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Stranger Than Kindness
Fever Ray Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stranger than kindness
Bottled light from hotels
Spilling everything
Wet hand from the volcano
Sobers your skin
Stranger than Kindness

You caress yourself
And grind my soft cold bones below
Your map of desire
Burned in your flesh
Even a fool can come
A strange lit stair
And find a rope hanging there
Stranger than kindness

Keys rain like heaven's hair
There is no home there is no bread
We sit at the gate and scratch

The gaunt fruit of passion
Dies in the light
Stranger than kindness

Your sleeping hands journey
The loiter
Stranger than kindness
You hold me so carelessy close
Tell me I'm dirty

I am a stranger
I am a stranger
I am a stranger to kindness

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stranger Than Kindness by Fever Ray are cryptic and elusive. The song does not follow a traditional narrative structure, and the lyrics are more of a patchwork of images and impressions than a coherent story. The song seems to be about a relationship that is intense, passionate, and possibly abusive. The imagery is often surreal and almost dream-like, which adds to the sense of disorientation and uncertainty.


The first verse introduces the idea of bottled light from hotels and a wet hand from a volcano that sobers the skin. This suggests that the relationship is intense and passionate, but also potentially dangerous. The second verse explores the idea of desire as a map burned into flesh, while the third verse uses the metaphor of keys raining like heaven's hair to evoke a sense of disorientation and uncertainty.


Overall, the song is a haunting and powerful exploration of the dark side of love and desire. It is a powerful commentary on the ways in which we can become strangers to the people we love when those relationships become intense and overwhelming.


Line by Line Meaning

Stranger than kindness
The concept of 'kindness' is unique and strange in its own way.


Bottled light from hotels
The artificial lighting sources in hotels have a peculiar quality, like they are contained and preserved within a bottle.


Spilling everything
Revealing and letting out all emotions and thoughts without holding back.


Wet hand from the volcano
A hand wet with lava from a volcano symbolizes the intense, burning passion that can sober one's senses from intoxication.


Sobers your skin
The intensity of passion that is symbolized by the 'wet hand from the volcano' makes one's skin sober and alert.


You caress yourself
Indulging in self-pleasure without regard for another person's feelings.


And grind my soft cold bones below
The singer's bones are being ground upon, reflecting the pain and discomfort of being used in this way.


Your map of desire
The specific, detailed way in which one desires things in their life is like a map that directs them to their ultimate goal.


Burned in your flesh
The desire is so intense that it is like it has been burned into one's skin, making it a part of their physical being.


Even a fool can come
The opportunity for indulging in one's desires is so tempting that even a foolish person would take it if presented with the chance.


A strange lit stair
The path to fulfilling one's desires is uncertain and eerie, lacking any obvious direction or safety measures.


And find a rope hanging there
Despite the uncertainty and danger, there is always a way to grasp onto and achieve one's goals.


Keys rain like heaven's hair
The act of unlocking or discovering new doors and opportunities is as exciting and wonderful as rain falling from the heavens.


There is no home there is no bread
The singer is lacking basic necessities, whether physical or emotional, in their current state of life.


We sit at the gate and scratch
Two people without direction or goals in their life are aimlessly waiting and scratching at the surface, hoping for something to come their way.


The gaunt fruit of passion
The product of intense passion is a bittersweet fruit, representing both nourishment and decay.


Dies in the light
When exposed to reality or society's standards, the passion and desire fades away and can no longer thrive.


Your sleeping hands journey
The act of sleeping and dreaming still holds a connection to one's desires and personal journey.


The loiter
The act of aimlessly wandering or doing nothing significant, without any real purpose or direction.


You hold me so carelessy close
The artist is being held against their will, roughly and without care or regard for their feelings.


Tell me I'm dirty
The artist is being labeled and degraded in a sexualized manner, without any care or consideration for their feelings or humanity.


I am a stranger
The artist is an outsider in their own life, lacking true connection and direction.


to kindness
The act of being kind and compassionate towards oneself and others is foreign and unknown to the singer.




Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

ionderness

Stranger than kindness
Bottled light from hotels
Spilling everything
Wet hand from the volcano
Sobers your skin

Stranger than kindness
You caress yourself
And grind my soft cold bones below
Your map of desire
Burned in your flesh
Even a fool can come
A strange lit stair
And find a rope hanging there

Stranger than kindness
Keys rain like heaven's hair
There is no home there is no bread
We sit at the gate and scratch
The gaunt fruit of passion
Dies in the light

Stranger than kindness
Your sleeping hands
The journey
The loiter

Stranger than kindness
You hold me so carelessly close
Tell me I'm dirty
I am a stranger
I am a stranger
I am a stranger to kindness...



All comments from YouTube:

Jackben Emble

I love how, Karin Andersson, can just take you to an entirely new world and never let you down. I really hope she continues her marvelous work.

ionderness

Stranger than kindness
Bottled light from hotels
Spilling everything
Wet hand from the volcano
Sobers your skin

Stranger than kindness
You caress yourself
And grind my soft cold bones below
Your map of desire
Burned in your flesh
Even a fool can come
A strange lit stair
And find a rope hanging there

Stranger than kindness
Keys rain like heaven's hair
There is no home there is no bread
We sit at the gate and scratch
The gaunt fruit of passion
Dies in the light

Stranger than kindness
Your sleeping hands
The journey
The loiter

Stranger than kindness
You hold me so carelessly close
Tell me I'm dirty
I am a stranger
I am a stranger
I am a stranger to kindness...

JKBCFIIVvGfGUJBFRHv

thanks i never knew what she said

meesuu leal

Thank you

Miciah Martin

Plauff Lses
I havent read the Lyrics, sounds good though.

Mary Johnson

+Plauff Lses just listen to the original by Nick Cave. Clear as a bell.

Duan Torruellas

ionderness thank you for these beautiful lyrics . ☺

Bansidhe001

This is a stunning cover of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' song "Stranger than Kindness" from Your Funeral....My Trial. The song was written by Anita Lane and Blixa Bargeld. Thanks Fever Ray, you took an already favourite song of mine and embued it with another layer of awesome!

RLee Roberts

Someone loves to google shit.

Sound Ideas

RIP Anita.

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