Slowblow is an Icelandic musical duo consisting of Orri Jónsson and Dagur K… Read Full Bio ↴Slowblow is an Icelandic musical duo consisting of Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Pétursson. Their music is an aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog tinkerings, which often slips into both electronic and folksy terrain. They started recording in 1994 and have several albums to their credit. They created the soundtrack for the successful independent Icelandic movie Nói Albínói, which Dagur directed, and have worked with other Icelandic artists such as múm's Kristín Anna Valtysdóttir. They have released albums under the Reykjavík based record labels Smekkleysa, Kitchen Motors, and Mobile / Plug.

Aim for a Smile
Slowblow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've seen death as it sneaked up behind you
Patiently taking its aim
As it aimed for the spark in your eyes
Resistance from here looked so lame
What used to scare me is not worth one thought
As I cling the memory of
Pitch black coffee and cigarette used while I aimed for a smile on your face

I tried to sit straight up the side of your bed
And pour my thoughts straight down the drain
When it pours I'd much rather get wet
Than to shelter my thoughts from the rain
While I chill my guitar to your amplified breath
And hum away thoughts of your death

All I got left is one awkward embrace
My last aim for a smile on your face

Overall Meaning

In Slowblow’s song Aim for a Smile, the lyrics depict the thoughts and emotions of someone who has witnessed death take someone close to them. They describe the painful experience of watching their loved one slowly slip away, being powerless to stop it. The lyrics “I’ve seen death as it sneaked up behind you, Patiently taking its aim, As it aimed for the spark in your eyes” paints a vivid picture of the helplessness and fear felt in that situation.

The song also touches on the idea of cherishing simple moments and memories, such as enjoying a cup of coffee and a cigarette with the person before they are gone. The lyric “What used to scare me is not worth one thought, as I cling the memory of Pitch black coffee and cigarette used while I aimed for a smile on your face” represents the idea that even the small things hold great value and can make a lasting impact.

The final lines of Aim for a Smile reveal the raw emotion of the singer as they confront the inevitability of their loved one’s death. “While I chill my guitar to your amplified breath and hum away thoughts of your death. All I got left is one awkward embrace, My last aim for a smile on your face.” The sadness and pain in these lines are palpable, contrasting with the simplicity of the rest of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen death as it sneaked up behind you
I have witnessed death slowly approaching you

Patiently taking its aim
Death was waiting for the right moment to strike

As it aimed for the spark in your eyes
Death wanted to take away the life in your eyes

Resistance from here looked so lame
It seemed futile to resist and fight back against death

What used to scare me is not worth one thought
Nothing else seems scary compared to the thought of losing you to death

As I cling the memory of
I hold on tight to the memory of

Pitch black coffee and cigarette used while I aimed for a smile on your face
I fondly remember the times when I made you smile as we shared coffee and cigarettes

I tried to sit straight up the side of your bed
I tried to sit upright, beside your bed

And pour my thoughts straight down the drain
I tried to forget my painful thoughts and emotions

When it pours I'd much rather get wet
I prefer to face and experience the difficulties head-on

Than to shelter my thoughts from the rain
Rather than hiding from my thoughts and emotions

While I chill my guitar to your amplified breath
I play my guitar while listening to the sound of your breath, amplified by medical equipment

And hum away thoughts of your death
I try to forget about your impending death by humming a tune

All I got left is one awkward embrace
All I have left is a final, uncomfortable hug

My last aim for a smile on your face
I hope my embrace will make you smile one last time

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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