Susanne Sundfør began her rise to fame in her homeland in 2005. That year she toured the country opening for English singer/songwriter Tom McRae, and in 2006 she joined Madrugada on tour, performing their song "Lift Me," a duet the band originally recorded in the studio with singer Ane Brun. Late in 2006, she digitally released her debut single, "Walls," which would climb to number three on the Norwegian singles chart. It was the same position her debut self-titled album took on the album charts when it was released in 2007. The live effort Take One followed in 2008 -- the same year that her debut won the Spellemannprisen for Best Female Performance. Sundfør accepted the award with some hesitation, stating her work represented her as an artist first, and a woman second, bringing into question whether the Norwegian Grammy board was acting archaically with such gender-specific awards. Two years later, her album The Brothel would climb to the top of the Norwegian album charts thanks in part to the success of its title track. Jazz keyboardist Christian Wallumrød and members of Jaga Jazzist appeared on her 2011 effort, the all-instrumental A Night at Salle Pleyel. In 2012 she released the single "White Foxes" along with the album The Silicone Veil. She ended the year collaborating with Morten Myklebust on the track "Away," along with electronica duo Röyksopp on their single "Running to the Sea."
In 2013, Sundfør collaborated with French electronic band M83 on the Oblivion soundtrack, and later that year her back catalog was released in the U.K. for the first time. She went on to make her production debut for Bow's Each Other record. By 2014 she was set to release her fifth studio album, which was preceded by the single "Fade Away." Ten Love Songs went on to become a commercial and critical success for Sundfør upon its release in 2015, and saw the record appear in many year-end "best-of" lists. Following that record's release, she spent time traveling the world, and her follow-up record reflected the different environments and politics she encountered, along with the anxiety felt by many due to an ever-changing world. Music for People in Trouble was released in 2017, with the track "Undercover" as the lead single. The ten-track record also featured a guest appearance from John Grant on its last song, "Mountaineers." In 2019 Sundfør issued the accompanying concert LP People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican, which was recorded in London the year prior. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi
Mantra
Susanne Sundfør Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a starry night in June
Looking down on a lagoon
I'm as lucky as a moon
I'm as clever as a crow
In a yellow meadow
Making all the flowers glow
I'm as mighty as a shark
I roam in the dark
I might scar you with my mark
Because I'm as mighty as a shark
I'm as empty as the earth
An insignificant birth
Stardust in a universe
That's all that I am worth
The lyrics of Susanne Sundfør's song Mantra are both self-affirming and self-deprecating. In the first verse, the singer compares themselves to a moon on a starry night in June, which is often associated with good fortune and beauty. The singer feels lucky and content in their own existence, as they look down on a lagoon. The second verse describes the singer as clever as a crow in a yellow meadow, which is a vibrant and lively image. The singer is able to make the flowers glow, indicating that they have a creative and transformative force within them. However, the third verse shifts the tone by describing the singer as mighty as a shark who might scar others with their mark. This illustrates that the singer is aware of their potential to be dangerous or harmful to others.
The final verse brings the song full circle by describing the singer as empty as the earth and insignificant. They liken themselves to stardust in a universe, emphasizing their small place in the grand scheme of things. This serves as a reminder to the listener that even those who are self-assured and confident can still feel powerless and insignificant at times.
Overall, Mantra is a song that explores the complexity of self-perception and the different roles we play in our own lives. The singer is simultaneously lucky, clever, mighty, and empty, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of human identity and the way we may feel different ways on different days.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as lucky as a moon
I feel fortunate and blessed.
On a starry night in June
It's a serene time, perhaps even my happiest.
Looking down on a lagoon
I feel at peace and one with nature.
I'm as clever as a crow
I am intelligent and resourceful.
In a yellow meadow
I'm in bright and lively surroundings.
Making all the flowers glow
I have the power to bring beauty and life to my environment.
I'm as mighty as a shark
I have the strength and power to dominate.
I roam in the dark
I fearlessly navigate unknown territories.
I might scar you with my mark
My presence can leave a lasting impact on others.
I'm as empty as the earth
I feel insignificant and worthless.
An insignificant birth
My existence feels unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Stardust in a universe
I am a minuscule part of a vast and complex system.
That's all that I am worth
I lack value and worth in comparison to the world around me.
Writer(s): Susanne Sundfor
Contributed by Caroline K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@flamehead6694
I'm as lucky as the moon
On a stary night in June
Looking down on our lougon
I'm as lucky as the moon
I'm as clever as a crow
In a yellow meadow
Making all the flowers glow
I'm a clever as a crow
I'm as mighty as a shark
I roam in the dark
I might scar you with my mark
Cus I'm as mighty as a shark
I'm as empty as the Earth
Insignificant birth
Star dust in the Universe
That is all that I am worth
@DeimosSaturn
It tears me. That this might be a mantra one must sing. To be lucky as the moon, an inanimate object, on a stary night in june. It's just beauty that doesn't regard its beauty, it just hangs there, silently, without judgement, basking in its own awesome beauty, regardless of the drama going on throughout.
"I'm As clever as a crow." Yes, crows are indeed clever. But it's in a yellow meadow where it will surely stick out. So she's being sarcastic and self-deprecating?
"Making all the flowers glow" Oh. The crow is disregarding its own peril for the sake of making the meadow more radiant by offering itself as a sacrifice. Not disregarding its own existence, but playing a part in the composition to compliment it.
"Im as mighty as a shark. I roam in the dark" Terrifying, ancient, predatory.
"I might scar you with my mark" It's mark, meaning its serrated grimace. A threat of making us smile despite its destructiveness, all together graceful and violent, all together in harmony with life as a bringer of death.
"I'm as empty as the earth, an uninsignificant birth, stardust in the universe, that is all that I am worth"
Acknowledging the void as part of us that we fulfill, it is zen.
@oliwia_8581
Dzięki tekstowo.pl 😍
I'm as lucky as a moon
On a starry night in June
Looking down on a lagoon
I'm as lucky as a moon
I'm as clever as a crow
In a yellow meadow
Making all the flowers glow
I'm as clever as a crow
I'm as mighty as a shark
I roam in the dark
I might scar you with my mark
'Cause I'm as mighty as a shark
I’m as empty as the Earth
An insignificant birth
Stardust in a universe
That is all that I am worth
@TheEgoandme
stardust in the univeeeerse.... My soul went out of my body for 6 seconds.
@RACKAHJr
I get it 😄
@prinzpolo4583
Hei, kanskje Susanne får lese dette her. Æ er veldig takkenemelig for degg! Disse sangene og låt kaster megg i ein helt andre verden. Eg går på tur i ein helt annen universum. Ein universum som blander sammen fortid og fremtid.
Takk for degg igjen Susann.
@cycleof7s438
I listen to her because she harnesses the true power of music, the ability to take you out of your reality and transfer you somewhere else. Somewhere that is good. Somewhere that helps you see things for what they really are. Powerful Susanne Sundfor
@oracularanthracite9651
There is a lot of poetic depth in these verses and instrumentals. In my interpretation, the lyrics are describing our fascination with and reverence for the natural world, but also our hubris and desire to frame ourselves as the center. Susanne is a genius for capturing so much with so little. I'm repeatedly in awe of this song.
@TerezaRejzkova
This album is a cure. Absolutely stunning ♥
@Driigomes
I've covered this hymn on nylon guitar and uploaded the vid on YouTube… This song touches really deep when you got into the atmosphere.
Also, I'm glad that Susanne traveled to Altamira, in Amazon rainforest, during his world trip before releasing this album. She came here, among other things, as an activist on behalf of indigenous people and environment, since there's a large hydroelectric power plant near Altamira has been constructed. She also spent some days living with a native family in the middle of rainforest! I'm pretty sure all this experience are everywhere in this album.
@Psilio
That is so cool to read! I didn't know that. My respect for her has risen even more than it was before :)
Can you link your nylon version of this song, btw, if it's on youtube?
@francotenorio730
I've got the deepest love and appreciation for this fantastic record. Thank you, Susanne.
@user-ob8yn1cd9s
Какой красивый голос. Какая красивая душа пишет такие стихи.