Heirloom
Bjork Lyrics
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Every time I lose my voice
I swallow little glowing lights
My mother and son baked for me
During the night
They do a trapeze walk
Until they're in the sky
While I'm asleep
My mother and son pour into me
Warm glowing oil
Into my wide open throat
I have a recurrent dream
Every time I feel a hoarseness
I swallow warm glowing lights
My mother and son baked for me
They make me feel so much better
They make me feel better
We have a recurrent dream
Every time we lose our voices
We dream we swallow little lights
Our mother and sons bake for us
During the night
They do a little trapeze walk
Until they're in the sky
(Right above our heads)
Right above our heads
While we're asleep
My mother and son pour into us
Warm glowing oil
Into our wide open throats
I have a recurrent dream
They make me feel better
They make me feel better
The lyrics to Björk's song Heirloom provides a glimpse into her dream world where she recurrently swallows little glowing lights that her mother and son baked for her. Interestingly, these lights seem to have a curative effect on her as whenever she feels hoarseness, she dreams of swallowing them, and they make her feel better, soothing her throat by pouring warm glowing oil into it. The dream also involves her mother and son doing a trapeze walk, and gradually hovering over her bed, right above her head.
The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, but it is clear that the recurrent dream is a significant event in Björk's life. Perhaps, it represents a therapeutic experience she often wishes to relive, where she feels loved and cared for by her mother and son. It could also be a way of coping with her vocal challenges, where music and light become a form of healing for her. The use of the word "heirloom" in the title of the song suggests that the little glowing lights may signify an object of significant value, passed down from one generation to another.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a recurrent dream
The singer frequently has a dream that relates to a specific experience.
Every time I lose my voice
This dream occurs whenever the singer is unable to speak properly or communicate effectively.
I swallow little glowing lights
In the dream, the singer ingests small, luminous objects that produce an enlightening sensation.
My mother and son baked for me
The lights were prepared especially by the artist's family, her mother and son, and are a tangible representation of their love and care for her.
During the night
This dream takes place while the artist sleeps.
They do a trapeze walk
The singer's mother and son perform an acrobatic show, which underscores their relationship to each other and their focus on the singer's well-being.
Until they're in the sky
The performance climaxes as they twist and soar upwards into the air.
Right above my bed
Their show occurs in close proximity to where the artist is resting.
While I'm asleep
The artist is unaware of this performance.
My mother and son pour into me
The two individuals somehow pour a warm, glowing liquid down the artist's throat, which fills her with warmth and light.
Warm glowing oil
The substance produced by the singer's mother and son that nourishes her and contributes to her dream experience.
Into my wide open throat
The artist's throat is the literal and symbolic point of contact for the warm, glowing oil and the sense of well-being it evokes.
They make me feel so much better
The entire dream sequence, including the performance and the warm, glowing oil, has a significant, positive impact on the singer's emotional state.
We have a recurrent dream
The singer includes a reference to herself and others experiencing the same dream, indicating a shared emotional experience.
Every time we lose our voices
Those who share this dream feel disconnected, silenced, or otherwise unable to communicate effectively.
We dream we swallow little lights
The shared dream also involves ingesting small, luminous objects that produce an enlightening sensation, as in the artist's own dream.
Our mother and sons bake for us
Family members, including mothers and sons, play a role in co-creating this healing experience.
My mother and son pour into us
The loving and caring individuals who provide nourishment and support during the dream experience are not just unique to the singer's dream, but also exist in the shared dream experience.
They make me feel better
The recurring dream experience as a whole, including the trapeze walk and the glowing oil, has a therapeutic effect on the singer, helping her feel more at peace and connected to those closest to her.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir, Martin Gretschmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind