To Build A Home
Ólafur Arnalds Lyrics

There is a house built out of stone
The song begins by describing a sturdy, solid house built from stone.

Wooden floors, walls and window sills
The house has wooden floors, walls, and window sills, which are likely worn from usage.

Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
The furniture in the house is old and covered in dust, implying that it has been around for a long time and has seen a lot of love.

This is a place where I don't feel alone
The house is a comforting place where the singer feels at ease and doesn't feel lonely.

This is a place where I feel at home
The singer feels like this is where they belong and where they feel most comfortable.

'Cause, I built a home
The singer takes credit for building the home they feel so attached to.

For you
The home was built for someone else, someone close to the singer.

For me
The home was also built for the singer themselves, as it makes them feel at home and comfortable.

Until it disappeared
Something happened to the home that caused it to no longer exist in the same way it once did.

From me
The singer lost something when the home disappeared, and it affected them personally.

From you
The home's disappearance also affected the person it was built for, deeply hurting them as well.

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust
The singer and/or the person the home was built for must now move on, as the home is no longer there to provide comfort and refuge.

Out in the garden where we planted the seeds
The song shifts to describing a garden outside the house where both the singer and the person the home was built for planted seeds and grew something beautiful.

There is a tree as old as me
The garden contains a tree that has grown as old as the singer, perhaps symbolizing the passage of time and the growth of something beautiful.

Branches were sewn by the color of green
The tree's branches are green and lush, portraying an image of vitality and growth.

Ground had arose and passed it's knees
The ground around the tree has risen up so much that it has passed the tree's base or 'knees', showing how much the garden has flourished and grown over time.

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
The singer climbed the cracked bark of the tree to reach the top, implying that they had a close connection to this garden and to the tree itself.

I climbed the tree to see the world
The singer climbed the tree to gain a new perspective and broader view of the world outside the garden.

When the gusts came around to blow me down
When the winds picked up and began to blow, threatening to knock the singer down from the tree, they held on tightly.

I held on as tightly as you held onto me
The singer held onto the tree as tightly as the person the home was built for held onto them, perhaps symbolizing the support they provided each other during difficult times.

And, I built a home
The song returns to the idea that the singer helped build a place they called home.

For you
The home was built for someone close to the singer and is tied to memories and emotions.

For me
The home was also built to create a sense of belonging and comfort for the singer themselves.

Until it disappeared
Again, something happened to this home and it disappeared, bringing about feelings of loss and sadness.

From me
The loss of the home affected the singer personally, making it even harder to let go in the present moment.

From you
The other person involved is also deeply affected by the loss of the home and what it represented to them both.

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust
As the song comes to an end, the singer repeats the idea that it's time to move on and accept that the home is no longer there to provide comfort and stability in their lives.