In 1991, the year she released her first album Memories of a Colour, Nordenstam played at the Swedish parliament as part of the Year of Jazz. Her early work, including her second album, And She Closed Her Eyes, released in 1994, was significantly jazz-influenced, with only subtle elements of alternative rock. With 1997's Dynamite she started down a darker, more experimental path; most of the album was filled with processed, distorted electric guitars and unusual beats, but careful listening revealed her unique song-writing abilities.
An album of covers, People Are Strange, followed before she returned in 2001 with This Is Stina Nordenstam, an album with shorter songs and a more pop-like feel; ex-Suede vocalist Brett Anderson featured on two tracks. In 2003 Nordenstam appeared in a duet with Jonas Bjerre from Mew on Mew's third album Frengers, with a song called "Her Voice Is beyond Her Years". Between 2003 and 2004 she made the Swedish radio-theatre series called The Fears of the Ice, about one of the first polar expeditions.
Her 2004 album, The World Is Saved, continues the path set on This Is..., but presents a more realised sound and acknowledges her earlier jazz influences more.
In addition to being a musician, Nordenstam also works in other fields, such as photography and music-video directing.
Slightly reclusive, she gives very few interviews, rarely performs live and even alters her appearance using wigs and make-up for album covers and magazines. During the promotion for The World Is Saved, however, she gave more interviews than usual, and even talked about the possibility of future live performances.
In 2006, Nordenstam appeared on Snow Borne Sorrow, an album by the band Nine Horses, singing duets with the band's vocalist, David Sylvian.
The Man With the Gun
Stina Nordenstam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll only smile
The night I meet the man with the gun
Not that I'd be defenseless
but I don't think I'll fight
The night I meet the man with the gun
I knew you would come
I somehow didn't expect to
Be spared for so long
Was it a whim of fortune
Or was I hard to find
What's the routine of a man with a gun
Was it a kind of torture
Have you been out of town
What is like to a man with a gun
Maybe I'm glad to see you
It's hard to believe
but standing here beside you
is such a relief
This is gonna hurt me
I do know why you've come
but I got this feeling
that it's already been done
The lyrics to Stina Nordenstam's song "The Man With the Gun" are enigmatic and thought-provoking, leaving much room for interpretation. The song seems to be from the perspective of someone who is expecting to meet a man with a gun, but is not afraid and perhaps even welcomes the encounter. The opening lyrics, "I'm out of my senses, I'll only smile," suggest that the singer is in a state of trance-like acceptance, willing to let whatever happens happen.
The next lines, "Not that I'd be defenseless, but I don't think I'll fight," indicate that the singer is not interested in engaging in any kind of struggle or conflict, even if they are capable of defending themselves. The repetition of the phrase "the night I meet the man with the gun" creates a sense of inevitability and anticipation, drawing the listener into the ambiguous and unsettling mood of the song.
As the song continues, the singer questions the motives and nature of the man with the gun, wondering if they have been targeted for a specific reason or if it was merely chance. The line "Maybe I'm glad to see you, it's hard to believe, but standing here beside you is such a relief" further complicates the dynamic between the two characters, hinting at a strange and potentially twisted emotional connection.
The final lines of the song, "This is gonna hurt me, I do know why you've come, but I got this feeling that it's already been done," suggest that the anticipated violence has already taken place, or that the singer is resigned to their fate. Overall, the song creates a haunting and unsettling atmosphere, leaving the listener with more questions than answers.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm out of my senses
I am not thinking logically
I'll only smile
I will not react with aggression
The night I meet the man with the gun
On this particular night, I will encounter an armed individual
Not that I'd be defenseless
I am not completely vulnerable
but I don't think I'll fight
However, I do not plan on engaging in combat
Maybe I'll say What kept you?
I may inquire as to why you took so long to arrive
I knew you would come
I had anticipated your arrival
I somehow didn't expect to
However, I did not anticipate being spared for this long
Be spared for so long
Having not been confronted previously
Was it a whim of fortune
Did I simply happen to avoid danger up to this point by chance?
Or was I hard to find
Or did you deliberately seek me out?
What's the routine of a man with a gun
What is the typical behavior of an individual in possession of a weapon?
Was it a kind of torture
Did your prolonged absence serve as a form of torment?
Have you been out of town
Were you absent from the area for an extended period of time?
What is like to a man with a gun
What is the experience of carrying a firearm?
Maybe I'm glad to see you
Perhaps I am relieved to finally meet you
It's hard to believe
I find it difficult to comprehend
but standing here beside you
Being in your presence
is such a relief
Is actually comforting
This is gonna hurt me
I am aware that what comes next will be painful for me
I do know why you've come
I am aware of your intentions
but I got this feeling
However, I have a sensation
that it's already been done
That the outcome is already predetermined
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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