I absolutely love this song and I think it is my favorite of Bjork's. I love that her lyrics can be interpreted differently by different people, it is like a piece of artwork. My interpretation of this song:
This is the story of a loving relationship between a man and a woman. She makes a lot references to "fountain", "stream", "bay" and "water" - water is a symbolism for emotions. She also makes a lot of references to "bird" and "killer whale" which by nature are animals with migratory patterns they follow for their annual survival. It is in their nature to migrate away and yet they will always return. Also the saying is that if you love something you must set it free (like a bird) and if it returns to you, then it loves you as well. So by this I think this means a busy man or a cheating man - not important which, but important that he leaves her and returns to her, because he loves her. She loves him and understands and accepts his nature. In this they both get what they want from their relationship. She willingly releases him into the world because she is secure in their love and the knowledge that he will return to her, for if he forgets her, he will be lost. The firewalking reference - she is saying that she is his right of passage and she will lead him the way (the one way street). The whisper and secret for him to hear is her professing her love for only him and that she is his alone (like to hear a secret). He grows distant because he is afraid of the strength of her love beckoning him near, so she again releases him so that he can return to her in his own time. She is a tree that grows hearts meaning she is full of never ending love for him and he steals her heart away every time he returns to her. The branch that he breaks may symbolize how she breaks in her attempt to support him. She is teaching him that fears and tears (from our past hurts) are something we carry with us (like jewelry) but she promises that their love will untie them and work them out. She is trying to make love for him uncomplicated.
As EmceeSol interpreted the Icelandic lyrics for us (thank you for that) :-)
I absolutely love this song and I think it is my favorite of Bjork's. I love that her lyrics can be interpreted differently by different people, it is like a piece of artwork. My interpretation of this song:
This is the story of a loving relationship between a man and a woman. She makes a lot references to "fountain", "stream", "bay" and "water" - water is a symbolism for emotions. She also makes a lot of references to "bird" and "killer whale" which by nature are animals with migratory patterns they follow for their annual survival. It is in their nature to migrate away and yet they will always return. Also the saying is that if you love something you must set it free (like a bird) and if it returns to you, then it loves you as well. So by this I think this means a busy man or a cheating man - not important which, but important that he leaves her and returns to her, because he loves her. She loves him and understands and accepts his nature. In this they both get what they want from their relationship. She willingly releases him into the world because she is secure in their love and the knowledge that he will return to her, for if he forgets her, he will be lost. The firewalking reference - she is saying that she is his right of passage and she will lead him the way (the one way street). The whisper and secret for him to hear is her professing her love for only him and that she is his alone (like to hear a secret). He grows distant because he is afraid of the strength of her love beckoning him near, so she again releases him so that he can return to her in his own time. She is a tree that grows hearts meaning she is full of never ending love for him and he steals her heart away every time he returns to her. The branch that he breaks may symbolize how she breaks in her attempt to support him. She is teaching him that fears and tears (from our past hurts) are something we carry with us (like jewelry) but she promises that their love will untie them and work them out. She is trying to make love for him uncomplicated.
As EmceeSol interpreted the Icelandic lyrics for us (thank you for that) :-)
I can appreciate her music too,but I swear to God sometimes she mind as well be singing in Icelandic.
I can appreciate her music too,but I swear to God sometimes she mind as well be singing in Icelandic.
@altamber8 Bjork didn’t write this lyric.
@altamber8 Bjork didn’t write this lyric.