Starting out as drummer for several hardcore/metal bands, Ólafur was asked to write instrumental intros and outros for the album "Antigone" of German metal band Heaven Shall Burn. This led to more work in the field of neo-classical strings and piano based music, and ultimately to the release of Eulogy for Evolution and the beginning of Ólafur's partnership with Berlin based label Erased Tapes. In 2008 he embarked on a tour with fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós.
In 2009 he started a week-long project of composing one track by day, making it immediately available online to his fans. The collection was later officially released under the title Found Songs. He repeated the same experiment in 2011 under the title Living Room Songs. Also in 2009 the ballet Dyad 1909 premiered with a score composed by Ólafur. Choreographed by Wayne McGregor and performed by Wayne McGregor Random Dance, the ballet was inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole in 1909. That year he also started Kiasmos, together with Janus Rasmussen. Kiasmos is a minimal techno based project. Their self titled debut album was released in 2014, preceded by the Thrown EP.
In April 2010 Ólafur released his second full-length album entitled ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness, which was backed up with an extensive tour, including his first trip to China.
His third album, and the first to be released under his new partnership with Universal Music's Mercury Classics imprint, is titled For Now I Am Winter and planned for international release in February 2013. Expanding on his previous work the new album features a full orchestra and – for the first time – introduces vocals to his soundworld. Icelandic singer Arnór Dan is to be heard on four tracks of the album.
More recently Ólafur has been venturing into the world of films, writing his first Hollywood film score to Another Happy Day. He also had music in the hit film The Hunger Games and has been featured several times on popular American television show So You Think You Can Dance. For 2013 his scores include the music to the ITV thriller series Broadchurch, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, as well as to the film Gimme Shelter, directed by Ron Krauss and starring Vanessa Hudgens and Brendan Fraser.
In 2014 Arnalds won the prestigious BAFTA Television Craft Award for his score to the BBC's hit detective series 'Broadchurch'.
Back to the Sky
Ólafur Arnalds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the stars
Feel them arresting me
Unknowables
Fading at dawn
Troubles, too
Dimness sustains
I could be lost to you
Lost in thought
Sending a kiss
Back to the sky
So has my world become
Run out of breath
I'm not the only one to lose a friend
Where do you go
You're going home
What do I do with the
Void in your shape
Leaving me frailty
A drop and I break
What do I do
With half of myself
Then when the stars align
With some kind of peace
I could be loved by you
Either way
Where did you go
You're going home
Then when the stars align
With some kind of peace
I know I'm loved by you
Either way
Where did you go
You're going home
Then when the stars align
With some kind of peace
I know I'm loved by you
Either way
Where did you go
You're going home
You're going home
The lyrics of "Back to the Sky" by Ólafur Arnalds paint the picture of someone feeling lost and arrested by the unknown. They are over the moon and under the stars, but the unknowables are beginning to fade at dawn, leaving them with troubles and regrets. The dimness of the fading stars sustains their feeling of regret, which is only compounded when they realize they could be lost to someone they love.
The second verse reflects on the loss of a friend, which seems to have left the singer feeling as though they are running out of breath. They are left with a void in the shape of their friend and are feeling fragile. The chorus repeats the phrase "Where did you go, you're going home," suggesting the friend has passed away and is returning to the afterlife.
The final verse is the most hopeful, as the stars align and the singer finds some peace in the knowledge that they are loved. Even though their friend is gone, they can still feel their love and are comforted by it. The repetition of the phrase "You're going home" is a reminder that death is not the end, but a return to a heavenly state.
Line by Line Meaning
Over the moon
Feeling really happy and content
Under the stars
Looking up to the sky, feeling small yet connected to the universe
Feel them arresting me
Feeling overwhelmed and captivated by the beauty of the stars
Unknowables
Mysterious and unknown elements of life that are difficult to understand
Fading at dawn
Like the stars, the mysteries of life are slowly disappearing as the day starts
Troubles, too
Even though life can be beautiful, there are still challenges and difficulties
Dimness sustains
The darkness of night continues to linger, despite the approaching day
Oh the regret
Feeling remorseful of missed opportunities or mistakes
I could be lost to you
I could be distant and disconnected from you
Lost in thought
Deep in contemplation and reflection
Sending a kiss
Sending love and affection up to the sky
Back to the sky
Sending love and affection to the universe and all its mysteries
So has my world become
My world has become uncertain and unpredictable
Run out of breath
Feeling like there's no more energy or motivation left
I'm not the only one to lose a friend
Others have also experienced the pain and sadness of losing a friendship
Where do you go
Wondering where a departed friend has gone
You're going home
The departed friend is going back to the universe and its mysteries
What do I do with the
Feeling lost and unsure of what to do next
Void in your shape
Feeling an emptiness or absence without the departed friend
Leaving me frailty
Feeling vulnerable and weak without the departed friend
A drop and I break
Feeling like one more thing could cause an emotional breakdown
What do I do
Still feeling lost and unsure of what to do
With half of myself
Feeling incomplete without the departed friend
Then when the stars align
The unknown elements of life come together in some sort of harmony
With some kind of peace
Finding some sort of tranquility and calmness in the midst of chaos
I could be loved by you
Even though the departed friend is gone, their love still exists
Either way
Regardless of where the departed friend is or what happens next
Where did you go
Continuing to wonder where the departed friend has gone
You're going home
Knowing that the departed friend is returning to the universe and its mysteries
I know I'm loved by you
Feeling reassured that the departed friend's love still exists
You're going home
Knowing that the departed friend is returning to the universe and its mysteries
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Olafur Arnalds, Jofriour Akadottir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MercuryKX
Lyrics
Over the moon
Under the stars
Feel them arresting me
Unknowables
Fading at dawn
Troubles too
Dimness sustains
Oh the regret
I could be lost to you
lost in thought
Sending a kiss
Back to the sky
So has my world become
Run out of breath
i’m not the only one
to lose a friend
where do you go
asking myself / going home
what do i do with the
void in your shape
leaving me frailty
a drop and i break
what do i do with half of myself
then when stars align
some kind of peace
i could be loved by you / i know i'm loved by you
either way
where did you go
you’re going home
@timchard
This track opened my heart up and helped me deeply grieve. I hadn't fully cried in such a long time, and when this one came on Spotify I found myself pulling over with tears running down my face. As someone who often suppresses difficult emotions like sadness and depression, this was musical catharsis. It brought me, if only for a few moments, a heartfelt acceptance of those I've lost. Thank you.
@shadow_finds_light
Awww.... this touched my soul. 💗
@berlin2318
Just wanted to say this song is breathtaking and then I saw your comment. I know it doesn't fix anything but I wish you all the best man.
@mammadeuces6242
Beautiful comment. Hugs
@AngelyCristal31
🤗😇
@VirginieBastos
Want to hug you 🤗 it's free ✨
@bevjarvis860
You have opened my chest and are holding my heart. Your healing my darkness. Thank you💝
@itsthat8496
Prayers, and blessings, may your healing be swift.
@MissP7197
Strong Björk vibes in this singer’s voice, also exquisitely unique. Another beautiful track Ólafur, thank you 🙏
@CliffordBorg
Ohhh love Bjork so much. Will listen again and see whether there is some Bjork vibes in the track.