Born in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway, the young Lerche was heavily influenced by the 80's music emanating from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as a-ha, The Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar instruction at age eight. Not satisfied with the lessons at school, Lerche experimented with original tunes on his own accord, eventually penning his first song, "Locust Girl" at the age of fourteen. While still underage, Lerche held acoustic performances at the club where his sister worked; Lerche was eventually discovered by Norwegian producer Hans-Petter "HP" Gundersen.
While under Gundersen's mentorship, Lerche was exposed to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, 60's pop, and mainstream Brazilian music, broadening his appreciation for eclectic music styles. Around this time Lerche was also introduced to Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, resulting in a recording contract with Virgin Norway. With steadily growing popularity in his home country, he recorded his debut album in 2000. The album's release was postponed until Lerche fulfilled several academic requirements; in the interim, he was named Best New Act at Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys) and performed locally as a support act for major acts such as Beth Orton.
Officially released in Norway during September of 2001, Lerche's debut album Faces Down was a chart success in Norway. 2002 saw the album's international release, garnering praise from international publications and critics; Rolling Stone placed it in their top 50 albums of 2002. He embarked on subsequent tours in Europe and the United States. Lerche toured with various acts, including a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with his long-time idols, a-ha. A studio/live compilation EP, Don't Be Shallow, was released in 2003. During the same year, he would have the opportunity to tour with another of his musical idols, Elvis Costello, with whom he would tour once more in 2005.
Lerche's second studio album, Two Way Monologue, was released in 2004. The album displayed Lerche's penchant for experimentation with eclectic styles to an even greater extent than his earlier works, its content ranging from upbeat pop songs to mellow, melancholic tunes. In 2006, Lerche released his third studio album, Duper Sessions. A classical jazz album featuring original songs, as well as a cover of the jazz standard "Night and Day", it was recorded by Lerche and the Faces Down, augmented by pianist Erik Halvorsen, at Duper Studios in Bergen, hence its name.
In 2007, Phantom Punch, a rock album with a distinctly more aggressive sound than his earlier works, was released. Lerche and the Faces Down recorded and mixed the album in Los Angeles in April and May 2006, with producer Tony Hoffer. The same year, he composed the musical score for the film Dan in Real Life. Lerche and the Faces Down also made an appearance in the film itself, performing the song "Modern Nature" as a duet with actress Marci Occhino (the actual vocals were performed by Lillian Samdal). Another song of Lerche's, "Dear Laughing Doubters", was featured in the film Dinner for Schmucks; both films starred actor Steve Carell.
In 2009, Sondre Lerche released Heartbeat Radio. 2011 saw the release of his self-titled sixth studio album, Sondre Lerche.
Face the Blood
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
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When I hear a scream but my friend she'll zero in
So if anybody could prove what god must know
I tell myself the chances of suffering are slim.
I'm settled in this fog
You can't quit just stay on your feet
One day you'll see the blood of a ?
It's just so hard to believe there's a way out of here.
Face the blood again
Face the blood again and again
Face the blood again
Face the blood again and again
And again and again
I didn't ever think I'd be sleeping with the sharks.
Now everybody said I'd be perfect for the part.
So if anybody remembers my old name
Tell everyone that I know that I'll always be the same.
My mother spoke the truth
She outlived all the men in the street
We hided all the blood on the floor
It's come to this, so go resist
It's just so hard to believe there's a way out of here.
Face the blood again
Face the blood again and again
Face the blood again
Face the blood again and again
And again and again and again
And again and again
The lyrics of Sondre Lerche's song "Face the Blood" depicts a sense of uncertainty in facing the challenges of life. The opening line "Tell me that the casual panics will give in" suggests a desperate plea for reassurance that the everyday challenges and anxieties will eventually fade. The following line "when I hear a scream but my friend she'll zero in" can be interpreted as relying on a close friend or someone to calm the chaos around us. The lyrics also suggest the difficulty of accepting one's fate and one's insistence on holding onto hope, as seen in the line "I tell myself the chances of suffering are slim."
Moreover, the lyrics also depict a sense of acceptance of one's current situation. The line "I'm settled in this fog, you can't quit just stay on your feet" suggests the idea of accepting one's current state of uncertainty and helplessness. Additionally, the line "It's just so hard to believe there's a way out of here" reinforces the idea of being trapped in a difficult situation and the difficulty of finding a way out.
In the chorus, the lyrics "Face the blood again" suggests the idea of confronting and accepting the difficulties and challenges of life repeatedly. The repetition of the phrase "face the blood" highlights the recurring nature of these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me that the casual panics will give in
Say that the fleeting moments of fear will subside
When I hear a scream but my friend she'll zero in
Though I panic at the sound of a scream, my friend will take control
So if anybody could prove what god must know
If someone could show me the divine truth
I tell myself the chances of suffering are slim.
I reassure myself that the odds of experiencing pain are low
I'm settled in this fog
I am comfortable in this state of confusion
You can't quit just stay on your feet
You must persevere despite the challenges
One day you'll see the blood of a ?
Eventually, you will witness the gruesome reality of the situation
So will you sleep, will you be swept
Will you rest or be overcome by the obstacles?
It's just so hard to believe there's a way out of here.
I find it difficult to imagine an escape from this situation
I didn't ever think I'd be sleeping with the sharks.
I never anticipated being in such perilous circumstances
Now everybody said I'd be perfect for the part.
Others saw me as capable of handling this difficult role
So if anybody remembers my old name
If anyone recalls the name I once went by
Tell everyone that I know that I'll always be the same.
Inform everyone that despite my current situation, I remain unchanged
My mother spoke the truth
My mother always told me the truth
She outlived all the men in the street
My mother survived longer than any man on this street
We hided all the blood on the floor
We concealed the evidence of violence on the ground
It's come to this, so go resist
This is the situation, so fight against it
Face the blood again
Confront the gruesome reality once more
Face the blood again and again
Repeatedly confront the harsh reality
And again and again and again
Continue to face this struggle repeatedly
And again and again
Once again, and again after that
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind