of Montreal – Oslo in the Summertime

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Oslo in the summertime; nobody can fall asleep, staring out the window from my bed.
At 4 A.M., the sun is up. Look, the sky is peppered with sea birds and with crows all cackling.

Up in treten Heimdalsgate, me and Nina making fun of footballers in Rudolf Nilsen Plass.
I practice my Norwegian on poor befuddled waitresses, who shake their heads completely at a loss.
Oslo in the summertime -- the streets are strangely quiet 'cause everyone's away on holiday.

Oslo in the summertime; Pakistani children play locked inside of the courtyard all day.
Pretty people everywhere, sun-lamp tans and flaxen hair -- just tell the American not to stare.

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Lyrics submitted by testemunha

Track duration: 03:21

"Oslo in the Summertime" as written by Kevin Barnes

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Oslo in the Summertime song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:Paste: How and when did you and Kevin meet?
    Nina: Oh, a long time ago. We met in Oslo [in 2001]. He was on tour in Europe with Great Lakes, and he was playing one show at a Swedish festival with Of Montreal. They played two shows in Oslo, (...)

    cachinga.
    Flag piloteon May 24, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I think you definitely need to be non-native to Oslo/Norway to really get this song, which would explain why it wouldn't remind you of Oslo, Linna.

    I spend my summers in Sweden and I think that you can easily replace Oslo in the song with 'Sweden' and all of it remains totally applicable. Feeling completely stupid in comparison with all of the pretty blonde, tan Scandinavian people around you who can speak English fluently while you fumble to speak Norwegian(Swedish). They never mean to offend but the feelings of inferiority are impossible to shake. Which makes it even more frustrating.
    And I can't even count how many nights I've spent awake, insomnia only exacerbated by watching the sun rise at 4 as the birds start to wake and chirp. It's eerie to me how well I can relate to this...

    God I can't wait to see Of Montreal on this tour.
    Flag k3yw0rkon January 11, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The song has a really alienating feel to it imo. To me the narrator feels extremely uncomfortable in this unfamiliar and strange place. "the sun is up at 4am" "nobody can fall asleep" "just tell the american not to stare" "i practice my norwegian on poor befuddled waitresses who shake their head completely at a loss." The lyrics and sound of the song lead me to believe that the narrator really does not enjoy it. I was told that the reason for Barnes' depression during the recording of Hissing Fauna in Norway was at least partly due to culture shock, and that's what this song sounds like to me. I dunno, I was just lying down listening to the Sunlandic Twins by myself in that lethargic and tired mood where I was bored but at the same time didn't feel like doing anything, and the song seemed to match my mood perfectly. When I hear the line "staring out the window from my bed" I think of that.
    Flag mylifesuckson October 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:there music is so very unique and this song is especially my favorite. they take music to a whole new level. make you feel like you trippen when you rnot high
    Flag love_someoneon November 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Exactly Sarahhh754! Every time I get high, I wanna listen to of Montreal. Especially "Oslo in the Summertime," but most of all, "The Past is a Grotesque Animal." That is a wonderful song no matter what, but even more enjoyable high.

    That's what "Oslo..." is about, having a good time, experiencing new things. I picture Kevin and Nina out, having fun together, people watching, making observations together.
    Flag xscbon April 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hah well, this song is the shit. I had heard it several times before, but when high, this song is hilarious. Especially the chorus. Sounds almost like laughter which made me laugh my ass off everytime the chorus came.
    Flag Sarahhh754on February 22, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Watch Al Pacino's Insomnia and this song will really come alive. In Insomnia, Al Pacino's in Alaska during the summertime. Lots of great visuals, like sun up at 4am.
    Flag philosophistryon November 30, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Oslo in the summertime the streets are strangely quite ’cause
    everyone’s away on holiday


    ahhhhhh so perfect
    Flag supermariaaaaaon June 08, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I live in Oslo, but the song doesn't remind me of Oslo, actually. Maybe because I live outside the city? This is true, though: "Oslo in the summertime Pakistani children play locked inside the courtyard all day".
    Flag Linnaon June 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I live in Oslo, but the song doesn't remind me of Oslo, actually. Maybe because I live outside the city? This is true, though: "Oslo in the summertime Pakistani children play locked inside the courtyard all day".
    Flag Linnaon June 08, 2007   Link

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