.

was it pain, was it fun, was it something i have yet to perceive
I am questioning the different experiences that I have had in life.

i may have met god in a dream several times, but always in a dark room
I may have had experiences that made me feel spiritually connected, but they were often in moments of uncertainty or doubt.

no words, no sound except the breath of something greater than me
During these experiences, I felt a sense of awe and wonder at something beyond myself.

and if i ever woke i turned the story to song or a joke
I try to find ways to share these experiences with others through music or humor.

did i listen for a heart, did i embrace any soul
I wonder if I was truly present with those I encountered during these experiences.

Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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