Performed by Björk and Tagaq
Beats: Rahzel
Bass synt… Read Full Bio ↴SONG INFO
Performed by Björk and Tagaq
Beats: Rahzel
Bass synth: Björk
Programming: Valgeir Sigurdsson, Mark Bell, Björk, Matmos
"This is a song I wrote at the end on Vespertine, but I didn't put it there because I felt it was from a different family - Vespertine was introvert and shy and not very phycisal a record, and this was a very physical song that I wrote when I was feeling quite strong again. The words are kinda self-explanatory. This is the one song that Matmos helped me with - they did fruit-machine-noises that are in the choruses. Like when you put a coin in slotmachine and get three strawberries. So they made those noises with synthesizers that I later imitated with my voice. So I would like to thank Matmos very much for that input, thank you very much. That was the first song where Rahzel sang, and he did the beat in that song in one take. We just all fell on the floor, we couldn't believe it. There's no overdubs, no treatment - this is it. I felt quite proud -- if you're gonna have a human beatboxer, at least get the real thing. " (Björk, XFM 25aug04)
Who Is It
Bjork Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It fuels me and places
A skeleton of trust
Right beneath us
Bone by bone
Stone by stone
If you ask yourself
Who is it, who is it
Who is it
That never lets you down
Who is it
That gave you back your crown
And the ornaments are
They're goin' around
Now they're handin' it over
They're handin' it over, handin' it over
Who is it
That never lets you down
Who is it
That gave you back your crown
And the ornaments are
They're goin' around
Now they're handin' it over
Handin' it over
He demands a closeness
We all have earned a lightness
Carry my joy on the left
Carry my pain on my right
If you ask yourself now
Patiently and carefully
Who is it
Who is it
That never lets you down
Who is it
That gave you back your crown
The ornaments are
They're goin' around
And they're handin' it over
Handin' it over, handin'
Who is it
That never lets you down
Who is it
That gave you back your crown
The ornaments are
They're goin' around
And they're handin' it over
Handin' it over
The song "Who Is It" by Björk revolves around the theme of trust in a relationship. In the beginning of the song, the lyrics describe the feeling of safety and security that one gets from being in the arms of a loved one, comparing it to a fortress. The next few lines compare trust to a skeleton, reinforcing the importance of trust as the foundation of a relationship. The imagery of bone by bone and stone by stone emphasizes the strength and durability of trust, and the idea that it is a slow and steady process to build.
The chorus of the song asks the listener to reflect on who it is that they can rely on completely, who never lets them down and who restored their sense of self-worth (symbolized by the crown). The concept of "ornaments" passing around suggests a sense of community or shared responsibility for supporting someone, and the repetition of "handing it over" reinforces this idea.
Later in the song, the lyrics describe the balance needed in a healthy relationship - the need for both joy and pain, and how a partner should be able to support and carry both of these emotions. The ending repeats the chorus with the added line of "they're handin' it over, handin' it over, handin' it over," suggesting a sense of trust and responsibility that echoes throughout the community.
Overall, the song "Who Is It" is a beautiful meditation on the importance of trust, reliance and community.
Line by Line Meaning
His embrace a fortress
His love and support make me feel safe and protected
It fuels me and places
His love and support energize and ground me
A skeleton of trust
A strong foundation of trust that we have built together
Right beneath us
The foundation of trust is always present, right below the surface
Bone by bone
Trust has been built up over time, piece by piece
Stone by stone
The foundation of trust has been built up gradually, slowly and surely
If you ask yourself
If you take the time to reflect and introspect
Patiently and carefully
With patience and care
Who is it, who is it
Who is the person who always comes through for you?
Who is it
That never lets you down
Who is the person you can always count on, who never disappoints?
Who is it
That gave you back your crown
Who is the person who restored your confidence and self-esteem?
And the ornaments are
They're goin' around
Now they're handin' it over
Handin' it over, handin' it over
The people around you are passing on love, support, and positive energy from one person to the next
He demands a closeness
He wants to be emotionally close and connected
We all have earned a lightness
We all deserve to feel light and free of burdens
Carry my joy on the left
Carry my pain on my right
Let's share each other's joy and pain, and support each other in both
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ebrahimsari1421
His embrace, a fortress
It fuels me and places
A skeleton of trust
Right beneath us
Bone by bone
Stone by stone
[Pre-Chorus]
If you ask yourself patiently and carefully:
Who is it? Who is it?
[Chorus]
Who is it that never lets you down?
Who is it that gave you back your crown?
And the ornaments are, they're going around
Now they're handing it over
They're handing it over, handing it over
Who is it that never lets you down?
Who is it that gave you back your crown?
And the ornaments are, they're going around
Now they're handing it over
Handing it over
[Post-Chorus]
Handing it over...
[Verse 2]
He demands a closeness
We all have earned a lightness
Carry my joy on the left
Carry my pain on the right
[Pre-Chorus 2]
If you ask yourself now, patiently and carefully:
Who is it?
[Chorus]
Who is it that never lets you down?
Who is it that gave you back your crown?
And the ornaments are, they're going around
And they're handing it over
Handing it over, handing
Who is it that never lets you down?
Who is it that gave you back your crown?
And the ornaments are, they're going around
Now I'm handing it over
Handing it over
[Post-Chorus]
Handing it over...
@soleywolfgangsdottir
one of the best songs on earth. beatboxing, bells and she and her voice. she is still and will always be my queen.
@gianandreamajone8238
Always my Empress, down here in Italy, faithful province of Iceland...
@Hunter-uz9jw
the beatboxing rocks lmao
@ScionLo
Hail to the Queen of the North.
@toddstoptens1384
Most other artists: “Look at me, I’m so weird!”
Björk: “Hold my bells.”
@n0ts0B9
Absolutely. Lady Gaga will never ever outshine Bjork.
@alistaircooke7000
Right lol? She's been singing since a young age. Perfectionism at least.
@desertbutt
Hold my flute.
@ilislol
hold my balls
@olympicpenguin
I never know why but the line - carry my joy on the left and carry my pain on the right always resonated with me.