An emotional and confessional singer and songwriter whose music is an atmos… Read Full Bio ↴An emotional and confessional singer and songwriter whose music is an atmospheric blend of Nordic folk and indie pop, Siv Jakobsen has used both her talent and her own personal perspectives to build a critically acclaimed body of work.

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.

Like I Used To
Siv Jakobsen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You don't love me like you used to
And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much

Your silence reeks of cheating, reeks of her
I can sense her in your mouth on my neck
And in your screaming at the mention of her name
And your anger spills like bullets to my brain
Like an animal in fright I'm insane
And I run for cover from your aim in your arms

You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to
And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much

So I stick my brain in the sand
Watch me fold
Watch me wither
I stick my brain in the sand
Watch me fold
Watch me fold
Watch me fold

You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to

And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much

Overall Meaning

Siv Jakobsen's song "Like I Used To" tells the story of a failing relationship where both partners feel the weight of unspoken words and hidden secrets. The song paints a picture of a couple lying in bed but not being able to connect emotionally. One partner can feel the other holding back and going red from the lies and words they hide. The weight of unspoken words is symbolized by a boulder on the chest. The couple is no longer able to express their love for each other as before, and the singer realizes that she loves her partner too much.

In the second verse, the singer's suspicion of her partner's infidelity grows stronger. She can sense the other woman in their physical intimacy and in his hysterical reaction when her name is brought up. The singer feels like an animal in fright and runs for cover in his arms, but he is slowly drifting away emotionally. The chorus repeats the message that both partners have changed and that they are no longer able to love each other in the same way as before. The singer longs for the past but realizes that it is not possible to go back to how things used to be.

Overall, "Like I Used To" is a melancholic song about the end of a relationship. The lyrics are a mix of emotions like love, suspicion, hurt, and self-doubt. It is not clear why the relationship is falling apart, but it is evident that it has reached a breaking point. The song conveys this message through vivid imagery and poetic language that speaks directly to the heart.

Line by Line Meaning

In the blankets, in the sheets, on my bed
I am lying in bed with you under the covers, feeling close yet distant.

I can feel you holding back, going red
I feel that you're hiding something from me, and it's causing you to turn red with embarrassment.

From all the lies and the words that you hide
I know that you've been keeping secrets and not being truthful with me.

There's a boulder on your chest from the weight
You are carrying a heavy burden, and it's causing you to feel weighed down.

Of the words that you keep to yourself
You are keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself, which is affecting our relationship.

I am staring at your back, you are staring on the wall
We are both avoiding eye contact, and it's clear that something is wrong between us.

You don't love me like you used to
Your feelings for me have changed, and you are not as affectionate as you once were.

And I don't love you like I used to
I have also noticed a change in my own feelings towards you, and they are not as strong as they once were.

I love you too much
Despite everything, I still have strong feelings for you and can't help but love you deeply.

Your silence reeks of cheating, reeks of her
Your lack of communication and avoidance of the topic makes me suspect that there is someone else involved.

I can sense her in your mouth on my neck
I can imagine you kissing someone else, and it makes me feel disgusted and betrayed.

And in your screaming at the mention of her name
The mere mention of her name sets you off into a fit of anger, which further confirms my suspicion.

And your anger spills like bullets to my brain
Your anger is affecting me and making me feel hurt and upset.

Like an animal in fright I'm insane
I feel like a trapped and helpless animal, and it's driving me to madness.

And I run for cover from your aim in your arms
I try to escape from your embrace because it feels suffocating and unsafe.

So I stick my brain in the sand
I try to ignore the painful reality and pretend that everything is okay.

Watch me fold, watch me wither
Despite my efforts to avoid the truth, I am slowly falling apart and losing myself.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Siv Kalland Jakobsen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Sasriana Octavinia

5y↑5

In the blankets, in the sheets, on my bed
I can feel you holding back, going red
From all the lies and the words that you hide
There's a boulder on your chest from the weight
Of the words that you keep to yourself
I am staring at your back, you are staring on the wall
You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to

And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much
Your silence reeks of cheating, reeks of her
I can sense her in your mouth on my neck
And in your screaming at the mention of her name
And your anger spills like bullets to my brain
Like an animal in fright I'm insane
And I run for cover from your aim in your arms
You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to
And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much
So I stick my brain in the sand
Watch me fold
Watch me wither
I stick my brain in the sand
Watch me fold
Watch me fold
Watch me fold
You don't love me like you used to
You don't love me like you used to
And I don't love you like I used to
I love you too much