Emiliana Torrini Complete Lyrics Archive

B i o g r a p h y
(by Official Site)

Emiliana Torrini is half Icelandic, half Italian. She grew up in Iceland in a town outside Reykjavik and spent her childhood summers with her grandmother in the far east of Iceland out in the wild, spacious countryside. Her teen summers were spent in Germany with her Italian uncle. She joined a choir aged seven and sang soprano till she was 15, when she went to opera school. “I got into other music rather late because we didn“t have any records, well except lots of classical, my mum“s Greatest Love Songs compilation from the TV and Leonard Cohen whom I love. Then we got MTV. We were the first people in our town to have it and I would stay up all night to record from the late night alternative shows, making tapes to take to school to brag about my musical findings.“

She recorded a few jazz and blues songs for her father“s 50th birthday which then became an album that sold 15,000 copies in Iceland and remained at number one for many months. She followed this with an equally successful album of which 50% was co-written by her and hence the beginnings of her writing career. “I spent this period singing in restaurants, bars and hotels all over Iceland,“ and that is how she was discovered by One Little Indian where their MD happened to be eating. Emiliana consequently moved to England where Roland Orzabal from Tears For Fears co-produced her worldwide debut. “ I wanted to move to India, learn the classical techniques there, then move to Bulgaria, be a gypsy, and learn the techniques, and keep moving and learning new ways of singing - but instead I came to England and made a pop record.“

So opens Emiliana Torrini's second album, a soft-yet-searing collection of twelve intimate and atmospheric songs that will whisper their way into your bloodstream. Back in 1999, when the singer released the critically acclaimed Love In The Time Of Science, Emiliana came out with a gorgeous, electronic trippoppin' vision of endless summer and moonlit nights out. Following her departure from One Little Indian, there's a new introspection, closer to Nick Drake or Jolie Holland than Portishead or Goldfrapp.

The 27-year-old singer and writer has nonetheless been busy since Love In The Time Of Science. She moved to Brighton, joined the cast of Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers to perform the enchanting ‘Gollum Song' wrote and toured with Thievery Corporation, and wrote a Number One Hit for Kylie Minogue in the shape of huge-selling pop smash “Slow“. “It was a very fun thing to do,“ she says. “It was an opportunity to dust off my dancing shoes and write music that I don“t normally write but love, and then keep the smokey-little-bar-music to my self.“ “Slow“ was written and produced with Brixton-based producer Mr Dan, midway through the sessions that became Fisherman“s Woman. After writing with a number of different artists, Emiliana was introduced to Mr Dan – and they clicked immediately. “it had been so long since the last album, and I was in two minds of doing it again,“ she says. “I was very nervous about going back, but we had so much fun doing it. It is just one of those collaborations I have been waiting for all my life.“

Emiliana decided to go back to basics and write with just a guitar and no electronics or programming. The pair jammed out the songs in Dan“s dark Brixton basement with Dan on guitar and Emiliana conjuring up the lyrics and melodies. After that they recorded the record in The Exchange in Camden, “ well one thing I knew very well is that I wanted a very intimate vocal sound,“ she says. “This album was recorded with candles, laughing fits and my duvet. We were sad leaving Brixton. I love it there,“ she says. “It can suck the life out of you and then blow you full again. Depends what mood it“s in. Brixton is like a huge “me me me show“.“

Emiliana TorriniIntimate. It sounds like it: opening gambit “Nothing Brings Me Down“ gradually builds from sparse beginnings; Dan“s acoustic guitar, light touches of piano - to a textured, gentle circle. Album highlight “Sunny Road“ sounds as if it could have leaped out of a dusty, lost Leonard Cohen session, while “Lifesaver“ floats along a mysterious, fairy-tale accordion melody, accompanied by the ambient creak of boats on water. “Thinking Out Loud“ whispers of Eastern Europe and the Appalachians before album closer, “Serenade“ multi-tracks the listener into a moonlit dream which references clouds, dark vines, temptations and new tomorrows. It“s evocative and heart-felt – a handcrafted jewel of a record. Fisherman“s Woman also includes a song, “Honeymoon Child“ written by smog“s Bill Callahan, who Emiliana spent some time writing with in America.

Fisherman“s Woman is a very different beast. It is themed around loss, and how it feels to lose people; sometimes it“s dripping with sadness but more frequently imbued with almost magical optimism. “Fisherman“s Woman is a letter I wrote to a person that I lost at that time. I coped by thinking I was with a fisherman. They can go on sea for months like my friend“s dad. Her mum saw him twice a year maybe for a fortnight at a time,“ she says. “It was a little bit like Alice in Wonderland. The falling into a hole, the madness of it all.“ Despite the sadness, Emiliana remains positive. “I could never write a wholly sad album,“ she says laughing. “There are too many moon rivers to see and life to live. Fisherman“s woman has been a way of making things whole again.“

This album is sincerely honest and as endearing as they come. And it's lovely, too.

Every man i get, he won't get sick - he will die
Doggone woman take from him he's a doggone fly

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

Well the next man i got, you know he worked very hard
Just as soon as i got him he lost his doggone job

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

Well the next man i got he was a railroad man
Just as soon as i got him everything went out his doggone hands

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

Well the next man i got he was long and tall
Everytime i look around he was kickin' at someone other mans jaw

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

Wooooooh

Well the next man i got he was short and fat
I couldn't keep him because he wasn't taught like that

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

Well the next man i got he was a sandhawk in the sea
I had him two days and he got drowned away from me

I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman
I'm a bad luck woman i can't see the reason why

I can hear his heart beat for a thousand miles
And the heavens open every time he smiles
And when I come to him that's where I belong
Yet I'm running to him like a river's song

He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

He's got a fine sense of humor when I'm feeling low down
And when I come to him when the sun goes down
Take away my trouble, take away my grief
Take away my heartache, I go right to sleep

He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

Yeah I need him in the daytime
Yeah I need him in the night
Yeah I want to throw my arms around him
Kiss him, hug him, kiss him, hold his tight

And now I'm returning from so far away
He gives me some sweet lovin', brighten up my day
Yeah It makes me feel righteous, yes it makes me feel whole
Yes It makes me feel mellow down to my soul

He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

He has a powerful weapon
He charges a million a shot,
An assassin that's second to none,
The man with the golden gun.

Lurking in some darkened doorway,
Or crouched on a roof top somewhere,
In the next room, or this very one
The man with the golden gun.

Love is required whenever he's hired,
It comes just before the kill.
No-one can catch him, no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill.

One golden shot means another poor victim,
Has come to a glittering end,
For a price, he'll erase anyone
The man with the golden gun.

His eye may be on you or me.
Who will he bang?
We shall see. Oh yeah!

Love is required whenever he's hired,
It comes just before the kill.
No-one can catch him, no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill.

One golden shot means another poor victim,
Has come to a glittering end,
If you want to get rid of someone,
The man with the golden gun
Will get it done
He'll shoot anyone
With his golden gun.

Without a word of warnin'
Blues walked in this mornin'
And circled 'round my lonely room

I didn't know why i had that sad 'n lonely feelin'
Until my baby called and said we were through, hooo
For yesterday this time i sang a lovesong
But today... i'm singing the blues

Hmmmm...

Strikes me kinda funny
How love can be this way
We were lovin' 'til last night honey, yeah
I'm alone again today

And it strikes me kinda funny
How fate can be unfair
That i come right on the losin' end
In every, every love affair!

Yes it must be, it must be meant for me
That i should be the one, be the one to always lose, hooo

For yesterday!
Yesterday this time i'd sing a love song
Whoaoohhh!
Yeah, but right now - im singin the blues!
Who-o-oh ye-he-heah!

Where has my love gone?
How can I go on?
It seems dear love has gone away.
Where is my spirit?
I'm nowhere near it!
Oh yes, my love...has gone astray.

But I'll blame it on the sun,
The sun that didn't shine,
I blame it on the wind, and the trees.

I'll blame it on the time,
That never was enough,
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.

Who poured the love out?
What made this bitter doubt?
Is peace not here, for me to see?
Wish I could tell you, what I am feelin'.
But words won't come, for me to speak.

Wow! But I'll blame it on the sun, that didn't fill the sky.
I'll blame it on the birds, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the day, that ended once too soon.
I'll blame it on the nights, that could not be.
I'll blame it on the sun, the sun that didn't shine.
I'll blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the time, that never was enough.
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.

The Boy Who Giggled So Sweet

He came with the breeze
She told everyone, in the cold
She would hold him and sing a song,
Sweet little Anna, singing her sad, sad song,
To her beautiful boy that giggled so sweet.

The days went by until one little night,
with this one little moon hanging in its black,
Sweet little Anna, whispered her goodnight song,
In the ear of the boy who giggled so sweet.

"My baby, my beauty, my boy, my baby,
What is your favourite song of all songs?
Sweet baby, my love, my darling, my baby,
Forever your rosie little lips won't turn blue.

I won't let nights hurt you,
I won't let them take you,
Take my hand and we'll run up that tree.

I won't let days hurt you,
I wont let them break you,
if so my little heart will die,
if so my tears will freeze and turn grey."

He just stared in her hardworking arms,
His rosie little lips had turned blue,
Sweet little Anna, chanted her goodnight song,
for her beautiful boy that giggled so sweet.

"My baby, my beauty..."

They took the boy who giggled so sweet,
Frozen grey tears glanced on her cheek,
And the goodnight song,
She never stopped singing,
Danced from her lips,
Down the dark grey street.

"My baby, my beauty..."

Stephanie says,
That she wants to know,
Why she's given half her life
To people she hates now.

Stephanie says
When answering the phone
What country shall I say is calling,
From across the world?

But she's not afraid to die,
The people all call her Alaska,
Between worlds, so the people ask her,
'Cause it's all in her mind.
It's all in her mind.

Stephanie says,
That she wants to know,
Why it is though she's the door
She can't be the room.

Stephanie says,
But doesn't hang up the phone,
What seashell-sea is callin',
From across the world?

But she's not afraid to die,
The people all call her Alaska,
between worlds, so people ask her,
'Cause it's all in her mind.
It's all in her mind.

They're asking "Is it good or bad?".
It's such an icy feeling.
It's so cold in Alaska! X4

Red Woman Red

Hi! I'm the red woman red,
With the broken wooden leg,
There are many red dresses
Lying on my red,
Old bed,
And the oven is hot,
So come and warm yourself up,
By the red fire red,
By the red woman red.

Hello, red woman red,
With the broken wooden leg,
Guess I'll take your offer,
And have a little rest,
And my naked staring breasts,
In a red cherry dress,
By the red fire red,
With you red woman red.

I'm the red woman red,
With the broken wooden leg,
Red curly girl how do you dare?
You're sitting on my man's chair,
And the oven is hot,
So come here
And I'll burn you up,
In the red fire red,
You're a dead woman dead.

Old Man And Miss Beautiful

Old man, old man,
Staring at young
Miss Beautiful,
Taking her home
Every night,
Loving her, holding her.

Old man, old man,
Everyday watching
Miss Beautiful,
Smelling her,
Tasting her,
Loving her, feeling her.

Old man, old man,
Wanting to keep
Miss Beautiful,
Hangs her on the
Bedroom wall,
Loving her, owning her.

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning,
And the first thing that I heard,
Was a song outside my window,
And the traffic wrote the words,
It came ringing up like christmas bells,
And rapping up like pipes and drums.

Oh, won't you stay we'll put on the day,
And we'll wear it 'till the night comes.

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning,
And the first thing that I saw,
Was the sun through yellow curtains,
And a rainbow on the wall,
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you,
Crimson crystal beads to beckon

Oh, won't you stay we'll put on the day,
There's a sun show every second.

Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today.
And the streets are paved with passersby,
And pigeons fly, and papers lie,
Waiting to blow away.

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning,
And the first thing that I knew,
There was milk and toast and honey,
And a bowl of orangejuice too,
And the sun poured in like butterscotch,
And stuck to all my senses.
Oh, wont you stay we'll put on the day,
And we'll talk in present tenses.

When the cuntain closes,
And the rainbow runs away,
I will bring you incense owls by night,
By candlelight, by two jewellight
If only you will stay.
Pretty baby won't you.
Wake up, it is a Chelsea morning.

Well, I hope that I don't fall in love with you.
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue.
When the music plays and you display your heart for me to see.
I had a beer and now I hear you calling out for me.
And, I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

Well, the room is crowded, people everywhere.
And I wonder should I offer you a chair.
Well, if you sit down with this old clown, take that frown and break it.
Before the evening's gone away, I think that we could make it.
And, I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

Well, the night does funny things inside a man.
This old tom-cat feelings you don't understand.
Well, I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette.
I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we've never met.
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

I can see that you are lonesome, just like me.
And it being late, you'd like some company.
Well, I turn around to look at you, and you look back at me.
The guy you're with has up and split, the chair next to you is free.
And I hope that you don't fall in love with me.

It's closing time, the music's fading out.
Last call for drinks, I'll have another stout.
Well, I turn around to look at you, you're nowwhere to be found.
I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round.

And I think that I just fell in love with you.

Premiere Lovin'

You wore a dark, purple suit, with a tissue 'round your neck.
Lonely, eating tomato soup, I knew I had to check.

A broken ball of fruits, was lying by your side,
You offered me a chair, I guess just to be polite.

I guess this is my premiere lovin'.

You asked me with a voice of torn old silk.
"Do you want some berries with sugar, chocolate and milk?"

I'm here, look at me, but you just lit a cigarette;
"You're not quite what I'm looking for my little marionette"

I guess this is my premiere lovin'.
I guess this is my premiere lovin'.

Well, that's sweet, how nice.
Now what will I do?
Stand up and leave or just sit still and look at you?

Well, that's sweet, how nice.
Now what will I do?
Stand up and leave or just sit still and look at you?

Gleaming, you stood up obviously had a thrill.
I sat there alone of course I had to pay the bill.

That's just great, how nice, what a surprise!
My luck had run out, on to the beach, to the sun, resting, having fun.

I guess this is my premiere lovin'.
I guess this is my premiere lovin'.
I guess this is my premiere lovin'.

Merman

When you look into his eyes,
You wish that no one could see him,
Only you could be touched by him,
And you could walk alone by his side,
And if you want to dream with him,
Just close your eyes, and hold your breath,
And you'll find that you can breathe in water.

When you look into his eyes,
you wish that no one could see him,
No one else could see him,
No one else could feel him.

When you look into his eyes,
you wish that no one could see him,
No one else could see him,
No one else could feel him.

When you look into his eyes,
You feel he's telling you goodbye,
He says "I'm off into the living".
And your lungs ache filled with water.
You watch how he walks you by.
And all the fish follow him.
You smile 'cause you'll always be his lover.

When you look into his eyes,
you wish that no one could see him,
No one else could see him,
No one else could feel him.

When you look into his eyes,
you wish that no one could see him,
No one else could see him,
No one else could feel him.

They told me when I was little,
I'd go to heaven if I was good.
Now I'm a long way from little,
'Cause I tried to find heaven,
'Cause I thought that I could.
I thought that I could.

And I thought I loved Harold,
And I really loved John,
I really loved Alphy
I almost loved Tom.
I loved them so easy,
And I loved them so free.
Now I don't think that heaven
Will wanna love me.

Hallo, song of the willow,
The dreams under my pillow,
Turned to tears that I cried.
Beauty and love are our riddle,
Never to answer, but always to try.
And, boy, did I try.

And I tried with Harold,
And I tried with John.
I tried with Alphy,
And almost with Tom.
I left myself open,
For the whole world to see.
Now I don't think that heaven
Will wanna love me.

So I said goodbye to Harold,
And goodbye to John.
Goodbye to Alphy,
And goodbye to Tom.
I loved them so easy,
And I loved them so free.
Now I don't think that heaven
Will wanna love me.

Oh say, can you see?
By the dawn's early light
No light will shine me