I want him to know
What I have done
I want him to know
It's bad

I want him to know
What I have done
I want him to know
Right now

It may be this time tomorrow
or maybe today
It is not right
Now it's better
Now we'll know
Now he'll know what I am feeling

I'm sitting with you
Sitting in silence
Listening to birds
It feels like home

Singing in tune together
A psalm for no one
They sing in tune
''Birdlove - it's strong''

They sing into the night now
They sing on for me
They sing into the night, and

(hopelandic)

You...
You are still next to me, alright



Lyrics submitted by arnfdeno


All Alright song meanings
Add your thoughts

32 Comments

sort form View by:
  • -1
    General Comment:This song reminds me of tears forming...I can see and feel them falling for someone....Beautiful as always :D
    Flag morikahjoon October 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm kind of glad there are no real definitive lyrics. I guess people will interpret the words in a way that means most to them.

    Personally, I believe that last line of the song to be "it's time to be alright"
    Flag visavison September 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Im kind of glad there is no real definitive lyrics. I guess people will interpret the words in a way that means most to them.

    Personally, i believe that the last line of the song is "it's time to be alright"
    Flag visavison September 04, 2011   Link
  • -1
    My Opinion:I don't think the beauty of Sigur Ros lies in an inability to understand them, but the ABILITY to make each song your own. All Alright for me is a desire for redemption. Any kind. Even if the song was in their native language or Hopelandic, I feel that this song is a crying plea, and having an actual meaning to it just makes it a little sweeter. Having english words to the song doesn't change Sigur Ros' unique and devastating ability to haunt you way after the song has ended.

    The above lyrics are wrong....really wrong. But who freaking cares. It's not what he says, or in what language he says it...it's always (with Sigur Ros) how it's said.
    Flag AliKaton May 18, 2011   Link
  • -1
    My Opinion:I don't think the beauty of Sigur Ros lies in an inability to understand them, but the ABILITY to make each song your own. All Alright for me is a desire for redemption. Any kind. Even if the song was in their native language or Hopelandic, I feel that this song is a crying plea, and having an actual meaning to it just makes it a little sweeter. Having english words to the song doesn't change Sigur Ros' unique and devastating ability to haunt you way after the song has ended.

    The above lyrics are wrong....really wrong. But who freaking cares. It's not what he says, or in what language he says it...it's always (with Sigur Ros) how it's said.
    Flag AliKaton May 18, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I agree that Jonsi has wronged his lover, but hasn't told him yet, and feels really guilty. He wants to tell him but is scared of ruining their relationship, which is perfect and happy (I'm sitting with you/sitting in silence/listening to birds/it feels like home). The "you...you are still next to me, alright" means, in my opinion, that Jonsi is afraid that his lover will leave him when Jonsi finally tells him the truth. Like they're together now, but not afterwards. I think the whole song takes place before the truth gets out.
    Flag aynon October 17, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Possibly it's in English for a reason..

    If we keep with the other interpretations in here, then maybe the lover who he is writing it for only speaks English.

    I really have no problem with him singing in English in this song, if you weren't looking for it in the first place, you probably wouldn't even notice. Now... his solo stuff in English? Can't say I like it too much.
    Flag plastictreeson March 08, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:While I don't know if I agree with boy0boy's interpretation, I do enjoy it. Considering the regret, hurt and even shame I have experienced when I have fallen for my own male friends (I, like the singer Jonsi, am gay), that would resonate with me in ways I cannot explain.

    But I don't think that is what the song is about. I'm more on the side of shewolfinlondon in thinking that it is far simpler in its meaning, that it is about wronging a lover. Jonsi's voice is staggeringly vulnerable in this song as he sings alongside the piano. He sounds as if he's confessing to something: "I want him to know what I have done. I want him to know its bad." He's not trying to hide anything. He wants his lover to see him for who he is, see that he did something wrong. And the apparent beauty of the song is that he does seem to be forgiven in the end.


    What is at once fascinating and heartbreaking and ultimately rewarding about this song for me is the strange perspective we're provided here. Usually we hear a song like this from the perspective of the other guy, the one having it revealed to him that his lover did something wrong. It's usually an angry song, full of resentment and hate. But Jonsi's pain here is, as someone else said, nearly submissive in its apologetic tone.

    How could you not forgive him, with a song like this? Love is all about forgiveness, transcending the pain and accepting each other for who you are. That's why this is as much a love song for me as any other I've heard.
    Flag sterilestrikingon February 28, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:While I don't know if I agree with boy0boy's interpretation, I do enjoy it. Considering the regret, hurt and even shame I have experienced when I have fallen for my own male friends (I, like the singer Jonsi, am gay), that would resonate with me in ways I cannot explain.

    But I don't think that is what the song is about. I'm more on the side of shewolfinlondon in thinking that it is far simpler in its meaning, that it is about wronging a lover. Jonsi's voice is staggeringly vulnerable in this song as he sings alongside the piano. He sounds as if he's confessing to something: "I want him to know what I have done. I want him to know its bad." He's not trying to hide anything. He wants his lover to see him for who he is, see that he did something wrong. And the apparent beauty of the song is that he does seem to be forgiven in the end.


    What is at once fascinating and heartbreaking and ultimately rewarding about this song for me is the strange perspective we're provided here. Usually we hear a song like this from the perspective of the other guy, the one having it revealed to him that his lover did something wrong. It's usually an angry song, full of resentment and hate. But hear Jonsi's pain here, where he is, as someone else said, nearly submissive in his apology.

    How could you not forgive him, with a song like this? Love is all about forgiveness, transcending the pain and accepting each other for who you are. That's why this is as much a long song for me as any other I've heard.
    Flag sterilestrikingon February 22, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:tilt.shift that was an earlier draft by myself, before I corrected and updated it.
    Flag arnfdenoon June 17, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain