Anna
KUKL Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Scatters from a bigger hole
Looking, knowing
Never the less
On the other side of a big river
Monster hidden behind a tree
Anna knew...
Anna doesn't see never the less
So nice hands
Come to me
Me touch you
No no what
So nice hands
With me
I am it
Cuts through the water
Shaken out of rising standing
Sense, touch
Not for the first time
No no what
Tie
So nice hands
Not touch that
The neck
Anna, I am it
Move, move, move
No not longer what
On the other side o a big river
Lies her own body




Anna, sinking
Anna is not here, sinking deeper

Overall Meaning

The song "Anna" by KUKL is a haunting and abstract exploration of the aftermath of a traumatic event. The lyrics are enigmatic and fragmented, as if pieced together from the disjointed memories of the singer. The song opens with the image of "scatters from a bigger hole", suggesting a rupture or break that has led to a sense of fragmentation and dislocation. Anna is described as "looking, knowing", perhaps searching for some sense of meaning or resolution in the aftermath of the event. However, despite her efforts, she remains trapped "on the other side of a big river", separated from the rest of the world by the trauma she has experienced.


Line by Line Meaning

Scatters from a bigger hole
Fragments and pieces are ejecting from a larger opening


Looking, knowing
Observing and understanding the situation


Never the less
Regardless of what has been said or done


On the other side of a big river
Across a large flowing water body


Monster hidden behind a tree
An intimidating creature concealed behind foliage


Anna knew...
Anna was aware of the situation


Anna doesn't see never the less
Despite knowing, Anna is blind to the ongoing circumstances


So nice hands
Pleasant and charming hands


Come to me
Approach me


Me touch you
I want to touch you


No no what
An exclamation of hesitation or uncertainty


So nice hands
Pleasant and charming hands


With me
By my side


I am it
I am the one in control


Cuts through the water
Moving swiftly through the fluid


Shaken out of rising standing
Startled from a standing position


Sense, touch
Sensations and feeling


Not for the first time
This is not a new experience


No no what
An exclamation of hesitation or uncertainty


Tie
Fasten or secure something firmly


So nice hands
Pleasant and charming hands


Not touch that
Do not touch that


The neck
The neck area of the body


Anna, I am it
I am in control, Anna


Move, move, move
Quickly, quickly, quickly


No not longer what
No longer hesitant or uncertain


On the other side o a big river
Across a large flowing water body


Lies her own body
Her own lifeless body is lying there


Anna, sinking
Anna is drowning and sinking


Anna is not here, sinking deeper
Anna is no longer present and is sinking even further down




Contributed by Caroline M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@hrafnkellhelgason9129

Full Icelandic/English lyrics
Saw many people asking for this so I did my best.
This was really hard, and it's definitely not perfect. Björk deliberately distorted her words, like she always says "Svimó!" instead of "skima" She also whispers some words, so they're almost inaudible, and then she cuts and joins two words into one. And since these are mostly not full sentences, some of those lines could be anything. After a long time, I have gotten this almost perfect, only the first 30 seconds are still a little mystery to me, the rest should be mostly correct.

Qualification: am Icelandic.

Enjoy.

Einar:
kondútí (komdu út í, Eng. Join me in the water. Einar's English lines are omitted from this transcript, this was his only Icelandic line, so here it is.)

Björk:
Hríslast um í stórri holu
eng. Shivering in a big hole

hrabbast (gibberish, could be a distortion of a real word I can't make out) upp úr (þessari) holu (pronounced here tolu, like a condensed "þessari holu" to þolu/tolu)
eng. .... comes out of that hole

skima! skimar enginn sér
eng. Scans! Scans nobody sees

Þekkja!
eng. To know!

Eng'að síður
(Engu að síður)
eng. Nevertheless

Hinu megin stórrar árar
eng. On the other side of a big river (because of the wrong use of grammar she actually is singing about the other side of a big paddle, but she most likely means river here. "Á" means river, and here needing a genitive form, which is "ár" but she sings "the other side of an "árar" which is the genitive of the word "ár" meaning a paddle, but we'll forgive her that, Icelandic is very hard.

p... falinn bakvið trénu (no clue, listened to this a 100 times at least in a row, Björk sings pos'falinn, or almost poss'malinn, this could be anything that is hiding behind that tree)
eng. p... hidden behind the tree

Anna, Anna ekki sér,
eng. Anna, Anna can't see

að vita, eng'að síður
(engu að síður)
eng. to know, nevertheless

Stingur gegnum vatnið,
eng. cuts through the water

hristist upp úr, stendur
eng. comes shaking onto dry land, stands

Skynja! Skynja ekki vel
eng. Sense! Sensing poorly

Snerta! Ekki í fyrsta sinn.
eng. Touch! Not for the first time

Hinu megin stórrar árar,
eng. On the other side of a river,

er líkami hennar sjálfrar,
eng. is her own body

Anna! Anna er ekki hér!
eng. Anna! Anna is not here!

Sökkva! Að sökkva dýpra!
eng. To sink! To sink deeper!



@macacoartico42

Einar
Manos tan bonitas Manos
tan bonitas
Ven a mí
Te toco
No no qué
Manos tan bonitas
No no qué
Conmigo lo soy
Manos tan bonitas
Te toco
Manos tan bonitas
Corbata
Corbata
Toca
Toca toca corbata
Manos tan lindas
Ven a mí
Toca
Anna
toque
Anna
soy que
toque el cuello
toque toque toque
Anna
Mover
Mover
Anna
mover mover mover
Anna
mover mover mover
Sin
Sin
Sin
falda
tan agradable manos
tan agradables manos
toque
táctil
Tie
Neck
Touch

LETRAS EN EL FOLLETO
Dispersos de un agujero más grande
Mirando, sabiendo
Sin embargo
Al otro lado de un gran río
Monstruo escondido detrás de un árbol
Anna sabía que
Anna no ve nunca menos
Manos tan bonitas
Ven a mí
Te toco
No, no, qué
Manos tan bonitas
Conmigo
lo soy
Corta el agua
Sacudido para levantarse
Sentir, tocar
No es la primera vez
No no qué
Atar
Manos tan bonitas
No tocar eso
El cuello
Anna, lo soy
Muévete, muévete, muévete
Ya no lo que
al otro lado de un gran río
yace su propio cuerpo
Anna, hundiéndose
Anna no está aquí, hundiéndose más profundamente



@hrafnkellhelgason9129

Reposting this to some fans who asked for it, this is my original post to a previous comment I made, but posting individually so you definitely see it:
This was really hard, and it's definitely not perfect. Björk deliberately distorted her words, like she always says "Skimó!, Þekkjó! and Annó! instead of skima, þekkja and Anna. She also whispers some words, so they're almost inaudible, and then she cuts and joins two words into one. And since these are mostly not full sentences, some of those lines could be anything. After a long time, I have gotten this almost perfect, only the first 30 seconds are still a little mystery to me, the rest should be mostly correct.

Einar:
kondútí (komdu út í, Eng. Join me in the water. Einar's English lines are omitted from this transcript, this was his only Icelandic line, so here it is.)

Björk:
Hríslast um í stórri holu
eng. Shivering in a big hole

hrabbast (gibberish, could be a distortion of a real word I can't make out) upp úr (þessari) holu (pronounced here tolu, like a condensed "þessari holu" to þolu/tolu)
eng. .... comes out of that hole

skima! skimar enginn sér
eng. Scans! Scans nobody sees

Þekkja!
eng. To know!

Eng'að síður
(Engu að síður)
eng. Nevertheless

Hinu megin stórrar árar
eng. On the other side of a big river (because of the wrong use of grammar she actually is singing about the other side of a big paddle, but she most likely means river here. "Á" means river, and here needing a genitive form, which is "ár" but she sings "the other side of an "árar" which is the genitive of the word "ár" meaning a paddle, but we'll forgive her that, Icelandic is very hard.

p... falinn bakvið trénu (no clue, listened to this a 100 times at least in a row, Björk sings pos'falinn, or almost poss'malinn, this could be anything that is hiding behind that tree)
eng. p... hidden behind the tree

Anna, Anna ekki sér,
eng. Anna, Anna can't see

að vita, eng'að síður
(engu að síður)
eng. to know, nevertheless

Stingur gegnum vatnið,
eng. cuts through the water

hristist upp úr, stendur
eng. comes shaking onto dry land, stands

Skynja! Skynja ekki vel
eng. Sense! Sensing poorly

Snerta! Ekki í fyrsta sinn.
eng. Touch! Not for the first time

Hinu megin stórrar árar,
eng. On the other side of a river,

er líkami hennar sjálfrar,
eng. is her own body

Anna! Anna er ekki hér!
eng. Anna! Anna is not here!

Sökkva! Að sökkva dýpra!
eng. To sink! To sink deeper!



@hrafnkellhelgason9129

Reposting this to some fans who asked for it, this is my original post to a previous comment I made, but posting individually so you definitely see it:
This was really hard, and it's definitely not perfect. Björk deliberately distorted her words, like she always says "Skimó!, Þekkjó! and Annó! instead of skima, þekkja and Anna. She also whispers some words, so they're almost inaudible, and then she cuts and joins two words into one. And since these are mostly not full sentences, some of those lines could be anything. After a long time, I have gotten this almost perfect, only the first 30 seconds are still a little mystery to me, the rest should be mostly correct.

Einar:
kondútí (komdu út í, Eng. Join me in the water. Einar's English lines are omitted from this transcript, this was his only Icelandic line, so here it is.)

Björk:
Hríslast um í stórri holu
eng. Shivering in a big hole

hrabbast (gibberish, could be a distortion of a real word I can't make out) upp úr (þessari) holu (pronounced here tolu, like a condensed "þessari holu" to þolu/tolu)
eng. .... comes out of that hole

skima! skimar enginn sér
eng. Scans! Scans nobody sees

Þekkja!
eng. To know!

Eng'að síður
(Engu að síður)
eng. Nevertheless

Hinu megin stórrar árar
eng. On the other side of a big river (because of the wrong use of grammar she actually is singing about the other side of a big paddle, but she most likely means river here. "Á" means river, and here needing a genitive form, which is "ár" but she sings "the other side of an "árar" which is the genitive of the word "ár" meaning a paddle, but we'll forgive her that, Icelandic is very hard.

p... falinn bakvið trénu (no clue, listened to this a 100 times at least in a row, Björk sings pos'falinn, or almost poss'malinn, this could be anything that is hiding behind that tree)
eng. p... hidden behind the tree

Anna, Anna ekki sér,
eng. Anna, Anna can't see

að vita, eng'að síður
(engu að síður)
eng. to know, nevertheless

Stingur gegnum vatnið,
eng. cuts through the water

hristist upp úr, stendur
eng. comes shaking onto dry land, stands

Skynja! Skynja ekki vel
eng. Sense! Sensing poorly

Snerta! Ekki í fyrsta sinn.
eng. Touch! Not for the first time

Hinu megin stórrar árar,
eng. On the other side of a river,

er líkami hennar sjálfrar,
eng. is her own body

Anna! Anna er ekki hér!
eng. Anna! Anna is not here!

Sökkva! Að sökkva dýpra!
eng. To sink! To sink deeper!



@hrafnkellhelgason9129

This was really hard, and it's definitely not perfect. Björk deliberately distorted her words, like she always says "Skimó!, Þekkjó! and Annó! instead of skima, þekkja and Anna. She also whispers some words, so they're almost inaudible, and then she cuts and joins two words into one. And since these are mostly not full sentences, some of those lines could be anything. After a long time, I have gotten this almost perfect, only the first 30 seconds are still a little mystery to me, the rest should be mostly correct.

Einar:
kondútí (komdu út í, Eng. Join me in the water. Einar's English lines are omitted from this transcript, this was his only Icelandic line, so here it is.)

Björk:
Hríslast um í stórri holu
eng. Shivering in a big hole

hrabbast (gibberish, could be a distortion of a real word I can't make out) upp úr (þessari) holu (pronounced here tolu, like a condensed "þessari holu" to þolu/tolu)
eng. .... comes out of that hole


skima! skimar enginn sér
eng. Scans! Scans nobody sees

Þekkja!
eng. To know!

Eng'að síður (Engu að síður)
eng. Nevertheless

Hinu megin stórrar árar
eng. On the other side of a big river (because of the wrong use of grammar she actually is singing about the other side of a big paddle, but she most likely means river here. "Á" means river, and here needing a genitive form, which is "ár" but she sings "the other side of an "árar" which is the genitive of the word "ár" meaning a paddle, but we'll forgive her that, Icelandic is very hard.

p... falinn bakvið trénu (no clue, listened to this a 100 times at least in a row, Björk sings pos'falinn, or almost poss'malinn, this could be anything that is hiding behind that tree)
eng. p... hidden behind the tree

Anna, Anna ekki sér,
eng. Anna, Anna can't see

að vita, eng'að síður (engu að síður)
eng. to know, nevertheless

Stingur gegnum vatnið,
eng. cuts through the water

hristist upp úr, stendur
eng. comes shaking onto dry land, stands

Skynja! Skynja ekki vel
eng. Sense! Sensing poorly

Snerta! Ekki í fyrsta sinn.
eng. Touch! Not for the first time

Hinu megin stórrar árar,
eng. On the other side of a river,

er líkami hennar sjálfrar,
eng. is her own body

Anna! Anna er ekki hér!
eng. Anna! Anna is not here!

Sökkva! Að sökkva dýpra!
eng. To sink! To sink deeper!



@hrafnkellhelgason9129

Reposting this to some fans who asked for it, this is my original post to a previous comment I made, but posting individually so you definitely see it:
This was really hard, and it's definitely not perfect. Björk deliberately distorted her words, like she always says "Skimó!, Þekkjó! and Annó! instead of skima, þekkja and Anna. She also whispers some words, so they're almost inaudible, and then she cuts and joins two words into one. And since these are mostly not full sentences, some of those lines could be anything. After a long time, I have gotten this almost perfect, only the first 30 seconds are still a little mystery to me, the rest should be mostly correct.

Einar:
kondútí (komdu út í, Eng. Join me in the water. Einar's English lines are omitted from this transcript, this was his only Icelandic line, so here it is.)

Björk:
Hríslast um í stórri holu
eng. Shivering in a big hole

hrabbast (gibberish, could be a distortion of a real word I can't make out) upp úr (þessari) holu (pronounced here tolu, like a condensed "þessari holu" to þolu/tolu)
eng. .... comes out of that hole

skima! skimar enginn sér
eng. Scans! Scans nobody sees

Þekkja!
eng. To know!

Eng'að síður
(Engu að síður)
eng. Nevertheless

Hinu megin stórrar árar
eng. On the other side of a big river (because of the wrong use of grammar she actually is singing about the other side of a big paddle, but she most likely means river here. "Á" means river, and here needing a genitive form, which is "ár" but she sings "the other side of an "árar" which is the genitive of the word "ár" meaning a paddle, but we'll forgive her that, Icelandic is very hard.

p... falinn bakvið trénu (no clue, listened to this a 100 times at least in a row, Björk sings pos'falinn, or almost poss'malinn, this could be anything that is hiding behind that tree)
eng. p... hidden behind the tree

Anna, Anna ekki sér,
eng. Anna, Anna can't see

að vita, eng'að síður
(engu að síður)
eng. to know, nevertheless

Stingur gegnum vatnið,
eng. cuts through the water

hristist upp úr, stendur
eng. comes shaking onto dry land, stands

Skynja! Skynja ekki vel
eng. Sense! Sensing poorly

Snerta! Ekki í fyrsta sinn.
eng. Touch! Not for the first time

Hinu megin stórrar árar,
eng. On the other side of a river,

er líkami hennar sjálfrar,
eng. is her own body

Anna! Anna er ekki hér!
eng. Anna! Anna is not here!

Sökkva! Að sökkva dýpra!
eng. To sink! To sink deeper!



All comments from YouTube:

@basic_chain

This was so good, I've only passively listened to björk but this vibe fits her vocals perfectly. I like how unsettling the instruments get as the song progresses. Plus bjork goes the distance with the vocal performance.

@carboneroa.a.9210

Björk simplemente Björk fue y es capaz de estas metamorfosis!! Estilos múltiples y voz única.

@GudmundurKristjansson

Kind a cool to see my class mate there in the opening shot! I remember that we even formed a band when we were in 5th or 6th grade. Great performance by the band KUKL

@zararity

Very cool indeed. Did you ever get to see KUKL live back in the day?

@GudmundurKristjansson

@zararity Yes I and no. I saw them one life concert and one when they came to play in the TV where I used to work as a sound man.

@eelnorris8196

I certainly envy you. For someone born in another country, nearly 10 years after the death of KUKL, the live experience is something that will forever and always remain a dark mystery to me. All that I have is what I can extrapolate from the few existing live videos and bootleg tapes here, online. But man do I wish I could've witnessed with my own eyes this brief explosion of Dada and punk rolled into one concise anarchic A-Bomb.

@tenenieldjoandthenightsist5109

Arguably one of the best bands crass has ever produced

@gbowles

this is bjork's best band of all

@michaeld2519

I'm one of Björk's biggest fans, so this was marvelous to find! Thank you very much!!

@berserkberserk3493

Never heard a voice like hers that's why I like

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