She was born in Ystad, Skåne; her mother, Kärsti Stiege, was a photographer, and her father, Johan Zachrisson, is a member of the Swedish punk-reggae band Dag Vag. Her younger brother, Zacharias Zachrisson, is also a musician. The family moved to Stockholm when Zachrisson was a toddler and when she was six moved to a mountaintop in Portugal where they lived for five years. The family also spent time in Lisbon and Morocco, and winters in Nepal and India. She moved to Brooklyn, New York City, for three months when she was 19. She returned when she was 21 to record her album.
I Follow Rivers
Lykke Li Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I ask you, why not always?
Be the ocean, where I unravel
Be my only, be the water where I'm wading
You're my river running high
Run deep, run wild
I, I follow, I follow you
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I, I follow, I follow you
Dark doom honey, I follow you
He a message, I'm the runner
He the rebel, I'm the daughter waiting for you
You're my river running high
Run deep, run wild
I, I follow, I follow you
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I, I follow, I follow you
Dark doom honey, I follow you
You're my river running high
Run deep, run wild
I, I follow, I follow you
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I, I follow, I follow you
Dark doom honey, I follow you
I, I follow, I follow you
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I, I follow, I follow you
Dark doom honey, I follow you
The lyrics of "I Follow Rivers" by Lykke Li depict a sense of longing and desire for someone. The opening lines "Oh I beg you, can I follow? Oh I ask you, why not always?" show the desperation of the singer to follow the person always. The singer then compares the person to the ocean, where she can unravel and be herself. The person becomes her only, the water where she is wading, indicating her reliance on them.
The line "He a message, I'm the runner, he the rebel, I'm the daughter waiting for you" suggests that the person is elusive and distant, perhaps creating a symbolic distance between the two. Both are complete opposites of each other, yet they are drawn to each other. The chorus "I follow you, deep sea baby, I follow you, dark doom honey, I follow you" is repeated several times, emphasizing the singer's willingness to follow the person to the depths of the sea or into the dark unknown.
Overall, the song expresses the idea that the singer is willing to follow the person wherever they go, even if it may be dangerous or challenging, indicating a strong emotional connection between the two.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I beg you, can I follow?
I am pleading to you that I want to follow you.
Oh I ask you, why not always?
I am asking you why I can't always follow you.
Be the ocean, where I unravel
Please be the expansive and vast ocean that allows me to break free and unravel.
Be my only, be the water where I'm wading
Be the sole provider of support and safety for me as I am wading in the water.
You're my river running high
You are my guiding force that runs deeply and freely, giving me strength.
Run deep, run wild
Continue to run deep and wild with your guidance.
I, I follow, I follow you
I choose to follow you with no hesitation.
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I follow you blindly in the vast and deep unknown.
Dark doom honey, I follow you
I follow you through any dark and gloomy situation.
He a message, I'm the runner
You have a message, and I am the one to run with it.
He the rebel, I'm the daughter waiting for you
You are the rebel with passion, and I will always wait for your return.
I, I follow, I follow you
Again, I choose to follow you.
You're my river running high
You are my guide.
Run deep, run wild
Continue to run deep and wild with your guidance.
I, I follow, I follow you
Once again, I choose to follow you.
Deep sea baby, I follow you
I follow you blindly in the vast and deep unknown.
I, I follow, I follow you
One more time, I choose to follow you.
Dark doom honey, I follow you
I follow you through any dark and gloomy situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bjorn Daniel Arne Yttling, Lykke Li Timotej Zachrisson, Richard W. Jr. Nowels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind