Possession

Sarah McLachlan

About Possession

"Possession" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, and was the first single from her album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. It was written and composed by McLachlan herself and was produced by Pierre Marchand. It was released in Canada on 10 September 1993 by Nettwerk Records. The song appears twice on the album, as the first track and as a hidden track at the end, which is a solo piano version. "Possession" is written from the viewpoint of a man obsessed with a woman, and was inspired by consistent fan letters to McLachlan some time before the writing of the song from a computer programmer from Ottawa, Ontario named Uwe Vandrei, who sued McLachlan for using his words without crediting him. However, Vandrei committed suicide before the case could ever be taken to court. The main recording of "Possession" also appeared on the 2008 compilation album Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan, and McLachlan has also released live, alternate and remixed versions of the song. 


Year:
1999
68 
#1

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Listen as the wind blows
From across the great divide
Voices trapped in yearning
Memories trapped in time
The night is my companion
And solitude my guide
Would I spend forever here
And not be satisfied

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd, wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear

Through this world I've stumbled
So many times betrayed,
Trying to find an honest word,
To find the truth enslaved,
Oh you speak to me in riddles and
You speak to me in rhymes
My body aches to breathe your breath,
Your words keep me alive

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd, wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear

Into this night I wander,
It's morning that I dread,
Another day of knowing of
The path I fear to tread,
Oh, into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride,
Nothing stands between us here
And I won't be denied

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd, wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear

I'll hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes

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Sarah McLachlan

Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2009, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards (out of four nominations) and four Juno Awards. In addition to her personal artistic efforts, she founded the Lilith Fair tour, which showcased female musicians. The Lilith Fair concert tours took place from 1997 to 1999, and resumed in the summer of 2010. Since 2006 she has also been known as a highly visible supporter of the ASPCA, as well as various other charities. more »

8 fans

Written by: Sarah Mclachlan

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Release
"Possession" is one of the standout songs from Sarah McLachlan's popular third studio album, "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy," released in 1993.
Songwriting Inspiration
The haunting lyrics of "Possession" were inspired by several disturbing fan letters that McLachlan received. These letters incorporated elements of obsession and stalking, which can be discerned in the lyrics of the song.
Legal Issue
The fan who wrote these obsessive letters, Uwe Vandrei, later sued McLachlan for songwriting credit. The lawsuit ended abruptly when Vandrei tragically committed suicide.
Chart Success
"Possession" gained a significant level of commercial success. It reached No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart, and No. 13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the US. In Canada, it peaked at No. 29.
Award Recognition
The song won the award for Single of the Year at the 1995 Juno Awards, Canada's primary music awards.
Music Video
The music video for the song was directed by Rocky Morton. It depicts McLachlan in a series of surreal sequences and dreamlike images, which complement the song's themes of obsession and unrequited love.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Possession." Notably, the American metal band Evans Blue recorded a version that was included on their album "The Unplugged Melody."
Acoustic Version
McLachlan also recorded a live acoustic version of "Possession" for the charity album "No Boundaries: A Benefit For The Kosovar Refugees," which was released in 1999.
Mistaken Themes
Despite its intense and dark lyrical content, it’s often mistaken as a love song due to its hauntingly beautiful melody.
Enduring Popularity
More than two decades after its release, "Possession" remains one of McLachlan's most well-known songs and is a staple of her live performances.

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    Possession

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1994

    Billboard #73


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