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
When
Susanne Sundfør Lyrics
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I've been waiting out here for so long and I
Don't seem to find a reason
To keep building these castles out of snow
They only melt away
When spring is arriving and you won't be here
Waiting to drag me down into your pond
You bury me slowly, you bury me slowly
Take what you can
Give what you don't need
Still I'll let it be known in every parish
You are loved, you are loved
When can I see you again?
I've been waiting out here for so long and I
Don't seem to find a reason
To keep building these castles out of snow
They only melt away
When spring is arriving and you won't be here
Waiting to drag me down into your pond
You bury me slowly, you bury me slowly
Take what you can
Give what you don't need
Still I'll let it be known in every parish
You are loved, you are loved
You are loved, you are loved
You are loved, you are loved
The lyrics to Susanne Sundfør's "When" speak to the emotions of longing, waiting, and desperation for a loved one who seems to keep slipping away. The singer is waiting outside for someone whom they are deeply attached to, but who seems to be fading away, as the castles they build out of snow do when springtime comes. The addressee seems to be dragging the singer down into their own darkness and consuming them slowly. The refrain "you are loved" seems to be an affirmation to the addressee that they are deeply cared for, despite the hurt they cause.
The lyrics to "When" are filled with vivid metaphors and images that tune into the various emotions that come with desperately waiting for someone you love. The castles of snow speak to the temporary and fragile nature of the singer's relationship with their loved one. The pond is a metaphor for the darkness that their loved one carries with them, which the singer cannot escape from. However, in the face of hurt and despair, the message that "you are loved" shines like a beacon, affirming the enduring love that the singer feels for their loved one.
One interpretation of the song might be that it speaks to the cycle of hope and hopelessness that comes with loving someone who is emotionally distant or unavailable. The act of waiting outside for the loved one suggests a desire for connection, but also a fear of abandonment. The castles of snow, which inevitably melt away, might be a metaphor for the simultaneous hope and despair that the singer feels. Ultimately, the refrain "you are loved" suggests that even in the midst of this fear and despair, love can endure.
Line by Line Meaning
When can I see you again?
I have been waiting to see you for a long time and I would like to know when I can meet you?
I've been waiting out here for so long and I
Don't seem to find a reason
To keep building these castles out of snow
I have been waiting for you for a long time and I don't have any reason to keep building temporary structures in your absence
They only melt away
When spring is arriving and you won't be here
Waiting to drag me down into your pond
My constructions will disappear when spring comes, and you won't be here to keep me from drowning in my sorrows
You bury me slowly, you bury me slowly
Take what you can
Give what you don't need
Still I'll let it be known in every parish
You are loved, you are loved
You are slowly breaking me down and taking everything from me while giving away what you don't even require. But still, I will profess your love to everyone I meet
You are loved, you are loved
Despite everything, you are still loved
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lars Horntveth, Susanne Sundfor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind