Pagan Poetry
Bjork Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pedaling through
The dark currents
I find an accurate copy
A blueprint of the pleasure in me

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
A secret code carved
A secret code carved

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)

He offers a handshake
Crooked five fingers
They form a pattern
Yet to be matched

On the surface simplicity
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
But the darkest pit in me
And it's pagan poetry
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Pagan poetry

Morse coding signals (signals)
They pulsate (they wake me up)
They wake me up (pulsate)
From my hibernating (wake me up from my hibernating)

On the surface simplicity
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
But the darkest pit in me
And it's pagan poetry
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Pagan poetry
Ah
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)

I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him, I

(She loves him, she loves him) this time
(She loves him, she loves him)
I'm going to keep it to myself (she loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him) this time
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him) I'm going to keep me all to myself
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him) but he makes me want to hand myself over
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him) but he makes me want to hand myself over
(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him)

(She loves him, she loves him)
(She loves him, she loves him)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Björk's song Pagan Poetry explore the complexity of desire and the dark impulses that accompany it. The song begins with the image of the singer "pedaling through the dark currents" in search of some kind of "blueprint of the pleasure in me." This could be interpreted as the singer searching for a kind of map to her own sexuality, trying to understand the desires that drive her. The repeated phrase "swirling black lilies totally ripe" could be seen as a metaphor for these desires, which are potent and mature.

The second verse introduces a male figure who offers the singer a handshake, but his fingers are crooked and form a mysterious pattern that has yet to be understood. This could represent the allure of the unknown, the attraction to something that is unfamiliar and potentially dangerous. The singer acknowledges the simplicity of the situation on the surface, but also recognizes the darker impulses within herself that are driving her towards this pagan poetry of desire.

Line by Line Meaning

Pedaling through
Moving forward carefully

The dark currents
Mysterious waves of emotion

I find an accurate copy
I discover something that truly represents me

A blueprint of the pleasure in me
A detailed guide of what brings me joy

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Feeling the weight of the seductive darkness

A secret code carved
A message hidden away

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Feeling the weight of the seductive darkness

He offers a handshake
An attempt at a friendly introduction

Crooked five fingers
Something seems off about his gesture

They form a pattern
The gesture seems purposeful

Yet to be matched
But no match for anything I know

On the surface simplicity
Seeming like a straightforward situation

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Feeling the weight of the seductive darkness

But the darkest pit in me
But struggling with the deep darkness within myself

And it's pagan poetry
And it encompasses the power of pagan poetry

(Swirling black lilies totally ripe)
Feeling the weight of the seductive darkness

Pagan poetry
Representing the mystical connection to nature

Morse coding signals (signals)
Interpreting cryptic signals

They pulsate (they wake me up)
They throb with a powerful energy

They wake me up (pulsate)
They shake me from my slumber

From my hibernating (wake me up from my hibernating)
From my state of inactivity and unawareness

I love him, I love him
I have strong feelings for him

I love him, I love him, I
I have fallen deeply in love with him

(She loves him, she loves him) this time
Acknowledging how deeply she feels this time

(She loves him, she loves him)
Admitting that she loves him again

I'm going to keep it to myself (she loves him, she loves him)
She will keep her feelings hidden this time

(She loves him, she loves him) this time
Admitting that she loves him again

(She loves him, she loves him)
Affirming that she loves him again

(She loves him, she loves him) I'm going to keep me all to myself
She will keep herself and her feelings private

(She loves him, she loves him)
Affirming that she loves him again

(She loves him, she loves him) but he makes me want to hand myself over
He has a strong hold on her emotionally

(She loves him, she loves him)
Affirming that she loves him again

(She loves him, she loves him) but he makes me want to hand myself over
He has a strong hold on her emotionally

(She loves him, she loves him)
Affirming that she loves him again

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Wanderlust - Live6:20

02Hunter - Live4:18

03Pleasure Is All Mine

04Innocence - Live3:59

05Army of Me - live4:20

06I Miss You - Live3:30

07Earth Intruders4:29

08All Is Full of Love4:47

09Pagan Poetry - Live5:14

PT5M14S

Björk

10Vertebræ by Vertebræ5:08

11Declare Independence5:25

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Comments from YouTube:

Morkel Jakeson

3y↑746

I distinctly remember seeing this as a 15 year-old when it aired and trying to convince my little sister that Bjork is better than Britney Spears... I don’t think I ever broke through

stupid fools🤪🤣

2y↑52

This is a real musician not lollipop shit

The BW Gaming

2y↑9

@stupid fools🤪🤣 I wouldn’t exactly say “no lollipops”

limpFlute

2y↑61

Britney is pretty good Umm

Daisy

2y↑62

I love both!!

Thilo Hesse

2y↑31

You are absolutely right- Björk is quite sophisticated and unique in her music and art, and she's on a level that Britney Spears could never even begin to comprehend.

40 More Replies...

themanfromvlad

5y↑731

Yet another example of how good David Letterman’s sound people were. That kind of brilliant performance would have been lost on other talk shows with muddled audio. This is my favourite video on YouTube. Thank you for uploading.

Aditya Tiwari

4y↑36

You can hear bass so well. Really great sound engineers.

Soaribb

2y↑10

That's the one thing I give him credit. People always sound good on his show.

C R

2y↑14

That's how I felt about Mariah Carey's Butterfly performance. Letterman's sound people picked up the intricate background work (instrumentals and vocals) while places like SNL totally muddled it.

Christopher

2y↑1

Pretty sure the instrumental is just a backing track? So pretty easy to mix with the vocals.

3 More Replies...

Farmhouse on the Mountain

2y↑111

I've been listening to Bjork for over 20 years and this is the first live performance I've ever seen. This is so so clean and perfect. The placidity on her face as she absolutely smashes you is just....

yampymusic

For two more of her most incredible live vocals, search youtube for Jools Joga and Jools Bachelorette

drithligh

1y↑3

The ... first? Where've you been?

Murray Sampson

6y↑473

I really like this performance of Pagan Poetry. Björk’s vocals are great, the choir are cool, music is awesome and they all look fantastic.

basir hj munaf

5y↑3

Love bjork

Sahadewo Nalendro

4y↑2

Very true

taelabaho

3y↑521

This is what every musician should be: unique, eclectic and original.

avedic

3y↑19

We have a spotift playlist at work where each of us gets to pick 40 songs that play over the speakers during the day. I work at a used bookstore. It's a great job. :) But....I added this song, and several other Bjork songs. She's a musical genius. And....get this...most of my coworkers MAKE FUN of her singing. Wtf, right? And these people are all smart creative cool people. And they think she "sings like a dying whale."

Don't worry though...every time we submit a new playlist, I always include a couple Bjork songs. This last one included Venus as a Boy, Human Behavior, and Joga.
I'm trying to start them off easy....picking the poppier stuff. I'm committed to changing their minds lol, it's my mission....although it's not going well....

Wish me luck!

Cindy Barg

3y↑17

@avedic If everyone had the same taste we'd just be a bunch of clones, is that what you really want?

V Leaky

2y↑1

@avedic well Spotify doesn't pay artists and their CEO is investing billions on military. I wouldn't use it if I were you. I deleted mine asap.

Zack Zallie

2y↑4

@Cindy Barg That's what the radio wants, sadly.

Mike F

Yes, every artist.

6 More Replies...

Leroy C

16y↑501

hauntingly beautiful. thank god for this woman.

David P

5y↑3

Yes indeed.

chaeri mashups

4y↑4

MorbidManMusic Someone's insecure lmao

Sistema NN

4y↑1

It's really music

Jaguar Cosmos

Amén 🙏 i couldn't agree more

2 More Replies...

Jana HCoaching

4y↑79

Björk sounds amazing live. Such a unique artist. She has always done whatever the ***uck she wants, full artistic control. Nobody gets to listen to anything till it's done, and that's how you let true artists work. It works perfectly! She knows more about sound and music in general than most musicians out there.

jung li

1y↑1

Haha, too many fake artist out there

Sue DeSimone

3y↑204

Not only does she write music, she designs and makes her clothes!

ovidiu nica

3y↑16

and produces songs

Clemente cid

2y↑29

jajaj please its Alexander McQueen

pluf

50w↑4

She wore a lot of Alexander McQueen

Colin Bonnington

3y↑70

Incredible. She destroys me. I think I’ve got my life figured out, I hear her, it all comes crashing back, I don’t know what to do, I’m the same person I was ten, 20 years ago, in that private face that one only shows to oneself in the mirror. I love her so much.

Daniel Koschalka

2y↑59

I loved Vespertine when it came out, but looking back, it was really something special, and I’m sad I passed up opportunities to see it toured. This song is just a marvel.

Rick C-137

6y↑272

Fuuuuuuuuuckkkk.... this song still moves me to my core. I love you and utterly appreciate you, Bjork. Thank you so much for your amazing voice and art

skyelark155

4y↑4

She's gorgeous

Rodrigo S.

28w↑2

The way the choir sounds live, how beautiful these women are, their outfits...it brings me to tears. Björk is the center, but they add so much to this performance...

Rparas34

4y↑109

I had the shock of a lifetime to meet her at a Cannibal Corpse show in L'amour Brooklyn NY. She showed up after her premiere of Dancer in the Dark movie in the city. She was soo nice! She said she was blown away by death metal vocalists lol. So amazing!

blastbeatdown

2y↑7

Bad ass

RJ

1y↑4

Classic Bjork move. One of the many reasons she's awesome!

C L

6y↑279

That crowd was blessed

Boobalopbop

4y↑15

Free tickets!!! And they got to see God.

John Mock

6y↑137

What a devastating, jaw dropping performance. It made me stop in my tracks. One of the all time greats. Pure passion, heart and artistry!

brennt80

2y↑21

Bjork’s singing is yet to b matched. It’s innocent, playful, child-like naive while sensual, sexy, and cathartic to the fullest..

Hannah H.

6y↑218

Bjork is a genius in her own right.

Sistema NN

Lastima la Björk ahora proenculado obligada

CJ

2y↑3

I'd say she's a genius periodt

avedic

3y↑126

We have a spotift playlist at work where each of us gets to pick 40 songs that play over the speakers during the day. I work at a used bookstore. It's a great job. :)
But....I added this song, and several other Bjork songs. She's a musical genius.
And....get this...most of my coworkers MAKE FUN of her singing. Wtf, right? And these people are all smart creative cool people. And they think she "sings like a dying whale."

Don't worry though...every time we submit a new playlist, I always include a couple Bjork songs. This last one included Venus as a Boy, Human Behavior, and Joga.
I'm trying to start them off easy....picking the poppier stuff. I'm committed to changing their minds lol, it's my mission....although it's not going well....

Wish me luck!

rhys nymph

2y↑15

play ancestors lmao

Ben An

2y↑3

Please give us an update on this

Sansyy

2y↑4

@rhys nymph LMAOOO

yenuen

2y↑11

do pluto lmao

Jane Blessing

2y↑10

If Venus as a boy doesn't do it nothing will

10 More Replies...

Sergio Cabezuela

2y↑21

To live through this era is unexplainable. I can’t put it in words. Life can’t be rewritten to explain it.

LizEsc

2y↑1

Every generation claims the same. No such thing as best era. But good for you and your nostalgia.

D Rog

@LizEsc this might actually bit it tho playa

Leonel Remille

6y↑107

I love this live version, the chorus sounds so clean...

Samuel Charles

6y↑93

I literally had a inner body shiver from the top of my heat that shivered all the way to my brain. Magic!

Jair Cardenas

5y↑93

This is pure art. Only Björk, Only she!!!

Samuel Saarinen

6y↑118

The greatest vocalist of all time

Biff Barely

2y↑9

I'll never forget when this album came out. I liked her previous albums, but Vespertine moved me so much. Still one of my favorite albums from any genre--and my favorite from her entire catalogue.

Henquinet Timothy

4y↑103

The Greenland choir is...AMAZING

Redcat Redcat

6y↑60

Inimitable. Inventif, étrange, incroyable, tout simplement. Merci Björk👍🏻

Brian Carroll

6y↑68

she makes me know i am alive by the chills. my heart electrified to five times its normal size.

MonicaSPaulo

2y↑19

Primeira vez que ouvi Bjork estava no carro de um amigo e fiquei aturdida. Fui comprar o CD imediatamente p ouvir tudo.... centenas de vezes isso foi em 1993. Minha sobrinha vinha muito em minha casa e um dia coloquei o CD para ela ouvir e ela enlouqueceu!!! Ela tinha 6 anos de idade e toda vez que voltava em minha casa queria ouvir o CD. 10 anos depois coloquei o CD para minha filha q tinha 5 anos de idade e ela também amou, queria dançar sem parar. Crianças são abertas a novidades, não estão enquadradas em modelos impostos. Acho Bjork maravilhosa, ela é o que é, sem se enquadrar em padrões por isso é genial e mexe tanto com as pessoas mais sensíveis.
Hoje, abril de 2022 e a música dela ainda me refresca, me alegra, me renova nos meus 57 anos de idade. Ela é atemporal
💚💛🇧🇷💛💚 BRASIL

Mario Henrique

31w

que lindo seu relato!!! <3

kimdracula

5y↑50

this performance gave me chills.

starkid2k13

2y↑4

Björk's sound is epic. 💓She's one of a kind. Phenomenal performance at Letterman.

Chris Batson

3y↑15

One of the most creative popular musicians of all time.

Hellboy

2y↑8

The year 2021, almost the year 2022 ... and I still have goosebumps.

Luis Ramirez

4y↑7

She is so unique , we don’t deserve Björk 😍

Gerrard Aissing

6y↑905

I am privileged to have seen here live

RayCurrin75

5y↑27

I too seen her live Gerrard, long time ago when she was touring the album post, was a tiny little venue in Dublin Ireland, dropped some acid, and was taken to another universe! Amazing 😍

RayCurrin75

5y↑2

@kountreepimp38 really hope you get to see her too, would love to see her live again, shame she doesn't tour here much anymore 😒

Thebassist Noeve

5y↑10

I saw her from the front row this year bro 😎 She still got it

Gabriel Ferreira Gomes

4y↑2

que bom

jean osorio

👏👏👏👏👍

30 More Replies...

losifer81

4y↑11

It's 2020 now and this song still gets me! And it's LIVE!!!! 📱😺💛

iranhy heart

4y↑7

Que maravilla, esta es una de mis top 5 canciones de bjork forever

MIGUEL SAAVEDRA

cuál es tu top?

MICHAEL HENICKER

4y↑10

Absolutely SUBLIME! Saw her last week in London. Have never seen a show as amazing as that...... Just beyond!

Cynthia Bustamante

4y↑7

You don't just listen to Bjork. You experience her.

Ryan Knapp

2y↑6

An Actual Artist. Hail Björk.

WhoisHaro

2y↑6

Man, she's always a decade ahead of its time.

hyperborean72

3y↑4

the harmonies of this song are so perfect that I want to cry

Gudang

2y↑2

Eu queria ter a oportunidade de ver isso ao vivo... Simplesmente incrível!

Katrin

4y↑16

melody tears soul apart and after pause you hear like parts floating in the space while they telling "she loves him"

Odysseus

4y↑19

Best performance I have ever seen on Letterman.

J Foster

4y↑11

This performance was awesome!

Ted Cabana

2y↑11

Never be afraid to experiment outside the box. Absolutely loving what Bjork does. Loving who she is. And I am the him she loves!

vhayashi

2y↑2

I'm in awe even after listening to her for over 30 years and she is my favorite female artist of all time... Just speechless her Raw authentic pure passionate spirit that resonates so incredibly powerful you feel it in the depths of your soul... Just Amazing... There's nobody else like her in the world... Such a brilliant creative force who was never afraid to be who she is all unique in her own Raw Power a phenomenally gifted musician and artist... She's a genius and I fall in love with her because she shows who she is from her heart so beautifully done words cannot accurately express how she makes us feel like we just traveled to another world full of pure raw emotion and truth... Absolutely beautiful...💖🔥🔥💖💖🙌

Flávio Sabino

2y↑1

Como eu amo Bjork ❤️

Ian Texas

33w↑1

I wonder if talk show hosts take for granted having AMAZING artists perform in front of them every single night

ScandiePride

38w↑1

Absolutely amazing performance ❤and the audio somehow sounds better than on the record. I'm blown away again and again again .

Phil Bartlett

3y↑1

Stunning track, stunning artist, for me top ten in the list of world's finest artists, male/female or group, bjork mesmerises me, ❤️❤️❤️

Александр Александрович

3y↑3

Обожаю эту композию.

Manuel r

44w↑2

2023 and still sound soo pure and fresh

Gonsalo Paniagua

A arte da música maximizada !
Muito talento e sensibilidade!

tHatBmOrEcHiCk: FOODIE, Cooking, & Lifestyle Vlogs

3y↑1

She is phenomenal. Zap Mama's music reminds me a lot of Bjork. Although Bjork is in a class all by herself as she should be. I'm in awe.

Steve Dahlberg

2y↑2

Absolutely beautiful on every level.

Deveal

1y↑2

Fantastic

L'oiseau noir

1y↑1

Incredible how she could reproduce this live

Mel Rest

6y↑61

Anyone know who made her dress? Could she be anymore perfect? I don't think I love any musician as much as I love her! Perfection!

penzman

6y↑6

Melissa Restagno
I seem to remember Letterman asking about the dress and the choir's and she sais it was traditional Icelandic.

ADRIAN HAYNES

4y↑2

Victor and Rolf made that dress I believe.

David P

3y↑3

She bought it at the last remaining Sears & Roebuck in Iceland.

Gabriel Lucas

alexandre mathieu

B mcGoo

Pure, unique, emotional genius.

CavalierNSN

I feel so guilty because witnessing her performances is like peering through a window. I know it's bad, but I can't help myself. I've lost track of the world around me, and I can't look away. Through the window is the soul of a human being. I have one, but it doesn't matter because I can see hers.

Nando

5y↑1

Es una joya de canción <3

B

Bjork is always so good live

Nicholle Ch. Curiel

I love this live sooo much 🥺💕

Becca G

1y↑2

Such a great cd!!!

Rel

4y↑36

I love her so much.

Erik A

4y↑9

You love her, you love her, you love her, you love her.

Aurelia Neiva

2y↑1

Maravilhosa 😍😍😍😍😍

Valeria SV

4y↑1

Me enamoré por completo 💜

Vladimir Pereira

3y↑3

She is her own genre

birdy1numnum

4y↑2

pure magic 💓

ethan

3y↑1

i love this performance

Soáres y Vasconcelos

1y↑1

Imagina ser artista assim. Pqp ela tem o molho🥹

Luke Larson

2y↑2

How have I never seen this before? Amazing.

Melinda Gibson

1y↑5

I like how the background singers are bopping on beat.

bilsdweeb

33w↑1

I've come across this on 9/4/23, twenty two years from the day. i love björk so much ❤

Eddie Navarro

3y↑1

Fantástico !!

Meechelle 923

1y↑3

That was epic

Bianca Palavecino

3y↑1

it's a pleasure listening to Bjork

Junioru2 ADJ

3y↑1

Maravilhosa

Pao Mos

3y↑3

Desde mi adolescencia, allá x el 96 que me encanta Björk 🙌

XhateX

I've been listening to Bjork when i was a Kid , deng what's recording sounds much better in Live. Effortless ❤

William Chapin

2y↑4

There is no one like Bjork..

Antonio Ortiz

1y↑2

So surreal seeing her promote this album on Jay Leno and David Letterman of all places, although Letterman was a bit more eclectic in his musical guests.

Emmanuelle Nocquet

2y↑2

💪🏻🌟🙏🏻💓🌈🥰🥰
Je suis fan , j aime tellement cette musique 💕

Randalstilskin

2y↑1

I love that album.

Aurora Oss

Finding out who Bjork was is literally back tracing what Indie music and alternative music is now. Like hip hop and it's Origins happening in the mid-90s, I think York was the start of the soft toned music that people mostly like today in there pop playlist next to reggaeton from Bad Bunny and Drake's R&B songs.

avedic

3y↑11

7 days before 9/11.....

Weird man....
I remember watching THIS performance live, in my dorm room. Different world....

Ф Фаталь

Обожаю ее.Женщина-ребенок!Выдающаяся,жаль мы все стареем и она тоже

Ruth Torres

Mucica.cristiana

Priscila Favett

Canta muito hein

Grace Robertson

2y↑5

I'm reminded of all the very serious feelings I had at age 17....

Hash-Slinging Slasher

4y↑78

Oh come on letterman, he looks so underwhelmed after the performance, i would be weeping at her feet

kissthestars

3y↑10

No kidding! I got misty eyed just watching this. If I ever saw her live, I’d be bawling the whole time.

Music

3y↑6

He was more interested in pointing out the native choir and what they were wearing than the song and performance. Bjork looked so awkward at the end sitting in the chair next to him.

RJ

@Music To be fair, and I am a huge fan of hers, but she generally looks awkward in show-based interviews!

Jane Wright

1y↑1

Spine tingling!💚

Ken Greenfield

4y↑19

I love her little curtsey of thanks when she finishes!

skyelark155

4y↑1

I'm going to slip away to this song ....... and leave it on repeat!!

rjmprod

3y↑3

Always loved her...!

lool u

4y↑9

stunning. I’m crying.

Thank you for your compliance

3y↑2

Should have millions of views.

Ayelen Sanchez

3y↑1

she is so magical

Sam Sneed

2y↑2

Can you imagine the ridiculous uproar from a certain group of people at merely the title of this song? There'd be a mob trying to burning her at the stake. God I miss the 90s and early oughts before the world went ENTIRELY INSANE 😔