"It's about how the modern things like cars and such, or computers and all that, have always existed. They've just been waiting in a mountain for the right moment, and have been listening to the irritating noises - dinosaurs and people outside - and now it's their turn to come out and multiply. I thought it was really funny. I don't know - I might be the only one laughing."
"I wrote The Modern Things. thinking about all the pessimistic people who live around me. It saw the light on the London-Manchester train. I was admiring those beautiful mountains that surround me, and I was listening to people groan about modern things, modern situations, and that one day everyone will die...it was so terrible!! I think that our days are beautiful, full of splendid inventions like cars, phones, cameras, and all the rest."
"In that song I propose that all new things, all modern inventions already existed for a very long time, but that they were just locked away in a mountain somewhere, waiting for the right moment. I wrote that just to pester a few friends of mine. They're terrified of modern technology. They feel guilty about using computers and driving cars. Because it's not natural. I'm just as tired of views like that as of statements like 'Computer music doesn't have soul'. Of course it hasn't got soul, because nobody put it in there! You can't expect a computer to put soul into music? I mean, you can't expect a guitar to write a song? They're instruments, tools. And you should be proud of that. But those friends of mine think it's all very spooky; they think technology is going to replace all human actions and that pretty soon they won't have to be creative, because the computer will take that away from them. But a hundred years ago, when the telephone was invented, people thought that people would no longer talk to each other in the flesh. Inventions don't take anything away from you; they just increase the number of options."
The Modern Things
Björk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like cars and such
Have always existed
They've just been waiting in a mountain
For the right moment
Listening to the irritating noises
Of dinosaurs and people
Dabbling outside
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Það er sól thegar
Andar inn í mér
Hann bítur mig
Hann bítur mig
Já, hann kemur með
Fylgir eftir mér
Telur með
Siglir eftir mér
All the modern things
Have always existed
They've just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It's their turn now
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Björk's The Modern Things is a contemplative yet futuristic song that deals with the idea of progress and technology. The first few lines about how "all the modern things like cars and such have always existed" point towards the suggestion that modern technology is not a recent development, but has always been here. The line "they've just been waiting in a mountain for the right moment" denotes the idea that this technology has always been there, waiting for humans to discover it and harness its potential. Additionally, the song features the theme of the clash between the past and the present, evident in the line "listening to the irritating noises of dinosaurs and people dabbling outside".
Digging deeper, the Icelandic lyrics "Það er sól thegar/Andar inn í mér/Hann bítur mig" roughly translate to "there is a sun in me/breathing into me/it bites me", hinting at the ideas of environmentalism and climate change. The sun, viewed as a key component of the environment, metaphorically enters Björk, making her recognize how humans have exploited nature with their inventions. The sun then bites into her, representing the negative consequences of not being aware of our actions. The verse "all the modern things have always existed/they've just been waiting to come out" further reinforces the idea of the world waiting for technology to unleash its powers to resolve environmental issues.
In conclusion, Björk's The Modern Things is a forward-looking piece that underscores modernism and technological advancement when leveraged well, can save humanity from the environmental destruction it has propagated over the years. Its reflective and prophetic lyrics verge on early warning of potential damage to the environment that could come from the unchecked exploitation of technology.
Line by Line Meaning
All the modern things
Everything we have now as modern technology and advancements.
Like cars and such
Such as vehicles and other technological innovations.
Have always existed
These innovations have been around for a long time, just not yet discovered.
They've just been waiting in a mountain
These innovations have been patiently waiting for the right time to reveal themselves.
For the right moment
A time when they would be accepted and appreciated by society.
Listening to the irritating noises
The modern things have been observing the world around them, including the sounds and actions of previous civilizations.
Of dinosaurs and people
Observing the behaviors of all life forms that roamed the earth before us.
Dabbling outside
Trying out different things in the outside world with caution.
All the modern things
Everything that we consider to be modern technology and advancements.
Have always existed
These innovations have been present for a long time in the world waiting to be discovered.
They've just been waiting
Waiting for the right time to come out and be useful.
To come out
To be discovered or invented for the uses of people.
And multiply
To be replicated and produced on a large scale for many people to use and access.
And take over
To replace old technologies and dominate the market.
It's their turn now
The time has come for these technologies to take center stage in our society.
Kahi
A sound resembling interference or static in the background.
Engin fylgist alveg
No one is paying full attention to what is happening.
Kahiiiiiii
The sound continues and increases in volume.
Sólin sekkur
The sun is setting.
Engin sér við mér
No one is aware of what I'm observing or experiencing.
Það er sól thegar
The sun is about to set.
Andar inn í mér
A feeling of something being absorbed or entering into me.
Hann bítur mig
It bites or stings me, causing a reaction.
Já, hann kemur með
Yes, it is coming with me or attached to me.
Fylgir eftir mér
It follows me wherever I go.
Telur með
It counts along with me or accompanies me on my journey.
Siglir eftir mér
It sails behind me, always present but not necessarily noticed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir, Graham Vernon Massey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexae1367
And w/ this (watch) I give in -
I hereby proclaim my disinterest in modernizing all my musical proclivities, ¡Basta - Enough!
I am a Nirvana kid. A Radiohead kid. A Salt-N-Pepa, Live 105, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, Digable Planets, Ramones, & dare I say still, a Dead Kennedys & Subhumans kid. Black Star movement. Early pre-death punk. Digable Planets.
¡Viva la résistance! Enough. I like Ratatat, & some other rando oughts songs, but. I. Am. Not. In my early 20s!
And I don't want to be.
Bring on all my (what were) cutting edge 90s follows!
There will never be virtually anything that will be better than Exit Music for a Film. Nostalgie Amoureuse. Riot (DK). Come on Eileen! Bjork's album after this one. Early Fiona Apple.
Wow.
I have sooo much to catch up on don't I?!😊
@ecaterina6035
All the modern things
Like cars and such
Have always existed
They've just been waiting in a mountain
For the right moment
Listening to the irritating noises
Of dinosaurs and people
Dabbling outside
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Það er sól thegar
Andar inn í mér
Hann bítur mig
Hann bítur mig
Já, hann kemur með
Fylgir eftir mér
Telur með
Siglir eftir mér
All the modern things
Have always existed
They've just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It's their turn now
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
@patrickstocks3986
All the modern things
Like cars 🚗 and such
Have always existed
They’ve just been waiting in a mountain 🏔
For the right moment
Listening 👂 to the irritating 😠 noises
Of dinosaurs 🦕 and people
Dabbling outside
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Solin sekkur
Kahi
Engin ser vio mer
Pao er sol thegar
Andar inn 🏨 i mer
Hann bitur mig
Hann bitur mig
Ja, hann kemur meo
Fylgir eftir mer
Telur meo
Siglir eftir mer
All the modern things
Have always existed
They’ve just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It’s their turn now
Kahi
Engin flygist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Solin sekkur
Kahi
Engin ser vio mer
@jtstrm
All the modern things
Like cars and such
Have always existed
They've just been waiting in a mountain
For the right moment
Listening to the irritating noises
Of dinosaurs and people
Dabbling outside
Tahiiiiiii
Engin fylgist alveg medh
Tahiiiiiii
S'olin sekkur
Tahiiiiiii
Engin s'er vidh m'er
Thad er s'ol thegar hann
Andar inn 'i m'er
Hann b'itur mig
Hann b'itur mig
J'a, hann kemur medh
Fylgir eftir m'er
Telur?? medh
Siglir eftir m'er
All the modern things
Have always existed
They've just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It's their turn now...
@akbarmukhamedjanov7629
Graham Hadden
All the modern things
Like cars and such
Have always existed
They've just been waiting in a mountain
For the right moment
Listening to the irritating noises
Of dinosaurs and people
Dabbling outside
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahi
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Það er sól thegar
Andar inn í mér
Hann bítur mig
Hann bítur mig
Já, hann kemur með
Fylgir eftir mér
Telur með
Siglir eftir mér
All the modern things
Have always existed
They've just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It's their turn now
@akbarmukhamedjanov7629
Graham Hadden Björk never says in the song that "there is no difference from modern things like internet and cellphones and natural things like mountains and dinosaurs" as you said.
Björk says 'technology' was waiting in a mountain. It is like a predestined omen. Technology was waiting to come out and multiply and take over. It's technology's turn now.
Icelandic phrases:
Engin fylgist alveg — No followers completely, no one seeks, observes, watches
Sólin sekkur — The sun sinks
Engin sér við mér — No one follows me
Það er sól thegar — It is sunny when
Andar inn í mér — Breathes into me
Hann bítur mig — He bites me
Hann bítur mig — He bites me
Já, hann kemur með — Yes, he comes with
Fylgir eftir mér — Follows me
Telur með — Does with, believes, considers, thinks
Siglir eftir mér — Sails for me
I need someone who speaks Icelandic to translate. Google translated the above. This song was released in 1995. So at that time there was no following like on twitter etc. I don't give much attention to the word "dinosaurs", because in the song I believe it only indicates that "the modern things" existed even when the dinosaurs were not extinct. They were just waiting. One version is possible: The modern things, like cars and such take much attention of him, and she is saying no one follows or watches me. She says the sun sinks. For Björk, or any other girl, (Það er sól thegar) it will be sunny when (Andar inn í mér) he breathes into her. It will be sunny when (hann bítur mig) he bites her. It will be sunny when he comes and follows, believes, considers and thinks of her.
That's what I understood.
@cmtvable1
Bjork songs from the 90s are modern masterpieces.
@ashlandstationmusic
That whole album is amazing
@JimmJaamz
Bjork - "comforting creative souls everywhere". This is a masterpiece ! POST- what an album, too. How refreshing.
@alexae1367
And w/ this (watch) I give in -
I hereby proclaim my disinterest in modernizing all my musical proclivities, ¡Basta - Enough!
I am a Nirvana kid. A Radiohead kid. A Salt-N-Pepa, Live 105, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, Digable Planets, Ramones, & dare I say still, a Dead Kennedys & Subhumans kid. Black Star movement. Early pre-death punk. Digable Planets.
¡Viva la résistance! Enough. I like Ratatat, & some other rando oughts songs, but. I. Am. Not. In my early 20s!
And I don't want to be.
Bring on all my (what were) cutting edge 90s follows!
There will never be virtually anything that will be better than Exit Music for a Film. Nostalgie Amoureuse. Riot (DK). Come on Eileen! Bjork's album after this one. Early Fiona Apple.
Wow.
I have sooo much to catch up on don't I?!😊
@chrisconnor5418
This might be my favorite Bjork song
@gfunkk
great production. i love the movement of the song, it has so many phases; and that playful bassline...
@joeagger
3:43 - 3:46 I never noticed those fucking whistles. so incredible, her voice is brilliant (so is she of course)
@natigasgar7153
She killed me with the ending!
@jorgemonteiro4725
It's purely sublime right! :)
@waterychorus4158
Omg yes the ending was lit I keep thinking it leads to another song xD