At t… Read Full Bio ↴Eivør is a Faroese musician. Her real name is Eivør Pálsdóttir.
At the age of 12, Eivør had her first foreign debut as a soloist with a Faroese choir, touring Italy.
Well before her foreign debut, she was a well-known musical talent in the Faroe Islands. As a young teen, she performed with local bands and musicians, but soon she became a driving force in the musical scene in the Faroes.
At the age of 16, she decided to leave formal schooling behind and dedicated herself full-time to her music. She moved to Iceland to study music and voice, and soon became a famous and much sought-after artist there.
Word quickly spread about this young Faroese talent and now the world beckons. What makes her so powerful? It is her unique integration of a magical voice, her inviting charisma, her consummate skill and her openness and warmth of soul.
She feels as comfortable performing a country ballad or a rock song, as a classical aria or a jazz tune. One of her strongest trademarks is the a cappella rendition of old Faroese ballads or psalms, as well as and her own magical songs. They always leave the audience utterly stunned and awestruck. The magic is pervasive.
Besides her own bands and solo performances, she is the first choice of many an international artist, and has performed with a variety of musicians and ensembles, including Bill Bourne, the Kasa Ensemble and the Danish Radio Big Band.
Tides
Eivør Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tides collided in my eyes
Waves can wound a moonlit shore
But they can't hurt me anymore
Tangled in my mother's hair
Currents combed my bones bare
Currents swirled through my ribs
Ashore I dance the sacred night
A surging wave of pale moonlight
A seal-spun daughter of the tides
Never again a captive bride
The song "Tides" by Eivør is a highly symbolic song that seemingly revolves around the ocean and the moon. The lyrics are poetic and cryptic but upon closer inspection, one can begin to see themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and empowerment. The first verse paints a picture of the singer crying seven tears while tides collide in their eyes. The reference to seven tears may imply the feeling of being overwhelmed or a sense of completion. The waves that wound the moonlit shore symbolize the pain that the singer has experienced, but they have moved past it, and the waves cannot hurt them anymore.
The second verse describes the singer's experience of being tangled in their mother's hair, which could be metaphoric for feeling trapped in one's history or lineage. The currents that combed the singer's bones bare could represent a transformative experience that stripped them down to their essence. The seaweed that spun into selkie skin could symbolize the singer's newfound sense of identity that was uncovered through this transformative experience.
In the chorus, the singer describes dancing on the shore in the pale moonlight as a "seal-spun daughter of the tides" and declares that they will never be a captive bride again. This final statement could suggest that the singer has found liberation from a toxic relationship or societal expectation and has embraced their true self.
Overall, "Tides" is a powerful song about overcoming emotional pain, reclaiming one's identity, and finding freedom. The imagery used in the lyrics is often ocean and moon-based, hinting at the cyclical nature of life and the idea that everything is in constant motion.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven moonlit tears I cried
I shed tears that shimmer under the moonlight, expressing the pain and sorrow I feel.
Tides collided in my eyes
My emotions overwhelm me like waves moving in opposite directions, causing a storm within me.
Waves can wound a moonlit shore
The force of the ocean can erode anything in its path, even a beautiful and calm beach under the moonlight.
But they can't hurt me anymore
I have learned to withstand life's hardships and have grown stronger because of them.
Tangled in my mother's hair
I am intertwined with the teachings and traditions of my ancestors, passed down by my mother.
Currents combed my bones bare
Life's challenges have stripped me down to my core, leaving me vulnerable and exposed.
Currents swirled through my ribs
My troubles have penetrated deep within me, affecting even the most integral parts of my being.
Spinning seaweed to selkie skin
Despite the hardships, I have transformed myself into a strong and resilient person.
Ashore I dance the sacred night
I celebrate my strength and newfound resilience on the shore under the light of the moon.
A surging wave of pale moonlight
The glow of the moon illuminates my strength, and I feel a surge of power within me.
A seal-spun daughter of the tides
I am a symbol of strength and resilience, molded by the ocean and its tides.
Never again a captive bride
I refuse to be held captive by anyone or anything, as I have gained the strength to stand on my own two feet.
Writer(s): Trondur Bogason, Eivoer Palsdottir, Randi Ward
Contributed by Annabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.