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.
Wet Ground
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Circumstances are alarming, darling
The future is just a word, that's how I recall it
The past is much more present in our yawning
But I heard you right
Something was lost from the start
Oh babe, what should we do, what should we say?
The future looked so bright then
What happened tonight?
Now aeroplanes are crashing
Who turned out the light?
Seemingly it seems to me I'm subject to a joke
And it's not a test
Wet ground and the stars are still out shining
Neon lights were never oh, so blinding
Prosecute the ones who stand accused
Let the others go or leave them dying
But I heard you right
Everything was here before
We shouldn't add or put away a thing
Let nobody win
The future looked so bright then
What happened tonight?
Now aeroplanes are crashing
Who turned out the light?
Seemingly it seems to me I'm subject to a joke
And it's not a sin
The lyrics of Sondre Lerche's song "Wet Ground" speak about the uncertainty and turbulence that can arise in relationships. The opening line "Wet ground and the snow is still not falling" sets a melancholic tone, suggesting that something should be happening (it should be snowing) but it's not. The circumstances are alarming, but at the same time, the future is just a word - they can't predict it. The past is also present, which implies that previous experiences influence the present.
The second verse directs attention to what the couple has lost. Something was lost from the start, and they are wondering what to do and what to say. Should they give up? The future once looked bright, but now things have changed. The planes are crashing and the lights have gone out. It appears as though the singer is subject to a joke, but it's unclear what that means.
The final verse seems to suggest that they shouldn't change anything. Everything was here before, and they shouldn't add or put away anything. They should let nobody win, perhaps implying that they should not play the blame game. The future once seemed bright, and now they are left wondering what happened. It's not a sin, but it's not clear what they are referring to here.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wet Ground" are open to interpretation, but they suggest the complexity and uncertainty of relationships, as well as a sense of loss and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Wet ground and the snow is still not falling
It's winter, but it's not snowing yet. The ground is wet, and it's likely to become icy. This sets the stage for challenging circumstances.
Circumstances are alarming, darling
The situation is concerning, and it's getting worse. It's a message to a loved one who might feel worried.
The future is just a word, that's how I recall it
The future is uncertain, and it's not something we can count on. It's just a concept abstract and difficult to understand.
The past is much more present in our yawning
We're tired of reliving the past, but it still weighs heavily on us. We can't shake off the memories that keep haunting us.
But I heard you right
The singer is listening intently to someone's words to try and understand them.
Something was lost from the start
There was a mistake or a misunderstanding from the beginning. Something went wrong, and it can't be corrected easily.
Oh babe, what should we do, what should we say?
The singer is expressing their confusion and indecisiveness due to the challenging situation.
Should we give it away?
The singer is asking whether they should cut their losses and move on from the situation.
The future looked so bright then
The artist remembers the time when the future seemed full of promise and hope.
What happened tonight?
Something unexpected or adverse has occurred, and the artist is trying to make sense of it.
Now aeroplanes are crashing
The metaphorical use of aeroplanes serves as an allusion to the dark state of affairs happening around the singer.
Who turned out the light?
The singer is trying to understand why things took a turn for the worse, and what caused the bright future to fade away.
Seemingly it seems to me I'm subject to a joke
The situation feels unreal and surreal to the singer, as though life is playing a mean trick on them.
And it's not a test
Confirming that the hardship is genuine and not just a test of their endurance.
Wet ground and the stars are still out shining
Despite the turmoil, the world goes on without empathy, and the stars are still visible without caring about humans.
Neon lights were never oh, so blinding
The lyrics are a sarcastic criticism of the superficiality of contemporary society's shiny and bright lifestyle.
Prosecute the ones who stand accused
The singer inflicts blame and holds accountable those who have caused the situation's troubles.
Let the others go or leave them dying
The ones not responsible for the situation should be absolved and aren't at fault for the situation's consequences.
But I heard you right
The singer repeats the same sentence, indicating that they are trying to understand the issue and rectify it.
Everything was here before
The past still haunts and reflects upon the present, and it's impossible to move on without addressing its impact.
We shouldn't add or put away a thing
Rather than changing things to suit our desires, we need to accept reality and work within its constraints.
Let nobody win
The singer aims for no one benefiting from the situation and accepting the situation as it stands.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lindsay Young
i keep this on my ipod all year but i uncheck it until december every year and its like something i look forward to every winter... it reminds me of my love.
Angela Meili
i love it
Ditty TM
Wet ground and the snow is still not falling
Circumstances are alarming, darling
The future is just a word, that's how I recall it
The past is much more present in our yawning
But I heard you right
Something was lost from the start
Oh babe, what should we do, what should we say?
Should we give it away?
The future looked so bright then
What happened tonight?
Now aeroplanes are crashing
Who turned out the light?
Seemingly it seems to me I'm subject to a joke
And it's not a test
Wet ground and the stars are still out shining
Neon lights were never oh, so blinding
Prosecute the ones who stand accused
Let the others go or leave them dying
But I heard you right
Everything was here before
We shouldn't add or put away a thing
Let nobody win
The future looked so bright then
What happened tonight?
Now aeroplanes are crashing
Who turned out the light?
Seemingly it seems to me I'm subject to a joke
And it's not a sin
vOnAm
Beautiful
vOnAm
Beautiful
Later Nader
nice song :)
pandiimore2
Sondre, come to Mexico :)