Álfur út úr hól
Bjork Lyrics

The lyrics of Björk's Álfur út úr hól, or "Elf Out of the Cave," tell the story of a solitary figure living in seclusion on a hill. Day after day, he's alone, and his neighbors all think he's strange. They point at him when he goes by, but no one wants to get close. Despite their rejection, the elf continues on, seeing a glorious sun beyond the horizon. His eyes behold the beauty of the world around him, even as he remains hidden from society.

The elf then finds himself in a moment of crisis, uncertain of what to do next. He cries out for help, and a thousand voices whisper back to him the truth in soft tones. But still, no one wants to hear his story or listen to what he has to say. He keeps his secrets to himself and keeps pressing forward. The elf sees the sun shining high in the sky, representing a glimmer of hope that everything will be alright. But no one wants to understand what he sees or hear about his adventures. Regardless, he keeps believing and trudging the path alone.

The song has a theme of isolation and the cruelty of loneliness. The elf in the song is ostracized and left alone, not by choice but by circumstances. He has to rely on himself to pave the way forward in his life. However, he finds hope in the beauty that he sees and refuses to give up. Álfur út úr hól is a hauntingly beautiful song that conveys its meaning through the lyrics and melody, which speak to the momentous themes of being alone, misunderstood, but never losing hope.