Sofia Talvik is a Swedish musician and singer/songwriter who was born on an… Read Full Bio ↴Sofia Talvik is a Swedish musician and singer/songwriter who was born on an island just off the west coast of Sweden. Her music often blends elements of folk and pop; she also uses a lot of acoustic instruments in her songs, including violins, cellos, trombones, and acoustic guitar.

Sofia Talvik has emerged like a lady of the forest, bringing a new interesting side to folk music. Soft, airy, and graceful, Sofia Talvik sings both songs that touch on themes of love and heartbreak, as well as a healthy dose of anecdotal stories from her own life.

At the age of eighteen she left behind the comfort of home for the bright lights and lonely nights of Stockholm. There every experience, good and bad, would soon take the form of a beautiful, funny or heartbreaking song.

She's playing a unique blend of folk-pop (someone said Neo-Folk). This American genre filtered through her Swedish heritage, becomes something totally unique, a blend that has attracted attention from a broad audience all over the world.

Her soft and airy music at her combination of modal chord changes and beautiful 60's euro-pop melodies combined with the gentle singing of a 70's folk songstress will make you think of Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Jewel and Aimee Mann.

Her soft and airy music has been recognized by music lovers and critics all over the world letting her tour the US several times and making her the first ever Swedish female singer to play at the Lollapalooza festival.

www.sofiatalvik.com

Wrapped In Paper
Sofia Talvik Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanted to give you
something nice for a change
I walked this town like a ghost
But I couldn't find
a single item for sale
that said I love you the most

And no one knows me like you do

You know me for better or for worse
So if someone knows, it's you
I can't put it in a box
Put a ribbon on the top
Of all the love I have for you

My hands might be empty
And my car might be old
That's the truth as you know
But together we'll never
Go hungry or cold
That I promise you

And no one knows me like you do
You know me for better or for worse
So if someone knows, it's you
I can't put it in a box
Put a ribbon on the top
Of all the love I have for you

I was walking aimlessly
From store to store
Nothing special caught my eye
I didn't even know what I was looking for
But at least I gave it a try

So I don't have a gift for you
Wrapped in paper with a bow
But if someone knows, it's you
I can't put it in a box
Put a ribbon on the top
Of all the love I have for you
No, I can't put it in a box

Put a ribbon on the top
Of all the love I have for you

Overall Meaning

In the song "Wrapped in Paper" by Sofia Talvik, the singer expresses their desire to give their loved one something special. They feel the need to break away from their usual routine and find a unique gift. However, as they search through the town, they realize that nothing they find for sale adequately conveys the depth of their love. They acknowledge that the person who truly understands them, for better or worse, is their partner. They are aware that their hands may be empty and their car may be old, but they assure their loved one that together they will never go hungry or cold.

The singer emphasizes the special connection they share with their partner. They acknowledge that nobody knows them as well as their loved one. Despite not being able to put their love into a physical gift, they are aware that their partner can understand the love they have. They acknowledge that the love they have for their partner cannot be contained in a box or adorned with a ribbon, as their love is intangible and boundless.

As they continue their search for a gift, the singer wanders aimlessly from store to store, unable to find something that catches their eye. They realize that they are uncertain of what they are even looking for. Despite their efforts, they weren't able to find a gift wrapped in paper and tied with a bow for their loved one. However, they reassure their partner again that, even without a physical gift, their love remains unwavering.

The song concludes with the repeated refrain that their love cannot be confined to a box or embellished with a ribbon. The singer reiterates their inability to express the entirety of their love through material possessions. They affirm that their love is not defined by physical gifts but by the intangible bond they share with their partner, emphasizing that their love is immeasurable and cannot be contained or limited.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanted to give you
I had the desire to give you something

something nice for a change
something pleasant as a deviation

I walked this town like a ghost
I wandered aimlessly through this town

But I couldn't find
But I was unable to locate

a single item for sale
any item available for purchase

that said I love you the most
that conveyed my deepest love for you

And no one knows me like you do
And no one understands me as well as you

You know me for better or for worse
You are aware of both my strengths and weaknesses

So if someone knows, it's you
So if anyone knows, it would be you

I can't put it in a box
I am unable to encapsulate it

Put a ribbon on the top
Place a decorative ribbon on the surface