Salt Licorice
Jonsi Lyrics

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Kiss my soul, on my salty licorice
You taste like frost and burnish leather
Ooh, my Scandinavian pain
I sink in your blue eyes, blondie boy
You give me cold shoulders, throw me overboard
Ooh, my Scandinavian pain

The way we used to love (the way we used to love)

It cuts me through and through (it cuts me through and through)
The way we used to dance (the way we used to dance)
I owe it all to you

Why can't you just be okay?
You're such an ice breaker on me
Why can't you just be led astray?
'Cause you're a heartbreaker on me

On me

You spread your wings, T-shirt, shoulder blades
Your skinny waist is making me throw up
Ooh, my Scandinavian pain

The way we used to love (the way we used to love)
It cuts me through and through (it cuts me through and through)
The way we used to dance (the way we used to dance)
I owe it all to you (I owe it all to you)

Why can't you just be okay? (okay)
You're such an ice breaker on me
Why can't you just be led astray?
'Cause you're a heartbreaker on me

Why can't you just be okay? (okay)
You're such an ice breaker on me
Why can't you just be led astray?
'Cause you're a heartbreaker on me

Why can't you just be led astray?
'Cause you're a heartbreaker on me

On me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jónsi's song "Salt Licorice" convey a complex mix of emotions and experiences. The theme seems to revolve around a bittersweet relationship, likely with a Scandinavian person ("blondie boy") who causes both pleasure and pain.

The opening lines, "Kiss my soul, on my salty licorice, you taste like frost and burnish leather," evoke sensory experiences. Salt licorice is known for its unique taste, and the mention of frost and burnish leather adds an element of coldness and toughness. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the intensity and uniqueness of the relationship.

The phrase "Ooh, my Scandinavian pain" suggests a sense of longing and anguish associated specifically with their Scandinavian lover. This pain is further emphasized with lines like "You give me cold shoulders, throw me overboard" and "You're such an ice breaker on me." It seems that the relationship is filled with both passion and heartbreak, as highlighted by the lyrics "The way we used to love, it cuts me through and through."

The overall message of the song seems to be a plea for the person to break free from their heartbreaker tendencies and just be okay or led astray. However, the repetition of the phrase "on me" at the end of each verse suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance of the pain inflicted by this person.

Overall, "Salt Licorice" captures the conflicting emotions and dynamics of a passionate yet tumultuous relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Kiss my soul, on my salty licorice
Embrace my essence, indulge in my unique and conflicting nature

You taste like frost and burnish leather
Your essence is both refreshing and worn, like the sensation of ice and weathered leather

Ooh, my Scandinavian pain
Oh, the anguish that stems from my Nordic origins

I sink in your blue eyes, blondie boy
I find myself lost and enraptured by your captivating gaze, my fair-haired companion

You give me cold shoulders, throw me overboard
You treat me with indifference, casting me aside without remorse

The way we used to love (the way we used to love)
The manner in which we once cherished each other

It cuts me through and through (it cuts me through and through)
It deeply wounds me, leaving me profoundly affected

The way we used to dance (the way we used to dance)
The style in which we once moved together, in perfect harmony

I owe it all to you
I attribute all of our past joy and connection to you

Why can't you just be okay?
Why can't you simply be content and at peace?

You're such an ice breaker on me
You incessantly disrupt my emotional equilibrium, like a piece of ice breaking the surface

Why can't you just be led astray?
Why can't you allow yourself to be guided into unfamiliar territory?

'Cause you're a heartbreaker on me
Because you continuously inflict emotional pain and heartbreak upon me

You spread your wings, T-shirt, shoulder blades
You exhibit your freedom and individuality through your fashion choices and physicality

Your skinny waist is making me throw up
Your slender waist elicits a visceral reaction within me, overwhelming me with conflicting emotions

Why can't you just be okay? (okay)
Why can't you find contentment and peace within yourself?

You're such an ice breaker on me
You persistently disrupt my emotional equilibrium, like a piece of ice breaking the surface