Many of her songs are in Faroese, some are in Icelandic and the three albums leading up to Slør were all mostly in English. On Slør she returned to singing in only Faroese.
Listen
Eivør Pálsdóttir Lyrics
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From the darkening square
As if she had just risen
All wet-skinned, to the evening air
A mystery in stone
Oh yea
The secret you've never known
She's waiting till we learn how to listen
She's waiting
She's crying and her teardrops glisten
We've got to listen
Do you dare to let her in
Oh yea
Would you let her touch your skin
Oh yea
Would you dare to let her in
The mystery
Would you let her touch your skin
Oh yea
Oh yea
The lyrics of the song 'Listen' by Eivør Pálsdóttir evoke a sense of mystique and curiosity. The opening lines describe the emergence of a woman, rising from the stones in a darkened square, evocative of something otherworldly, ethereal, and magical. The imagery used here, of a woman rising from stones, reinforces the ancient and unexplainable, that which can only be explained through mystery and deeply held secrets. The woman is described as wet-skinned, which seems to add to her inexplicable, otherworldly quality.
The chorus of the song acknowledges the mystery wrapped around the woman and speaks of her cry, her waiting, and her desire to be heard. The lyrics echo the idea that we all have a mystery within us, but sometimes it takes someone else to help us see that mystery in ourselves. The idea is that the woman is waiting to be understood and seeks to be acknowledged by those around her. The chorus draws attention to the need to listen and be more perceptive to the world around us, to be present and attentive, and to listen to the stories that are hidden beneath the surface.
The final lines of the song ask the listener if they dare to let the mystery in and if they would allow the woman to touch their skin. These evocative lines remind us that many things in life, particularly those that we cannot explain, are worth embracing and exploring. The song is telling us that sometimes life is not black and white but is full of mysteries that require risks and exploration, and we should never be afraid to take those risks.
Line by Line Meaning
She rises from the stones
The woman appears suddenly, emerging from the stones around her.
From the darkening square
The woman appears in a dimly lit, empty space, devoid of human activity.
As if she had just risen
The woman's emergence seems magical or supernatural in nature, like she has been summoned from another realm.
All wet-skinned, to the evening air
The woman appears to be drenched, as if she has just emerged from a body of water, and is standing in the cool night air.
A mystery in stone
The woman embodies an enigma whose origins are rooted in the stones from which she emerges.
The secret you've never known
The woman's true identity and purpose are unknown and hidden from view.
She's waiting till we learn how to listen
The woman is patient and waits for humanity to develop the capacity to understand her message or existence.
She's crying and her teardrops glisten
The woman is emotional and sheds tears that shimmer and reflect light.
We've got to listen
Humanity must learn to listen to the woman's message and heed her call to action.
Do you dare to let her in
Are you brave enough to welcome the woman into your life and experience her fully?
Would you let her touch your skin
Would you accept the woman's touch, symbolizing openness and a willingness to be vulnerable?
The mystery
The woman embodies a mystique and intrigue which makes her both alluring and intimidating.
Oh yea
The repetition of this phrase adds emphasis and intensity to the questions and statements that precede it.
Contributed by Mateo D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.