Teitur Lassen (born 1977) is a singer… Read Full Bio ↴Also known as only Teitur.
Teitur Lassen (born 1977) is a singer-songwriter from the Faroe Islands.
Known simply as Teitur (pronounced tie-tor), he started out in the Faroese pop/rock band "Mark No Limits" as its lead singer and songwriter. After quickly gaining a reputation at home, Teitur left the Faroe Islands for Copenhagen at 17, finding both his voice and a succession of helping hands all over Europe and North America. He dedicated himself to playing and writing music in English full-time, and soon caught the attention of former BMI executive Christian Ulf-Hansen at the Danish music festival, SPOT, who quickly signed on as manager.
Within five years, Teitur found both a publishing deal and a record contract with Universal Music. His first major album, Poetry & Aeroplanes released in 2003, was recorded in Los Angeles and featured a number of prominent studio musicians and the production of Rupert Hine. Within months of its release, the record found a following among many of popular music's inner circle. Industry buzz led to opening slots on tours with Suzanne Vega, Hanson, Glen Phillips, Aimee Mann, and John Mayer.
In spite of the album's critical acclaim and growing grassroots popularity, Teitur failed to receive any real industry support, leading to limited sales and growing frustration among his fans. In a September 2004 article in Esquire Magazine, Mayer came to Teitur's defense, stating that "the problem with watching it get smaller and smaller in my rearview mirror is that it may be one of the best albums to come around in the last five years." Mayer concluded that the "record company's complete lack of vision for his career, has contributed to his warming the bench at Universal Records." Yet while his record sat unplayed in most American radio stations, word of mouth fan support allowed Teitur to continue touring through 2005.
On April 20, 2006, Teitur's management issued a statement that he had dropped Universal as his record label following months of legal problems and creative differences. His second studio record "Stay Under The Stars", produced by Martin Terefe, was released on May 1, 2006 in Scandanavia on "Arlo and Betty Recordings" in conjunction with Playground Music, and entered the Danish Top-40 at #9. "Stay Under The Stars" is to be licensed to additional territories in the coming months.
Teitur co-wrote the song Choux Pastry Heart on Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album.
Josephine
Teitur Lassen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my Somerville
A girl, in the alphabet shirt covered in dirt
Lives on the hill
Well, my sweet Josephine
Are you still racing stray dogs across the old stream?
My neighborhood queen
She stole my grandmother?s watch, a treasure to touch
To keep time to herself
Her mind was a very big house
We got lost there for hours until August fell
Well, my sweet Josephine
Are you still racing stray dogs across the old stream?
My neighborhood queen
Are you still kissing cowboys that cry, Josephine?
You say you're alright
"Josie it?s time you gotta get your feet on the ground"
But she says, ?No, but you see we have wings
It?s the funniest thing, it?s just that no ones knows"
No one knows, sweet Josephine
Well, my sweet Josephine
Are you still racing stray dogs across the old stream?
My neighborhood queen
Are you still kissing cowboys that cry, Josephine?
My neighborhood queen
Are you still kissing cowboys that cry, Josephine?
The lyrics to Teitur Lassen's song "Josephine" describe the singer's dreams of his old neighborhood in Somerville. In this neighborhood, there is a girl named Josephine who wears an alphabet shirt and lives on the hill. She is described as a free spirit, living in her own world and often getting lost in her own thoughts. She even stole the singer's grandmother's watch, treasuring it as a timekeeper for herself.
The chorus of the song asks Josephine if she is still the same, still racing stray dogs and kissing cowboys that cry. The singer admires Josephine's carefree spirit and the way she lives her life, but at the same time worries that she is not grounded in reality. Josephine tells the singer that she has wings, but no one knows about them.
Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, as well as a fascination with Josephine's free spirit and unique perspective on the world. It also touches on the universal desire to understand oneself and be understood by others.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamt I was back with pirates and cats
I had a dream where I traveled back to Somerville and hung out with pirates and cats.
In my Somerville
The setting of my dream was Somerville.
A girl, in the alphabet shirt covered in dirt
In my dream, I encountered a girl wearing a shirt with the alphabet on it, and she was covered in dirt.
Lives on the hill
The girl from my dream lives on a hill.
Well, my sweet Josephine
In the song, the artist addresses a person named Josephine.
Are you still racing stray dogs across the old stream?
The singer asks Josephine if she is still racing stray dogs across an old stream, likely referencing a childhood memory.
My neighborhood queen
Josephine is referred to as the 'neighborhood queen'.
She stole my grandmother?s watch, a treasure to touch
Josephine once stole a valuable watch belonging to the artist's grandmother.
To keep time to herself
Josephine stole the watch so she could keep track of time on her own terms.
Her mind was a very big house
Josephine's mind is compared to a big house or mansion.
We got lost there for hours until August fell
The singer and Josephine got lost in her thoughts for a long time, possibly for an entire month until August ended.
You say you're alright
Someone tells Josephine that they think she is okay.
"Josie it?s time you gotta get your feet on the ground"
The same person tells Josephine that she needs to start being realistic and grounded.
But she says, ?No, but you see we have wings
Josephine disagrees, saying they have wings--something that no one else can see or understand.
It?s the funniest thing, it?s just that no ones knows"
No one understands Josephine's perspective and she thinks it's funny in a way that nobody else does.
No one knows, sweet Josephine
The song ends with the repeated emphasis that nobody truly knows Josephine.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANNETTE BJERGFELDT, TEITUR LASSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JUDYACST
My 88 year old mother's name is Josephine. She's always hated her name and she has gone by the name Joanne. I'm going to play her this song so she knows how beautiful her name is. Thank you for this beautiful song.
@herbert42069
How did she like it?
@yugyoms2273
im still here in 2021, i remember hearing this in 2011 when it first came out.
@bassehansen020945
Jeg elsker den mand - jeg sidder og småtuder.
@annettebjergfeldt1511
Hey folks. Me and Teiturs song "JOSEPHINE" is performed by one of the semifinalist on the Danish X FACTOR show tonight .
So lovely when ones song gets around in the world : XXX Annette Bjergfeldt
@katrinenorregaard5470
And that's the reason why I've just replayed this song! CHILLS!! (From a Dane)
@jackl.2390
My awesome friend shown that performance, so I'm here for the same reason. It was so amazing, both versions are incredible. This is literally my favourite song now.
@malovela
+annette bjergfeldt I have to commend you for writing one of the most beautiful songs I know of. It's wonderful in every way. I don't know if it makes sense to thank someone you don't know for doing something that they didn't do for you, but... thank you anyway.
I once sang "Josephine" in my sleep (there's footage); that's how deeply I feel for it. :)
@annettebjergfeldt1511
+malovela Thanks so much for your wonderful message .. it means a lot ! I would love to hear you sing our song in your sleep :-)
@jerdijk
never heard of this guy: great song