Her third studio album, ‘Gardening’ (2023), is a stripped-down set of songs, delving into difficult themes like bleakness, doubt and fear, sung in a voice that is hauntingly ethereal. A sense of calmness that runs through it. ‘Romain’s Place’, for example, is a ballad about what seems to be domestic abuse: “Through it all there was a lot that kept me from leaving/ like your fists around my wrists…”. But there are also upbeat moments, like ‘Sun, Moon, Stars’, that sees Jakobsen joined by Ane Brun on vocals and a beautiful string outro: “You are the reason that I am alive”, suggesting there’s a light in the end of every tunnel. In fact, Jakobsen has said the same in ‘Dark’, from her debut EP, ‘The Lingering’.
Siv Jakobsen is based in Oslo, and trained in Boston’s Berklee College, where she found her folk pop identity. Soon, her life experiences became the themes of her work. Siv knows well that the best way to face a problem is to stare it in the eyes and acknowledge it. That’s where the healing begins. And that’s what she’s been doing, slowly-yet-steadily, from her first release in 2015 to 2020’s ‘A Temporary Soothing’, and now with ‘Gardening’, while also touring extensively. Siv’s lyrics, vocals, pauses, breaths, fingerpicked acoustic guitar sound, and arrangements all come together to calm her bruises. With each of her albums, she opens up to us even more, evoking emotion with precision to amazing effect.
How We Used To Love
Siv Jakobsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
‘cause I was thinking too much about us
Dreaming of you and all we've lost
‘Cause now you're always so angry
You're always so sad
You're mad about everything and everyone and I
I don't have the heart for that
How we used to love
I'm afraid it won't last
‘Cause you've got too many scars to hide
And I haven't got enough to understand why
Why are you always so sad
Why are you always so
Why are you always so sad?
How we used to love
How we used to love
How we used to love
How we used to love
Siv Jakobsen's song "How We Used to Love" is a reflective piece about a relationship that has lost its magic. The lyrics depict the singer running into a woman on the sidewalk while thinking too much about the past relationship. The singer reminisces about the love they once shared and how it has deteriorated over time. The woman in the song is portrayed as always being angry and sad, constantly mad about everything and everyone. The singer is unable to handle this constant negativity and wonders if their relationship will be able to survive. There is a sense of fear and uncertainty about the future, as the singer feels that the woman has too many scars to hide while they don't have enough understanding to help her heal.
The song explores the complex emotions that often arise in failing relationships. It speaks to the regret and sorrow that can follow when two people drift apart. The repeated line "How we used to love" drives home the bittersweet nostalgia that underpins the song's theme. The gentle guitar strumming and Siv Jakobsen's haunting vocals heighten the melancholic tone and make the song even more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
I ran into a woman on the sidewalk
I was preoccupied with thoughts of our failed relationship, and as a result, I walked into a stranger on the street.
‘cause I was thinking too much about us
My mind was consumed with thoughts and memories of our past relationship, preventing me from fully being present in the moment.
Dreaming of you and all we've lost
I can't help but fantasize about what our relationship could have been and mourn over everything that we've left behind.
‘Cause now you're always so angry
Your constant anger and resentment towards both people and situations have created a tense and unhappy environment for us.
You're always so sad
Your constant sorrow and despair have contributed to the deterioration of our relationship, causing pain for both of us.
You're mad about everything and everyone and I
Your anger is all-consuming, extending beyond our relationship and affecting your interactions with everyone, including me.
I don't have the heart for that
I don't have the emotional capacity to continue being a part of this unhappy and turbulent relationship.
How we used to love
Reflecting on the love and happiness we shared in the past before it all fell apart.
I'm afraid for our future
I'm worried about what's in store for us moving forward, given the current state of our relationship.
I'm afraid it won't last
I have doubts about our relationship's longevity, concerned that our problems will eventually cause us to break up for good.
‘Cause you've got too many scars to hide
Your past wounds and traumas have caused a deep-seated pain that you try to conceal, but it continues to affect our relationship.
And I haven't got enough to understand why
I don't have the knowledge or comprehension necessary to understand the root cause of your pain, making it difficult for me to comfort or help you.
Why are you always so sad
I'm perplexed and concerned about your consistent feelings of sadness and despair.
Why are you always so
I'm trying to understand why you're experiencing so much pain and heartache.
Why are you always so sad?
I'm concerned about the persistent sadness you feel and the toll it's taking on both of us.
How we used to love
Reflecting on the love and happiness we shared in the past before it all fell apart.
How we used to love
Remembering the good times we had and how much we cared for each other.
How we used to love
Nostalgically thinking back on the love and joy we once had in our relationship.
How we used to love
Longing for the days before our relationship became consumed with pain and turmoil.
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gyro
I ran into a woman on the sidewalk
'Cause I was thinking too much about us
Dreaming of you and all we've lost
'Cause now you're always so angry
You're always so sad
You're mad about everything and everyone and I
I don't have the heart for that
How we used to love
I'm afraid for our future
I'm afraid it won't last
'Cause you've got too many scars to hide
And I haven't got enough to understand why
Why are you always so sad
Why are you always so
Why are you always so sad?
How we used to love
How we used to love
How we used to love
How we used to love
Aaron T.
Wait what ? I was listening to this on Spotify and I was like this must be so popular song because it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and then I come here and see only 37k views...
maddie
This is such a beautiful song, why don't more people know of it? I'm honestly speechless.
JocelynG
You don't know how many times I've listened to this...So beautiful. I tought myself this song on my piano(at least just the beginning part) Such an amazing artist, Siv.💙
Manly O'Beeferton
Stumbled upon Siv Jakobsen's music through Noisetrade a wee while ago. I think I've played this song about half a dozen times without realising it.
I love how much is done with so little.
Ohcomeonism
Siv, this is amazing. Thank you for a gorgeous song. And it's fascinating, very much like some people above I feel like I must have heard it before in some film, it feels so familiar!
emily newton
Siv, this is beautiful.
SIV JAKOBSEN
Emily!! Thank you so so much. x
Sick/Sea Band
I keep listening to this over and over (I love the big comfy couch version) so I just wanted to say thank you for creating such a wonderful song <3
Siv Jakobsen
<3
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