04_-_Björk_-_Bachelorette
Bjork Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the shape of a girl
You're the bird on the brim
Hypnotized by the whirl
Drink me, make me feel real
Wet your beak in the stream
Game we're playing is life
Leave me now, return tonight
Tide will show you the way
If you forget my name you will go astray
Like a killer whale trapped in a bay
I'm a path of cinders
Burning under your feet
You're the one who walks me
I'm your one-way street
???????????????????
I'm a whisper in water
Secret for you to hear
You're the one who grows distant
When I beckon you near
Leave me now, return tonight
The tide will show you some way
If you forget my name, you will go astray
Like a killer whale trapped in a bay
I'm a tree that grows hearts
One for each that you take
You're the intruder's hand
I'm the branch that you break
Björk's "Bachelorette" is a song about the complexities and contradictions of love. The opening lyrics, "I'm a fountain of blood in the shape of a girl, you're the bird on the brim hypnotized by the whirl," suggest that the singer sees herself as an overwhelming and perhaps even dangerous force, while the person she is addressing is merely a passive observer. The phrase "drink me, make me feel real" is an invitation to intimacy, a plea to be acknowledged and validated by the other person. The image of the "game we're playing" as life suggests that love is not just a feeling but a fundamental part of existence, something that shapes our very being.
The chorus offers a warning: "leave me now, return tonight, tide will show you the way, if you forget my name you will go astray, like a killer whale trapped in a bay." Here, the singer is warning her lover of the consequences of abandoning her, suggesting that without her guidance they will become lost and aimless. This is a common theme in Björk's work, where love is presented as a kind of quest or journey that requires constant attention and effort.
The second verse continues this theme of contradiction, with the singer stating that she is both a "path of cinders burning under your feet" and a "whisper in water secret for you to hear." Again, she presents love as something that is both all-consuming and elusive, something that we simultaneously grasp at and struggle to hold onto. The final verse offers a particularly poignant image, with the singer describing herself as a tree that grows hearts, one for each that her lover takes, and the other person as the "intruder's hand" that breaks her branches. Here, love is not just a game or a journey, but something that requires sacrifice and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fountain of blood
I am a constant source of passion and emotion.
In the shape of a girl
Despite being powerful and fierce, I am still a woman.
You're the bird on the brim
You are on the edge of experiencing something incredible.
Hypnotized by the whirl
You are completely captivated by what you are experiencing.
Drink me, make me feel real
Embrace me and help me feel alive.
Wet your beak in the stream
Take a taste of what I am offering.
Game we're playing is life
Our interactions are a part of the larger experience of life.
Love's a two way dream
Both partners in a relationship must be invested in making it work.
Leave me now, return tonight
Take a break, but make sure to come back.
Tide will show you the way
The natural course of things will guide you back.
If you forget my name you will go astray
Without a clear sense of what you are seeking, you may get lost.
Like a killer whale trapped in a bay
Feeling confined and unable to escape.
I'm a path of cinders
I am full of passion and intensity.
Burning under your feet
You can't escape the power and heat of my emotions.
You're the one who walks me
You are guiding me through this experience.
I'm your one-way street
I am completely devoted to you in this moment.
I'm a whisper in water
I am offering something private and intimate.
Secret for you to hear
This is something only you and I can share.
You're the one who grows distant
You sometimes pull away when things get too intense.
When I beckon you near
When I try to bring you closer.
If you forget my name, you will go astray
You need to stay focused on what is important or you risk losing out.
Like a killer whale trapped in a bay
Feeling confined and unable to escape.
I'm a tree that grows hearts
My love can be abundant and all-encompassing.
One for each that you take
Each person I care for gets a piece of my heart.
You're the intruder's hand
You are able to access parts of me that others cannot.
I'm the branch that you break
But at times, you can hurt me or cause damage to our relationship.
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Malena Silva
✨ Björk is a fantastic singer who envelops us in that magical world that only she knows how to create ✨
omar Warner
Esta mujer me eleva de manera sorprendente. Su voz y su música me llevan tan lejos, a lugares de hielo y me llenan de una paz sin precedentes! Viva Björk!!!
Yian KutKu
Amazing as always, Björjk is such an artist
David Hocdé
Magnifique. Merci.
Антон Чехов
прекрасна
bluetickgamer
Her voice is as beautiful as ever. Not a fan of the masks she likes to wear now. Part of the Björk live experience is watching her facial expressions as she not only sings but actually becomes the song. That is lost now with the masks. I would still love to see her live though
Juan david Alzate escobar
Cute!!!
Alex 86
She doesn't have it in her anymore
Cevi
Run, walk away and keep the voice and squeals you did when you were 20 years old at 54 years old.
Rip2vinyl
she’s in her 50’s obviously her vocals have matured