When all are dizzy and happy from too much wine
I leave the party behind
To be alone with my thoughts and this spinning mind
Through this cold night
But there she stands

And she walks like you
And she smiles almost like you
A child of the wild just like you
Yes.

For a second I think I get a glimpse
Of the real her, behind
She's warm and fragile
With smiles that reach to her eyes
But just this moment,
A change so sublime

If she looked me deep into my eyes
And softly asked me too
I'd be in her bed and in her flesh
And waste a life I knew

So I hold my breath and close my eyes
And focus on the wine
Let this trembling moment pass us by
So I could say goodnight

But then, an impulse
I almost touched her face
Before I pulled back my hand
And we get nervous
We laugh and she spills her wine
Both so awkward, for what's on our mind

And she talks like you
And she smells almost like you
A child of the wild just like you
But she's not all you
Even strives not to be you
Just like every sister would do

And perhaps it's the want
Of you in her eyes
But I want her this one single time
...Just this one time

If she looked me deep into my eyes
And softly asked me too
I'd be in her bed and in her flesh
And waste a life I knew

So I hold my breath and close my eyes
And focus on the wine
Let this trembling moment pass us by
So I could say goodnight

If I'd looked into her eyes
And softly asked her too
She would give herself and give her flesh
And waste a life she knew

So we hold our breath, and close our eyes
And take a sip of wine
But this thirst has emptied every glass
And we should say goodnight

...God, help me say goodnight.


Lyrics submitted by 2006200720082009

Sisters Lyrics as written by Pelle Ahman Gottfrid Ahman

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

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Sisters song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +6
    My Interpretation

    This song appears to be about the protagonist having sex with his sister-in-law. The beginning cites a party situation (probably a family gathering where the two would perchance meet). In the "She walks like you" segments, he's tantalized at the fact that she reminds him so much of his wife, yet she isn't. I take it that some sort of a problem might be occurring between he and his wife for him to find such joy in somebody who is like her, but not. In this song, he is admitting that he would have sex with her if she wanted him to, and that he would be throwing his life away but that he wants her very badly. Likewise, he wants nothing more of these feelings and wants to merely return to the life he knows: servitude to his wife and her alone.

    It's a very moving song, and it's the most moving song I think they've ever written since "Undertow". Gorgeous stuff.

    2006200720082009on May 17, 2010   Link
  • +4
    My Interpretation

    There's not 2 sisters, it's a metaphor. Both sisters are the same person, the past and the present of the same girl.

    He is lonely and sad in a party when all of a sudden he finds the girl he loved once.

    "For a second I think I get a glimpse Of the real her, behind [...] But just this moment, A change so sublime"

    So, for a moment he sees the person she was before, but just for a moment, then he realizes she's not the person he loved anymore.

    Something happened in the past, we don't know what, maybe something she did or didn't do, who knows... But whatever it happened, it changed all, and changed her, and both of them know it would be a huge mistake coming back together.

    The rest of the song he emphasizes that she still has "almost" the same smile the same smell, the same voice... but nevertheless "she's not all you" (like a sister).

    And both are drinking wine, which makes them doubt, until it finishes and then they have to make their decision...

    srmufasaon February 09, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I still think that the man's wife is dead and at the cocktailish hour after the funeral (or sometime in the future) he sees his wife's sister and notices how much his wife and her sister are alike and perhaps part of him wants to throw his life away in the sense that he wants to dwell on the past and grasp onto the memory of his dead wife by being with her sister instead of moving forward and risking losing her memory. He's conflicted by what he's feeling because he knows it's wrong yet they have similar mannerisms perhaps, they are the same yet different and that intrigues him (in that sense it could be him cheating on his wife). The, "God, help me say goodnight" part makes me believe that he wants closure with his wife because he hasn't yet come to terms with losing her and/or doesn't know how to deal with the loss. Meh I don't know it seems much more romantic this way, I'm probably over analyzing.

    rebandvodkaon July 31, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have to agree with Aniland, it really is the next Undertow-like song. I love how they play the "louder" part. And of course... Daniel's voice still continue to amaze me..

    Stumblethenrise_on May 24, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about someone ''wanting'' the sister of his girlfriend.

    the song mention three persons, and the second paragraph he is comparing two persons, his girlfriend talking of her as ''you'' and his girlfriend's sister talking of her as ''she''

    And she walks like you And she smiles almost like you A child of the wild just like you

    he is saying that his girlfriend's sister looks like his girlfriend

    And perhaps it's the want Of (other) you in her eyes But I want her this one single time ...Just this one time

    this second paragraph tells that he wants his girlfriend's sister

    tho both know whats going on on both minds (''Both so awkward, for what's on our mind''), they both know the consequences so they say ''good night'' to don't make the big mistake of ruining a life they both know ''his girlfriend life'', sleeping with you girlfriend's sister would ruin her.

    Icauson June 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I've read many comments but have to say I don't think the person he wants to sleep with is his sister-in-law. You can feel that he is deeply missing and yearning someone. I think he lost the love of his life a while ago and he is at a party feeling the need to breathe clean air until he suddenly sees his lost lover's sister. He sees her as his lover's reflection but knows that they're not the same. They both carry the same pain and understand each other. He wants to be with her and get rid of his pain because she's almost just like his lost lover. But at the moment he is with someone else and he perceives their relationship as a consolation. They both know the person he's together with and they don't want to hurt that person. They're trying their best to stay away from each other and say goodbye but it doesn't change the fact that they want to be together

    aessedaion June 19, 2020   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Wanting somebody so badly because they remind you so much of someone with whom you've shared a deep love but for whatever reason it was lost or it changed over time. "..just this one time" to feel that connection, that emotion, knowing that there may be consequences for both parties if they act on the urge. Also the realization that what once was can never be again, but maybe just once it would be similar enough to satisfy. What then? Do they leave, separately, forever wondering about what might have been... or do they act on it, meet the needs they both have, and worry about the consequences afterwards? Hmm. Thought provoking!

    TwistedOneon April 10, 2023   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    I thought this song was about incest.

    Cheezedude12on August 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My take is this is a man who is no longer with a girl. But he sees her sister at a party, and she is so like his ex-flame in many ways that he is drawn to her, but he knows it is just the fond memories attracting him, and not the sister herself. And for both of them to give in to the impulse would be hurting the one person they both love - the ex-girlfriend.

    tommuton September 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Personaly i see it as someone who was deeply in love and for some reason that person is not there anymore and he see´s her in every other women. So, for him, it´s like seeing her "sister" all the time, cause he can´t let go... Maybe it nothing like that but it´s as i see it

    Glasmoonon March 18, 2011   Link

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