Berlin

"Berlin" by RY X is a profoundly intimate and melancholic exploration of loneliness, longing, and the painful dissonance between love and location. The song captures a moment of intense emotional isolation, where the external environment of a cold, snowy Berlin becomes a metaphor for the singer's internal state. He is physically present in the city but emotionally and spiritually distant, yearning for a partner who is not there. The lyrics convey a feeling of being lost and adrift, grappling with the fallout from a past conflict ("All that fighting, all that snow").

The song delves into the paradox of wanting connection while simultaneously pushing it away. The line, "Tell me I'm not going home / And I'll stop waiting by the phone," speaks to the torment of uncertainty. The singer desires a definitive statement, even a negative one, to end the painful state of waiting. Ultimately, the song is about self-realization and the innate need to return to one's true nature. The declaration, "I'm a child of sun and the stars I love," is a powerful assertion of identity. It signifies that the cold, isolating environment of Berlin—and perhaps the relationship associated with it—is incompatible with his essential being. The decision to run home is not just a physical retreat but a spiritual necessity, a choice to return to a place of warmth, familiarity, and self-acceptance.

A person finds themselves in Berlin, enveloped by the cold and snow. This external chill mirrors a sense of internal isolation and emotional turmoil. They are grappling with the aftermath of a conflict, a fight that has left a lingering silence. The days are sober and the nights are spent alone, with thoughts of a distant lover and the words of poets like Byron filling their mind. There is a deep sense of loneliness and a yearning for connection, highlighted by the act of waiting by a phone that doesn't ring. The hope is that their loved one will tell them not to come home, which would paradoxically end the painful anticipation and provide a certainty, albeit a heartbreaking one.

The physical space—a stark bedroom floor—becomes a landscape for this emotional state. A profound silence seems to have seeped into their very being, a quietness in their blood. This internal stillness prompts a sudden, decisive shift. They apologize to their distant love, declaring an urgent need to return home. This isn't just a physical journey back, but a return to their true self. They identify as a "child of sun and the stars I love," a stark contrast to the cold, grey reality of their Berlin winter. It's an acknowledgment that they belong to a world of warmth, light, and nature, and this realization is a powerful pull, a final answer to the emotional limbo they've been enduring. The journey home is a reclamation of self, an escape from the coldness of a place and a relationship that has left them feeling lost and alone.

"Berlin" was written by Australian artist Ry Cuming, known as RY X, and released in 2013 as the title track of his debut EP. The song was born from a deeply personal and difficult experience. In an interview, Ry Cuming revealed that the song was inspired by a "sad and quite destructive" relationship he was in with a woman living in Berlin. His first visit to the city was during a harsh winter, and the cold, introverted atmosphere of the city mirrored the emotional turmoil he was experiencing.

He began writing the song during a snowstorm in Berlin, having just left the summer of his native Australia to follow a potential love. This stark contrast between warmth and cold, home and a foreign place, became a central theme. The recording itself was a single, live take with just vocals and guitar, captured on tape to preserve its raw and honest emotion. Ry Cuming has stated that he didn't initially intend to share the song widely, considering it a personal expression, a "cry of the heart". Despite its intimate origins, the song's accidental success, initially released on the Swedish label Dumont Dumont before being picked up by Infectious Music UK, marked a significant turning point in his career.

The song is rich with symbolism, primarily using the city of Berlin itself as a central metaphor.

• Berlin in the Cold: The city is depicted as cold and covered in snow, which symbolizes emotional isolation, loneliness, and the bleakness of the singer's internal state. The winter weather is not just a setting but a direct reflection of the emotional distance and conflict within the relationship.
• Sun and Stars: In contrast to the cold, the singer identifies himself as a "child of sun and the stars I love." This imagery represents his true nature, a longing for warmth, light, connection, and perhaps his home in Australia. It's a metaphor for a state of being that is natural and life-affirming, which he feels disconnected from in Berlin.
• Silence in my Blood: This powerful metaphor suggests a deep, internalized sense of emptiness and quiet despair. It's a silence that is not just external but has become part of his very being, indicating a profound level of emotional numbness or resignation before his decision to leave.
• Waiting by the Phone: This is a classic symbol of longing and hope mixed with the pain of uncertainty. It represents a state of emotional paralysis, where his actions are dictated by the hope of communication from a distant lover.

The predominant emotional atmosphere of "Berlin" is one of deep melancholy and intimate vulnerability. It creates a soundscape of quiet desperation and introspective sadness. This is achieved through the synergy of its components: RY X's fragile, high-pitched falsetto sounds almost on the verge of breaking, conveying a raw, unfiltered sorrow. The sparse acoustic guitar, with its simple, repeating melody, creates a feeling of stasis and contemplation, as if lost in a single, painful thought. The lyrics paint a picture of physical and emotional coldness, using imagery of snow and sober nights to evoke a sense of profound loneliness and longing. The song is a lament, a cry from a place of feeling lost and disconnected, both from a loved one and from one's own sense of self. However, it resolves with a sliver of desperate hope—not for the relationship, but for the self—in the final decision to run home to the "sun and the stars," suggesting a move from resignation to a necessary act of self-preservation.

Despite being what RY X calls an "anti-single" due to its minimalist structure and lack of a traditional chorus, "Berlin" achieved significant cultural penetration and critical acclaim. The song gained widespread attention after being featured in a prominent 2013 commercial for the Sony BRAVIA 4K television, which exposed it to a massive audience in the UK, France, and Germany. This placement was pivotal in its success.

The track charted in several countries, including reaching number 15 in France and number 38 in the UK. Its emotional depth also led to its inclusion in several television shows, such as Normal People, Shameless, and Parenthood, further cementing its status as a go-to song for poignant moments. Several artists have also covered the song, most notably Sam Smith, which introduced it to a different subset of listeners. For RY X, "Berlin" was a breakout success that defined his sound and brought his intimate, raw songwriting to a global audience, paving the way for his subsequent albums and sold-out tours.

"Berlin" employs a simple, unforced structure that prioritizes emotional expression over strict formal constraints. The song is best described as being in free verse, lacking a consistent, traditional rhyme scheme like AABB or ABAB. Instead, it uses occasional slant rhymes and assonance to create a sense of cohesion without feeling overly structured. For example, the pairing of "snow" and "home" or "phone" provides a subtle sonic link.

The rhythm of the song is slow and contemplative, with a gentle, finger-picked guitar pattern providing the primary rhythmic pulse. The tempo is unhurried, allowing space for the lyrics and vocal melodies to unfold naturally. The lyrical phrasing is fluid and follows the cadence of speech, enhancing the song's intimate, confessional tone. There is a delicate interplay between the steady, almost hypnotic rhythm of the guitar and the more expressive, emotionally charged rhythm of the vocal lines. This combination contributes significantly to the song's hypnotic and melancholic atmosphere, pulling the listener into the singer's introspective state.

"Berlin" is defined by its minimalist and emotionally raw approach, both musically and lyrically.

• Vocal Delivery: RY X's signature falsetto is the central focus of the track. Its delicate, breathy quality conveys a profound sense of vulnerability and fragility, drawing comparisons to artists like Bon Iver and Jeff Buckley. The vocals are layered with harmonies that add texture and an ethereal, haunting dimension.
• Instrumentation: The arrangement is sparse, featuring a simple, reverberating acoustic guitar riff that repeats throughout the song. This minimalism places the emotional weight squarely on the vocals and lyrics, preventing any distraction from the raw sentiment being expressed. The use of reverb on both the guitar and vocals creates a spacious, atmospheric quality, enveloping the listener in the song's melancholic mood.
• Lyrical Style: The lyrics are poetic and evocative, using stark imagery rather than explicit narrative. Phrases like "Berlin in the cold" and "silence in my blood" create a strong sensory experience. The songwriting is direct and confessional, feeling like a personal, intimate glimpse into a moment of crisis.
• Recording Technique: The song was recorded live to tape, which captures the immediacy and imperfection of the performance. The subtle hiss and warmth of the tape add to the track's organic and honest feel, making it sound less like a polished studio product and more like a captured moment of pure expression.

What is the meaning of the song 'Berlin' by RY X?

The song 'Berlin' is about feeling deep loneliness and emotional isolation while being in a cold, foreign city, which serves as a metaphor for a troubled relationship. It explores the pain of longing for a distant lover and ultimately realizes the need to return to one's true self, symbolized by a place of 'sun and stars.'

What inspired RY X to write 'Berlin'?

RY X was inspired by a difficult and 'destructive' relationship he had with someone in Berlin. He wrote the song during a harsh winter snowstorm in the city, feeling a stark contrast to his native Australia, which fueled the themes of emotional and physical coldness in the lyrics.

Was the song 'Berlin' by RY X used in any movies or TV shows?

Yes, 'Berlin' has been featured in several TV shows, most notably in the acclaimed series 'Normal People' (Season 1, Episode 9). It was also used in episodes of 'Shameless' and 'Parenthood'. Its most famous placement was in a 2013 Sony BRAVIA TV commercial.

What does the line 'I'm a child of sun and the stars I love' mean?

This line represents a moment of self-realization for the singer. It symbolizes his true nature and belonging to a world of warmth, light, and authenticity, in stark contrast to the cold, isolating environment of Berlin he finds himself in. It is his reason for deciding to 'run home.'

What genre of music is 'Berlin' by RY X?

The song is primarily categorized as Indie Folk, with strong elements of Ambient and Alternative music. Its minimalist acoustic arrangement, ethereal falsetto vocals, and atmospheric production are key characteristics of its sound.

Who is the woman in the music video for 'Berlin'?

In a 2017 interview with The Independent, RY X stated that the woman featured in the official music video for 'Berlin' was his actual partner at the time. He described their interaction in the video as an organic 'dance of love' rather than something that was formally orchestrated.