The chorus reinforces this idea, with Björk repeating her desire to be on a mountain top and emphasizing that hope and happiness can't be refused. The second verse references enlightenment and the concept that having less can actually provide more space and freedom.
However, the key phrase in the song is the third verse, with Björk declaring "This is an alarm call, so wake up, wake up now". She encourages the listener to recognize the reality of the world and take action to make it better. Despite the uncertain nature of the future, Björk is not intimidated, as evidenced by the repeated refrain "It doesn't scare me at all". The song ends with a series of beeps, perhaps representing an actual alarm or a call to action.
Overall, "Alarm Call" is a positive and inspiring song that encourages individuals to embrace hope and happiness, while also recognizing the need for action and positive change in the world.
Alarm Call
Björk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have walked this earth
And watched people
It doesn't scare me at all
I can be sincere
And say I like them
An-bithelafter-mer
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-be-ja-a-a-ha-ha
You can't say no to hope
Can't say no to happiness
I want to go on a mountain-top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the human race
From suffering
It doesn't scare me at all
I'm no fucking Buddhist
But this is enlightenment
The less room you give me
The more space I've got
It doesn't scare me at all
An-chamel-after
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-be-ja-a-a-ha-ha
You can't say no to hope
Can't say no to happiness
It doesn't scare me at all
I want to be on a mountain-top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the
A-human race
From suffering
It doesn't scare me at all
This is an alarm-call
So wake-up, wake-up now
Woo-oo-ooh!
Today has never happened
And it doesn't frighten me
It doesn't scare me at all
An-bithel-after
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-che-ja-a-a-ha-ha
You can't say no to hope
You can't say no to happiness
Wo-oo-ooh!
It doesn't scare me at all, wo-oo-ooh!
The lyrics to Björk's song "Alarm Call" are a celebration of the human spirit and a call to action. Björk talks about her experience of walking the earth and watching people and how she is not scared of them at all. She talks about her ability to be sincere and like people despite their flaws. She then goes on to say that she can't say no to hope and happiness and expresses her desire to go to a mountain-top with a radio and good batteries to play a joyous tune and free the human race from suffering. She talks about the less room you give her, the more space she has got, and that this is an alarm call, a wake-up call to take action now.
Line by Line Meaning
Wo-oo-ooh hoh!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
I have walked this earth
And watched people
Having observed humanity
It doesn't scare me at all
I can be sincere
And say I like them
Not being afraid to express genuine admiration for people
An-bithelafter-mer
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-be-ja-a-a-ha-ha
Repeating a nonsensical phrase as an expression of joy and freedom
You can't say no to hope
Can't say no to happiness
Asserting the positive power of hope and happiness
I want to go on a mountain-top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the human race
From suffering
Expressing a desire to spread joy and compassion to all humanity
I'm no fucking Buddhist
But this is enlightenment
Acknowledging the transformative power of personal epiphanies
The less room you give me
The more space I've got
Celebrating the ability to thrive under pressure and limitation
An-chamel-after
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-be-ja-a-a-ha-ha
Continuing the joyful expression of nonsensical sounds
I want to be on a mountain-top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the
A-human race
From suffering
Reiterating the desire to bring joy and compassion to all people
This is an alarm-call
So wake-up, wake-up now
Woo-oo-ooh!
Using the song as a call-to-action to awaken the spirit and take action
Today has never happened
And it doesn't frighten me
Embracing a fearless attitude towards the unknown
An-bithel-after
An-yeah-hoh-oh
An-che-ja-a-a-ha-ha
Continuing to express joy and freedom through nonsensical sounds
You can't say no to hope
You can't say no to happiness
Wo-oo-ooh!
Reaffirming that positivity and joy are invincible
It doesn't scare me at all, wo-oo-ooh!
Final declaration of fearlessness and excitement
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SANTIAGO HARDY
So much nostalgia.
I still have the trio of maxi single
remixes of that song on compact disc.
The artwork on the covers is iconic to me.
I believe that is an Alexander MCQueen
couture dress that she wears on that raft.
It suits her perfectly.
Henrique Ramos
"Alarm Call"
Released: 30 November 1998
[Intro]
(-lightenment)
Ooh (Yeah)
(-lightenment)
Ooh (Oh)
(-lightenment)
Ooh
[Verse 1]
I have walked this earth
And watched people
It doesn't scare me at all
I can be sincere
And say I like them
It doesn't scare me at all
[Refrain]
You can't say no to hope
Can't say no to happiness
It doesn't scare me at all
[Chorus]
I want to go on a mountain top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the human race
From suffering
It doesn't scare me at all
[Verse 2]
I'm no fucking buddhist
But this is enlightenment
The less room you give me
The more space I've got
It doesn't scare me at all
[Refrain]
You can't say no to hope
Can't say no to happiness
It doesn't scare me at all
[Chorus]
I want to be on a mountain top
With a radio and good batteries
And play a joyous tune and
Free the human race
From suffering
It doesn't scare me at all
[Verse 3]
This is an alarm-call
So wake up, wake up now
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
Today has never happened
And it doesn't frighten me
It doesn't scare me at all
[Refrain]
You can't say no to hope
You can't say no to happiness
[Outro]
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
It doesn't scare me at all
(Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Beep-Be-Beep-Be-Be-Be-Be-Beep)
Produced By Björk & Mark Bell
Written By Björk
Album HOMOGENIC (1997)
Bobby C
If you're wondering why this song sounds different from the album verison, it's because Bjork sees her songs as living creations that can be rendered in more than one way. Same as a Bach composition, where every time it's played it comes out a little different. Little things like this are why I love Bjork.
Gilbert-Ian Rueda
Beautifully stated.
THEUBERHAZEPROJECT
Wow that's a interesting view on music I have considered thanks for that
Peter North
I recall her commenting too that she always wants to keep a bit back for the gigs.
Oliver
Are you sure it's not just her label dictating things? This was early in her solo career after all.
Bobby C
@Oliver She talked about it. I think I had seen this fact on Wikipedia the day I posted this comment.
Hugo Lourenço
bjork: sings
human race: free from suffering
Sal Talgilmour
yes|!!
Lili Nectar
True!!
A C
oop