Born and raised in Reykjavík, Björk began her music career at the age of 11 and gained international recognition as the lead singer of the alternative rock band the Sugarcubes, by the age of 21. After the Sugarcubes disbanded in 1992, Björk began a solo career. She came to prominence with albums such as Debut (1993), Post (1995), and Homogenic (1997), collaborating with a range of artists and exploring a variety of multimedia projects. Her other albums include Vespertine (2001), Medúlla (2004), Volta (2007), Biophilia (2011), Vulnicura (2015), Utopia (2017) and Fossora (2022).
Several of Björk's albums have reached the top 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart. As of 2015, she had sold more than 20 million records worldwide. Thirty-one of her singles have reached the top 40 on pop charts around the world, with 22 top-40 hits in the UK, including the top-10 singles "It's Oh So Quiet", "Army of Me", and "Hyperballad" and the top-20 singles "Play Dead", "Big Time Sensuality", and "Violently Happy". Her accolades and awards include the Order of the Falcon, five BRIT Awards, and 16 Grammy nominations. In 2015, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Rolling Stone named her the 60th greatest singer and the 81st greatest songwriter.
Björk starred in the 2000 Lars von Trier film Dancer in the Dark, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "I've Seen It All". Biophilia was marketed as an interactive app album with its own education program. Björk has also been an advocate for environmental causes in Iceland. A retrospective exhibition dedicated to Björk was held at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 2015.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Björk
Studio albums
Debut (1993)
Post (1995)
Homogenic (1997)
Vespertine (2001)
Medúlla (2004)
Volta (2007)
Biophilia (2011)
Vulnicura (2015)
Utopia (2017)
Fossora (2022)
Saint
Björk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And is attracted to deathbeds and divorces
I dreamed she cared for my dying grandfather
Lying naked face down on his bed
She insists on total presence
And knows how to get through to the rest of us
She has entered me thousandfold often
She reaches out to orphans and refugees
Embraces them with thermal blankets
Her favourite childhood moments
Were at a hospital for the disabled
I've seen her offer empathy to widows
She attends funerals of strangers
Her strongest memory
Is feeding children with leprosy
Music heals too
I'm here to defend it
The lyrics to Bjork's song 'Saint' are as baffling as they are intricate. The song describes a saint-like figure who is a beacon of compassion and empathy, drawn to people in their most vulnerable moments - on their deathbeds, in the courts of divorce, orphans and refugees. Bjork's writing style is abstract and metaphorical, and it's not clear whether she's talking about a real person, a spiritual being, or a part of her psyche.
In the song, the singer has vivid dreams of the saint caring for her dying grandfather, which reveals the saint's otherworldly nature to listeners. She offers total presence to those she is helping in a way that penetrates beyond surface-level emotions. It's also clear that the saint has affected Bjork personally ("undone knots at my most awkward"). Bjork describes how the saint offers empathy to widows, attends funerals of strangers, and feeds children with leprosy. Through music, Bjork believes in the innate healing abilities that can bring people together to empathize.
Overall, 'Saint' conjures a mystical, delicate sense of otherworldliness, in which Bjork is exploring deeper human connections parallel to love and empathy. It appears to describe a figure that represents the best of humanity and offers comfort to all, particularly those in agony or distress.
Line by Line Meaning
She always knows when people need stroking
Björk has a natural ability to understand people's needs and desires and give them the attention and comfort they require.
And is attracted to deathbeds and divorces
She is drawn to people who are experiencing significant hardships and distress, such as those facing the end of life or going through a divorce.
I dreamed she cared for my dying grandfather
The singer, likely a personal account from Björk, had a powerful dream depicting her comforting her dying grandfather and attending to his needs with great care.
Lying naked face down on his bed
The dream represents a state of vulnerability and surrender, where the artist and her grandfather are mutually exposed and trusting of each other.
She insists on total presence
Björk emphasizes the importance of being fully engaged and present in every moment, rather than dividing our attention or getting lost in distractions.
And knows how to get through to the rest of us
Her powerful presence and ability to connect allows her to have a profound impact on others.
She has entered me thousandfold often
The singer feels a deep connection to Björk and senses her presence in her life regularly and intensely.
And undone knots at my most awkward
Björk has the ability to untangle emotional knots and help people find clarity and ease even in their most difficult moments.
She reaches out to orphans and refugees
Björk has a deep concern for those who lack the support and resources they need, and she actively seeks out ways to make a difference in their lives.
Embraces them with thermal blankets
Björk's compassion extends to tangible actions such as providing warmth and comfort to vulnerable populations.
Her favourite childhood moments
Björk has fond memories of experiences that shaped her ability to empathize and care for others in need.
Were at a hospital for the disabled
She found inspiration and purpose in visiting those in hospitals and care facilities who were often overlooked or mistreated.
I've seen her offer empathy to widows
The singer has personally witnessed Björk's capacity to connect with and comfort individuals who have suffered loss and trauma.
She attends funerals of strangers
Björk prioritizes showing respect and care for even those she does not know personally, recognizing the value of all human life.
Her strongest memory
Björk has a particularly powerful recollection of an experience that has deeply impacted her perspective on life and care for others.
Is feeding children with leprosy
Björk has found profound fulfillment in providing basic care and support to those in vulnerable or ostracized communities, such as children struggling with leprosy.
Music heals too
Björk recognizes the profound power of music to bring healing and emotional restoration to individuals and communities.
I'm here to defend it
The singer is steadfast in her conviction that music holds an important place in human life and deserves respect and protection.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Guomundsdottir, Alejandro Ghersi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@claudiasemini1067
Translation from English into Italian
SAINT – SANTA
Lei sa sempre quando le persone hanno bisogno di carezze
Ed è attratta dai letti di morte e dai divorzi
Ho sognato che si prendeva cura del mio nonno morente
Steso nudo a faccia in giù sul suo letto
Lei assicura la sua presenza totale
E sa come arrivare a tutti noi
È entrata in me mille volte
E ha disfatto anche i nodi più difficili
Ama anche la musica
Lei raggiunge orfani e rifugiati
Li abbraccia con calde coperte
I suoi momenti d'infanzia preferiti
Erano in un ospedale per disabili
L'ho vista offrire empatia alle vedove
Partecipa a funerali di estranei
Il suo ricordo più forte
È quello di nutrire i bambini con la lebbra
Anche la musica guarisce
Sono qui per difenderla
@lilinectar4045
This song is my most favorite of the whole entire album.
It always brings me tears of mixed emotions.
Her songs saved me during my dark suffering days.
I'm really lucky to share the same era with her.
Thank you Bjork, I love you.
@waynegoodman135
One of her greatest! Best on the album in my opinion.
@anthonyrodriguez4708
I think this song is all about her love for music and how music is a saint being with everyone in all circumstances of life helping us to go through anything.
@paganforest1575
She has entered me thousandfold often.
@samaelcercunnin5227
She does that. She is a total pain in the arse.
@StillGamingTM
Mmh
@miguelaraujo4595
listen to this song with headphones. the layers of beats flutes voice can just make you feel HIGH
@ValGonzalez9
i love her so much
i can't explain it
@esmeesmeralda701
the very beginning (when she begins to speak) reminds me of Undo <3
@claudiasemini1067
Translation from English into Italian
SAINT – SANTA
Lei sa sempre quando le persone hanno bisogno di carezze
Ed è attratta dai letti di morte e dai divorzi
Ho sognato che si prendeva cura del mio nonno morente
Steso nudo a faccia in giù sul suo letto
Lei assicura la sua presenza totale
E sa come arrivare a tutti noi
È entrata in me mille volte
E ha disfatto anche i nodi più difficili
Ama anche la musica
Lei raggiunge orfani e rifugiati
Li abbraccia con calde coperte
I suoi momenti d'infanzia preferiti
Erano in un ospedale per disabili
L'ho vista offrire empatia alle vedove
Partecipa a funerali di estranei
Il suo ricordo più forte
È quello di nutrire i bambini con la lebbra
Anche la musica guarisce
Sono qui per difenderla