Lyrically, she describes being stuck in an uncertain place in their relationship. "Maybe he will come out of this loving me / maybe he won't," she sings, before coming to the conclusion, "Somehow I'm not too bothered / either way." She demands clarity while her partner seemingly wants things foggy and unresolved.
Björk recalled the genesis of the song to Rolling Stone magazine, which occurred shortly after recovering from vocal cord surgery in 2013: "I couldn't speak for three weeks… But the album was a new beginning. The chorus in "Lionsong" – I was in this forest outside Reykjavík, warming up, opening my throat like a bird. It was cathartic."
Lionsong
Björk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he will come out of this
I smell declarations of solitude
Maybe he will come out of this
Vietnam vet comes after the war
Lands in my house
This wild lion doesn't fit in this chair
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
Once it was simple
One feeling at a time
It reached its peak then transformed
These abstract complex feelings
I just don't know how to handle them
Should I throw oil on one of his moods
But which one?
The joy peak
Humor peak
Frustration peak
Anything peak
For clarity
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
Maybe he will come out of this
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
I refuse, it's a sign of maturity
To be stuck in complexity
I demand all clarity
Maybe he will come out of this
Or he will feel solitaire
Somehow I'm not too bothered
I'd just like to know
The lyrics of "Lionsong" by Björk is a haunting and introspective reflection on the complexities of romantic relationships. The song begins by acknowledging the uncertainty of the singer's romantic partner's feelings towards her. She wonders if he will "come out of this loving" her or if he won't. Nevertheless, she doesn't seem to be overly concerned with either possibility.
Then, the singer draws the metaphor of a wild lion and compares it to her partner. The Vietnam vet, who has been through war, doesn't fit into her life, like a lion doesn't fit into a domestic setting. She refuses to tame him like an animal, and thus, she lets him be.
As the song progresses, the complexity of the singer's feelings comes to the fore. She acknowledges that her emotions are no longer simple, and she struggles to handle the abstract and complex range of feelings she experiences. The singer wants clarity in this complexity, but she is unsure of which emotion requires attention.
The song ends with the singer refusing to be stuck in complexity and demanding clarity. Although she doesn't seem too bothered either way, she just wants to know what her partner thinks.
Overall, "Lionsong" by Björk is a raw and emotional portrayal of the uncertainties and complexities that come with romantic love - a feeling that can almost feel like a wild animal in its unpredictability.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he will come out this
It is uncertain whether or not he will emerge from this situation
Maybe he won't
There is the possibility that he will not come out of this situation
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
I am indifferent to the outcome of this situation
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
It is possible that his feelings for me will intensify as a result of this situation
I smell declarations of solitude
I sense that he may prefer to be alone after this situation
Vietnam vet comes after the war
A veteran of the Vietnam War arrives
Lands in my house
He arrives at my home
This wild lion doesn't fit in this chair
This man, who is like a wild animal, does not belong in a civilized setting
I'm not taming no animal
I will not attempt to change or control him
Once it was simple
Things used to be straightforward
One feeling at a time
I only used to experience one emotion at a time
It reached its peak then transformed
My emotions reached their peak and then changed
These abstract complex feelings
My emotions are now abstract and complex
I just don't know how to handle them
I am unclear on how to deal with my emotions
Should I throw oil on one of his moods
Should I do something to try to change his mood or attitude?
But which one?
I am unsure which mood or attitude to address
The joy peak
The peak of happiness
Humor peak
The peak of humor
Frustration peak
The peak of frustration
Anything peak
Any emotional peak
For clarity
To gain a better understanding of the situation
I refuse, it's a sign of maturity
I reject the idea of being entangled in complex emotions, as it is a sign of maturity
Or he will feel solitaire
It is possible that he may feel lonely after this situation
Somehow I'm not too bothered
I am not emotionally invested in the outcome of this situation
I'd just like to know
I simply want to be informed about what will happen
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rubensgabrieltavares7377
Maybe he will come out this
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he will come out of this
I smell declarations of solitude
Maybe he will come out of this
Vietnam vet comes after the war
Lands in my house
This wild lion doesn't fit in this chair
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
Once it was simple, one feeling at a time
It reached this peak then transformed
This abstract complex feeling
I just don't know how to handle when
Should I throw oil on one of these wounds
But which one?
The joy peak
Humor peak
Frustration peak
Anything peak for clarity
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
Maybe he will come out of this
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
I refuse, it's a sign of maturity
To be stuck in complexity
I demand all clarity
Maybe he will come out of this
Or he will feel so solitaire
Somehow I'm not too bothered
I'd just like to know
@raquella8862
[Intro]:
Maybe he will come out this
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
[Chorus]
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he will come out of this
I smell declarations of solitude
Maybe he will come out of this
[Verse 1]
Vietnam vet comes after the war
Lands in my house
This wild lion doesn't fit in this chair
[Chorus]
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
[Verse 2]
Once it was simple
One feeling at a time
It reached its peak then transformed
These abstract complex feelings
I just don't know how to handle them
Should I throw oil on one of his moods
But which one?
The joy peak
Humor peak
Frustration peak
Anything peak
For clarity
[Chorus]
Maybe he will come out of this loving me
Maybe he won't
I'm not taming no animal
Maybe he will come out of this
[Bridge]
Maybe he will come out of this
Maybe he won't
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
Somehow I'm not too bothered either way
I refuse, it's a sign of maturity
To be stuck in complexity
I demand all clarity
[Outro]
Maybe he will come out of this
Or he will feel solitaire
Somehow I'm not too bothered
I'd just like to know
@mirieleledhwen7891
Someone told me once "Björk's copying Lady Gaga."
One of the funniest thing I ever heard in my life.
@jonasorens7863
Bruh lmao other way around
@alyay5363
+Míriel Eledhwen “aartbeien” yeah right Bjork is unique she cant be copied hahaha
@mirieleledhwen7891
Al Jai Yeah good luck to copy Björk
@arnoldanimado9292
+Míriel Eledhwen “aartbeien” he or she should be dead and buried, as simple as that.
@lipeSBdir
+Míriel Eledhwen (aartbeien) I was thinking about this comparison before I came to this video and before I read your comment! But in my opinion, in the kingdom in which Gaga is a queen, Björk is the Goddess for whom Gaga always bows! No offense intended!! (Sorry for my bad English)
@osvaldomorales3071
If she does something complex people are not happy because "she's getting too experimental" if she does something more traditional and simple people are still not happy because "she's over and out of ideas". It's a good thing Björk doesn't really care that much about people's critics about her work. I think this video's beauty is in its simplicity, her music is really emotional and she really knows how to reflect those emotions on her face and movements when it comes to shoot a video or performing live. She's a breath of fresh air, and she's always been. She deserves all the recognition she's getting and more.
@DarkMaster2157
Finally someone who say the real truth, I totally agree with you. Many people here are dumb in a unreachable way.
@osvaldomorales3071
The Antique Well it is impossible to please everybody, but come on! Is Björk, she's always interesting. I don't worship everything she's done, but there's always honesty, beauty and thought in everything she does.
@aldys92
Totally agree.