At first, it's a little difficult to determine where the Knife ends and Fever Ray begins. On paper, it's clear -- the Knife is the project of Karin Dreijer and their brother Olof, while Fever Ray is Karin with co-producers Christoffer Berg, Van Rivers, and the Subliminal Kid -- but the differences aren't as distinct when listening to Fever Ray the first few times. Initially, the album's dark, frosty atmosphere feels like a continuation of the Knife's brilliant Silent Shout, and the oddly bouncy rhythms on songs like "Triangle Walks" and "Coconut" recall the duo's exotic-yet-frozen Nordic/Caribbean fusion. Eventually, though, Fever Ray reveals itself as far darker and more intimate than anything by the Knife. The Knife's spooky impulses are usually tempered by vivid pop instincts that Fever Ray replaces with a consistently eerie mood, particularly on "Concrete Walls," which feels like an even grimmer cousin of Silent Shout's "From Off to On." However, Fever Ray's mix of confessional lyrics and chilly, blatantly synthetic and often harsh sounds make this album as successful an electronic singer/songwriter album as Björk's Homogenic. These are some of the most alluring and disturbing songs Dreijer has been involved in making: the excellent album opener "If I Had a Heart" explores possibly inhuman need with a churning, almost subliminal synth and murky bass driving Dreijer's pitch-shifted vocals (which sound more like a different part of their psyche than a different character in the song); when their untreated voice comes in, keening "will I ever ever reach the floor?" they sound even more frail and desperate by comparison. The rest of Fever Ray follows suit, offering fragile portraits and sketches that walk the fine line between intimate and insular. Dreijer further expands on the storytelling skills they developed on Silent Shout: the characters in their songs feel even more resonant and unique, especially on "When I Grow Up," which is as fascinatingly fragmented as a child's train of thought, skipping from sentiments like "I'm very good with plants" to "I've never liked that sad look by someone who wants to be loved by you." They also have an eye for unusual details, as on "Seven"'s "November smoke/And your toes go numb." It all comes together on the haunting "Now's the Only Time I Know," where the low end of Dreijer's voice sounds especially vulnerable and the lyrics fill in just enough to be tantalizing. At times, Fever Ray threatens to become a little too mysterious, but it never sounds less than intriguing, from the layers of claps and castanets that make up the beat on "I'm Not Done" to "Keep the Streets Empty for Me"'s almost imperceptible guitars. With almost tangible textures and a striking mood of isolation and singularity, Fever Ray is a truly strange but riveting album.
If I Had a Heart
Fever Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More, give me more
Give me more
This will never end 'cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more
If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings
Ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah
If I had a voice, I would sing
Dangling feet from window frame
Will I ever ever reach the floor?
More, give me more, give me more
Crushed and filled with all I found
Underneath and inside Just to come around
More, give me more, give me more
Ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah
If I had a voice, I would sing
The song 'If I Had a Heart' by Fever Ray is a haunting and enigmatic piece of music that captures the listener with its hypnotic beat and intense lyrics. The song starts with the singer expressing her desire for more, and how she wants to experience everything in life to its fullest. The repetition of the words 'give me more' emphasizes the longing of the singer and the intensity of her emotions. She then imagines an alternate scenario where she has a heart and a voice that she could use to express her love and sing her heart out. The lines 'if I had a heart, I could love you, if I had a voice, I would sing' suggest that the singer wants to experience life to its fullest and is willing to go to any length to do so.
The second verse of the song is cryptic and mysterious. The singer talks about dangling feet from the window frame, wondering if she will ever reach the floor. This could be a metaphor for her yearning to touch the ground and experience life in a tangible way. She then talks about being crushed and filled with all that she has found, suggesting that she has explored all aspects of life and has come to a realization. The lines 'just to come around, more, give me more' could mean that the singer still wants to experience more despite having discovered something profound.
Overall, 'If I Had a Heart' is a powerful song that speaks to the human desire for love, passion, and fulfillment. The lyrics are open to interpretation, and the haunting melody adds to the overall effect of the song. This song tells a story of a person who is searching for something deeper and an escape from reality. It is a captivating and thought-provoking piece of music that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
This will never end 'cause I want more
The desire is never-ending and addictive.
More, give me more
Crave for more.
If I had a heart I could love you
The singer is plagued by her inability to feel, particularly love.
If I had a voice I would sing
She is silenced and wants to have a voice to be heard.
After the night when I wake up
She only has bleak expectations for the future.
I'll see what tomorrow brings
A fatalistic viewpoint on life and future.
Dangling feet from window frame
The singer is sitting in a precarious situation, indicating a certain amount of vulnerability.
Will I ever ever reach the floor?
A question meant to show doubt and fear.
Crushed and filled with all I found
The artist is going through the motions to feel something and not miss out on what life has to offer.
Underneath and inside just to come around
The artist is looking for fulfillment and purpose in every nook and cranny of life.
More, give me more, give me more
Repetition emphasizes her constant craving for more.
Ah ah, ah ah
These vocalizations serve as a haunting musical accompaniment and emphasize the hopelessness of the lyrics.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARIN DREIJER ANDERSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind