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.
My Hands Are Shaking
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My head is where
It's always been
If only I'd know where
My feet can't stand
That ground no more
It seems that I don't care
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
My heart is pounding
Yes, yes, yes
My mind just second guess
My love is so
Articulate
But I am such a mess
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye
It's all that I do
My sheets are tearing
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
The lyrics to Sondre Lerche's "My Hands are Shaking" describe the aftermath of a relationship that has ended but where one person is still holding on to feelings for the other. The imagery of the shaking hands and bleeding lips implies that the singer is struggling to let go; they are carrying a torch for their former lover and finding it difficult to move forward.
The repetition of the lines "from carrying this torch for you" and "from kissing you goodbye every night" drive home the idea that this is a recurring issue, and that the singer has been unable to move past the relationship. The last couple of lines imply that the singer is conflicted in their feelings – their heart is pounding with love, but their mind is second-guessing their emotions.
Overall, "My Hands are Shaking" is a powerful exploration of the emotions that can come after a relationship ends. The physical imagery used to describe the singer's feelings gives the song a visceral quality that is both relatable and poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
My hand are shaking
I am physically trembling, likely due to emotional stress
From carrying this torch
From continuously holding onto and supporting a hope or desire for something, likely a romantic relationship
From carrying this torch for you
I am doing this for you, because of my feelings for you
My lips are bleeding
My lips are physically injured and possibly numb, possibly from emotionally intense and frequent kissing
From kissing you goodbye
This intense kissing is a painful, but necessary goodbye ritual that happens every time we part
From kissing you goodbye every night
This happens nightly, a constant reminder of our separation
My sheets are tearing
The sheets on my bed are literally ripping apart, possibly due to the frequency and intensity of our physical interaction
From sleeping in too long
I am sleeping for a long time, but this rest is not refreshing, as it is not with you
From sleeping in too long with you
This implies that the time spent with you is lazily enjoyable
My head is where
My thoughts are stationary and unchanged
It's always been
Despite everything changing around me, my thoughts remain the same and focused on you
If only I'd know where
I wish I could see where things would go with us, if I had a clearer vision of our future
My feet can't stand
I am no longer physically able to stand on this ground, possibly due to emotional exhaustion
That ground no more
This terrain is no longer stable for me, either physically, emotionally, or both
It seems that I don't care
I may appear to others as if I don't care about anything anymore, perhaps because my thoughts are consumed by my feelings for you
My heart is pounding
My heart is racing and beating heavily, indicating my heightened emotions and possibly anxiety
Yes, yes, yes
This is likely an expression of excitement, passion, or affirmation
My mind just second guess
Despite my obvious strong emotions for you, my mind still has doubts and second thoughts about our relationship and future
My love is so
My love is strong and intense
Articulate
I am able to express myself well, despite the overwhelming emotions
But I am such a mess
Despite my ability to articulate my emotions and feelings, I am still a mess internally, unstable and consumed with my love for you
From kissing you goodbye
This intense kissing is a painful, but necessary goodbye ritual that happens every time we part
From kissing you goodbye
This intense kissing is a painful, but necessary goodbye ritual that happens every time we part
It's all that I do
Kissing you goodbye is one of my primary activities and focuses
My hands are shaking
I am physically trembling, likely due to emotional stress
From carrying this torch
From continuously holding onto and supporting a hope or desire for something, likely a romantic relationship
From carrying this torch for you
I am doing this for you, because of my feelings for you
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE, SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruben de Jesús Maldonado estrada
My hand are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
My sheets are tearing
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My head is where
It's always been
If only I'd know where
My feet can't stand
That ground no more
It seems that I don't care
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
My heart is pounding
Yes, yes, yes
My mind just second guess
My love is so
Articulate
But I am such a mess
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye
It's all that I do
My sheets are tearing
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
Mike Gibson
This movie and song have a special place in my heart. Very very special.
Brew805
I wish this song was still on Spotify
Max Mullen
It is now!! :)
Momma Wagley
Love this song so much!! Sondre played this on request in Houston 2017 and my heart was so happy!!!!<3
Jefferson Marchan
And your hands were shaking?
Lady Marie Bulilan
omg that is SO sweet!! i would love to hear this live ❤️ you're so lucky!!!
Frozen Burrito
This movie is absolutely amazing and this soundtrack was so awesome!
Ruben de Jesús Maldonado estrada
My hand are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
My sheets are tearing
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My head is where
It's always been
If only I'd know where
My feet can't stand
That ground no more
It seems that I don't care
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye every night
My heart is pounding
Yes, yes, yes
My mind just second guess
My love is so
Articulate
But I am such a mess
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
My lips are bleeding
From kissing you goodbye
From kissing you goodbye
It's all that I do
My sheets are tearing
From sleeping in too long
From sleeping in too long with you
My hands are shaking
From carrying this torch
From carrying this torch for you
Thomas D
@SmilingRunner ah the good ole days when I used to act like a 10 year old lol
SmilingRunner
@Thomas D After 1 year Im still trying to find who tf asked lmao