Jenny Hval studied Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne, and Literature at the University of Oslo. She has released the albums To Sing You Apple Trees (Trust Me Records, 2006) and Medea (Trust Me Records 2008) under the alias Rockettothesky. Her third album Viscera (Rune Grammofon 2011) was released under her own name. 2012 saw the release of the debut album of Hval’s band project, Nude On Sand, in which she collaborates with Håvard Volden. Jenny Hval made her debut as a writer with the book Perlebryggeriet (‘The Pearl Brewery’) with Kolon Forlag in 2009. Alongside this she has contributed to magazines and newspapers like Vinduet, ENO, Bergens Tidende and Klassekampen. In 2010 Hval contributed to the artwork War Song by the American artists Valerie Tevere and Angel Nevarez that was performed during the Ultima Festival in Oslo that year. In 2011 she created the sound installation ENTER/ Flesh for the bigger installation ENTER Sonic Tank at Tou Scene in Stavanger. In collaboration with the writer Inger Bråtveit she also created the work Kvit Søppel (‘White Trash’) in 2011.
She is currently working on her second book and her fourth studio album.
Death Of The Author
Jenny Hval Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me by your hand
Me by the manosphere
Me in your private time
Me by ankle
Me where no one is watching you
Me in your very own right
Me by your very own boner
Me by your hand
Me by your fingers
Me by your keeper
Me and the sound of tapping
Me and other words
Me and other words
Me by your anger
Me that cant be sad
I love
Me as anyone
Me as barely
Me as siamese
Me by night vision
Me by cause of me
Me in this mirror
Me without a face
Me ane you without your body
Your body
Who do you think your killing
End
The lyrics to Jenny Hval's song Death Of The Author are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to be exploring different facets of identity and the ways in which we project ourselves onto others. The repeated use of "Me" suggests a search for self-identity and the desire to be seen and understood by others.
Lines like "Me in your private time" and "Me where no one is watching you" suggest a desire for intimacy and connection that is not available in public spaces. The reference to the "manosphere" suggests a commentary on toxic masculinity and the ways in which it can shape our sense of self. The line "Me by your very own boner" is particularly interesting as it subverts the traditional male gaze and positions the singer as the object of desire.
The final line, "Who do you think your killing," is a haunting conclusion that leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty and unease. It suggests an awareness of the violence that can come from projecting our desires and expectations onto others. Overall, Death Of The Author is a complex exploration of identity and the ways in which it is constructed and projected onto others.
Line by Line Meaning
Me by your eye
I am seen through your perspective
Me by your hand
You have control over me
Me by the manosphere
I am viewed through the lens of misogynist online communities
Me in your private time
You think about me in secret
Me by ankle
You have a sense of ownership over me
Me where no one is watching you
You only allow yourself to think about me in isolation
Me in your very own right
I am a part of your identity
Me by your very own boner
You sexualize me for your own pleasure
Where do you think I'm hiding
I am not hiding, but you fail to acknowledge me as an equal
Me by your hand
You exert power over me through physical touch
Me by your fingers
You manipulate me to fit your desires
Me by your keeper
You have assigned yourself as my protector or owner
Me and the sound of tapping
I am constantly present in your thoughts, even through mundane acts like typing
Me and other words
I exist beyond how you choose to define me
Me and other words
I am multifaceted and cannot be reduced to a single narrative
Me by your anger
You feel threatened by my existence, resulting in aggression
Me that cant be sad
Despite my experiences, I am not allowed to express emotions
I love
I have capacity for affection, just like any other individual
Me as anyone
I share basic human qualities and should be treated as such
Me as barely
My worth and humanity is dismissed or questioned
Me as siamese
My identity is intertwined with yours, whether you acknowledge it or not
Me by night vision
You view me through specific filters and biases
Me by cause of me
I have agency and identity independent of your influence
Me in this mirror
I am visible, and you need to confront your reflection in relation to me
Me without a face
I am not defined by physical attributes or appearance
Me and you without your body
We are more than just our physical forms
Your body
You are just as vulnerable and mortal as I am
Who do you think your killing
Your actions and words have real consequences for my well-being and survival
End
This song captures the pervasive gender-based violence and oppression that persists in society.
Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.