Its Not Up To You
Bjork Lyrics

I wake up
The singer begins the song by talking about waking up, suggesting a new day has started.

And the day feels broken
The new day doesn't feel quite right; something is off or out of place.

I tilt my head
The singer is trying to look at things from a different angle, in order to gain a clearer perspective and maybe solve the problem that makes the day feel broken.

I'm trying to get an angle
The previous line is expanded upon, as the singer explains that she is attempting to find a useful way of looking at things.

'Cause the evening
The singer, perhaps realizing that the day will not be salvageable, shifts her focus to the evening instead.

I've always longed for
The evening is something the singer has anticipated for some time, and she is eager for it to arrive.

It could still happen
Despite the rocky start to the day, the singer remains hopeful that the evening she has looked forward to will still come to pass.

How do I master
The singer is considering what steps she can take to bring about the perfect day.

The perfect day
Here, the concept of a perfect day is introduced, one in which everything goes just right and as planned.

Six glasses of water
One of the elements the singer believes contributes to a perfect day is drinking six glasses of water.

Seven phone calls
Making seven phone calls is mentioned as another of the steps towards a perfect day. Presumably, these phone calls are to people who matter to the singer.

If you leave it alone
Sometimes, the singer suggests, the best thing to do is to leave things as they are and not interfere too much.

It might just happen
Despite the instruction to not interfere too much, there is still hope that things may turn out the way you want them to.

Anyway
Regardless, the singer seems to be saying, it's worth trying.

It's not up to you
The chorus of the song, this line implies that there are things outside of our control and, ultimately, we cannot force things to be exactly how we want them to be.

Oh, it never really was
In case it wasn't clear, this line reinforces that the control we might think we have over things is illusory.

If you wake up
Returning to the theme of waking up, the singer suggests that we can choose how we approach the day ahead.

And the day feels a-broken
If the day does not begin well or if things go wrong, the singer suggests a way to handle it--leaning into the problem rather than turning away from it.

Just lean into the crack
Embracing imperfections or problems, rather than fighting them or being discouraged by them, can lead to greater understanding.

And it will tremble ever so nicely
Just as sometimes in music a slight imperfection can add to the overall effect, embracing the cracks and problems of life can yield unexpectedly good results.

Notice
The singer is encouraging the listener to pay attention, to be mindful of what happens even in the small moments.

How it sparkles
By focusing on small details, one can find surprising beauty in the world.

Down there
The beauty may be in unexpected places or in things that are easily overlooked.

I can decide what I give
The singer has some measure of control in terms of what she offers the world.

But it's not up to me
In terms of what she receives in return, however, the singer again acknowledges that there are outside forces at work.

What I get given
Despite our best efforts, we must accept that what happens to us is not solely determined by us.

Unthinkable surprises
The next two lines introduce the idea that we cannot predict what will happen in our lives, and that sometimes these surprises can be wonderful despite how unpredictable they may seem.

About to happen
The singer is suggesting something big or important is on the way.

But what they are
Despite knowing that there are surprises in store for her, the singer does not know what these changes will entail.

There is too much
The song ends on a somewhat pessimistic note, with the singer stating that there is simply too much of something, though she doesn't specify what.

Clinging
It may be that the problem is holding onto a particular idea or dream, and that letting go is necessary.

To peak
If one clings too hard to a certain idea or goal, the expectation may become too great or too limiting, preventing other opportunities from being recognized or accepted.

There is too much
The repetition of this line emphasizes the sense of being overwhelmed or trapped in a particular idea or mode of thinking.

Pressure
The song concludes with the word 'pressure,' indicating that feeling weighed down by expectations and hopes may ultimately be the cause of the problem.