Bendtsen gave up his residence in Copenhagen in the end of 2008 and went on the road, playing with different people he met on his way. Like this he spent most of 2009 travelling across the United States, playing his songs one night in frosty New York as a solo act, another in hot New Orleans with a horn orchestra and the next in Texas with a mad stomp group.
Back on a visit in Denmark in Juli 2009, Bendtsen gathered some of his folky friends in a summerhouse by the southern Danish coast and recorded the first Migrant album there. The prelude to this session had been a number of 'jam band' concerts where varying musicians tried out Bendtsen's new songs. Not surprisingly, the album that these concerts led to has a somewhat anarchist and 'free' vibe.
It was only half of Bendtsen's new songs, however, that was put down on tracks at that session and so Bendtsen accepted an invitation from Theater Fire's horn- and piano-player James Talambas who invited him to his home studio in Fort Worth, Texas to record another Migrant album in August. Bendtsen had met Talambas on his earlier travels in the US and knew that James' house contained everything from a 1870s saloon piano to old horn instruments and an Indian drum collection. While the thermometer showed 100 degrees F the two young men began a sweaty two-months recording session, sometimes helped by different local musicians.
Back in Denmark by the end of 2009, Bendtsen decided to break with his old band, critically acclaimed The Elephants, and started adding final touches to the two recorded Migrant albums with his Danish friend and co-producer Mads Hartmann. Later, during an unusually cold Danish winter, Bendtsen isolated himself for a month in a cottage on the snowcovered southern Danish coast to mix the two records.
Bendtsen released the first Migrant album Travels in Lowland in autumn 2010 and followed up with tours in the states and in Europe. In the states backed by his band from Austin, Texas and in Europe touring solo. However, at the Danish shows backed by a group of Bendtsen's Copenhagen friends.
You can now listen to all songs from Travels in Lowland at The Migrant's website. The second album Amerika is to be released sometime in 2011.
WATER
The Migrant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
waiting, flowing, running
over the dam
Water, if I tell you what I am
carry me, lead me
there
I won't hold back
nothing's too heavy
too anything
I can let go
be everything
slowly, slowly
and then!
Water, your unfolded powers
running downhill
lifting me up
Water, you can feel it
you wanna
go along
and you sing!
Running, dwelling, loving
don't think you can stop anything
dwelling…. loving!
Water, understand it and
nothing's too heavy, too crazy, too hot, too cold
too anything
do anything!
I can let go
be anything
dwelling……
The Migrant's song Water could be interpreted in many ways but at its core, it speaks to the power of water, both literally and metaphorically. Water can be seen as a symbol for life, growth, healing, and transformation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is connecting deeply with the water, feeling it flowing and running within them. They acknowledge that if they reveal their true self to the water, it will carry and lead them to where they need to be. The singer speaks of letting go and becoming everything, suggesting that the water has the power to wash away their old self and bring forth a new, better version.
The lyrics also imply that the water has an understanding that transcends human comprehension. No matter how heavy or intense the singer's emotions or thoughts may be, the water can handle it all because it's powerful enough to take it in and move through it. The repeated words "dwelling" and "loving" at the end of the song suggest a kind of surrender and acceptance in the singer. They have given themselves over to the water and are dwelling in its power and love.
In summary, the song is all about the transformative power of water and how connecting with it can lead to growth and healing. It's about letting go of past selves and allowing the water to carry you forward to a new life.
Line by Line Meaning
Water, I can feel it in me
I am connected to water at a deep level.
waiting, flowing, running
over the dam
Water is always moving, waiting to be unleashed and allowed to flow.
Water, if I tell you what I am
carry me, lead me
there
I won't hold back
Water has the power to carry and lead me to where I need to be without fear or hesitation.
Water, understand it and
nothing's too heavy
too anything
I can let go
be everything
slowly, slowly
and then!
Water has the power to help me understand that nothing is too difficult or too big for me to handle, and in time I will be able to let go and become everything I desire.
Water, your unfolded powers
running downhill
lifting me up
The powers of water are endless and, like the flow of water down a hill, it has the power to lift me up and carry me forward.
Water, you can feel it
you wanna
go along
and you sing!
Water has a spirit that calls out to us to follow it on its journey, and it sings the sweet song of life.
Running, dwelling, loving
don't think you can stop anything
dwelling…. loving!
Water is always moving, always present, always loving, and nothing can stop its power.
Water, understand it and
nothing's too heavy, too crazy, too hot, too cold
too anything
do anything!
I can let go
be anything
dwelling……
When we truly understand the power of water, there is nothing too difficult or impossible for us to accomplish. We can let go of our fears and be anything we desire, while dwelling in the sweet power of water.
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.