Rafstraumur
Sigur Rós Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hlustar á
Hjartað slá
Innanfrá
Brjóstkassinn
Út og inn

Fingur ná
Lenda á
Augnabrá
Kviknar glóð
Rennur blóð

Augnsteinar
Víkka út
Magahnút
Kiknar í
Hniáliðum

Maginn er
Malarher
Bítur og sker
Inní kraumar
Rafstraumar

Ég heyri en hlusta ekki
Ég snerti en kem ekki við




Ég sé en horfi ekki á
Ég anda en finn ekkert

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sigur Rós's song Rafstraumur are in Icelandic and are a bit obscure, making it difficult to determine their meaning. However, the song's title translates to "electricity" which opens up the interpretation of the song as an expression of the energy and the force that is unseen but is present within us. The song starts with "listening to the heartbeat" and then diving inside the chest where one can feel the rhythm of the heart from within. The fingers reach out and land on the eyebrows, and the eyes widen into an immersive experience taking in the vital energy that is being produced. The second verse describes a sensation of pressure buildup in the chest, and the subsequent release of it, perhaps implying an individual's desire to be free from the weight of stress or negativity.


The chorus seems to express the contradictory feeling of being alive and present, but not being fully able to engage with or sense one's surroundings. The final verse talks about breathing, but being unable to feel anything. The lyrics of Rafstraumur can be interpreted in many ways, but the theme of feeling alive yet distant and disconnected from the world around is evident throughout the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Hlustar á
Listen closely


Hjartað slá
The heart beats


Innanfrá
From within


Brjóstkassinn
The chest


Út og inn
In and out


Fingur ná
Fingers reaching


Lenda á
Lands on


Augnabrá
Eyebrows


Kviknar glóð
Embers ignite


Rennur blóð
Blood runs


Augnsteinar
Eyeballs


Víkka út
Expand outward


Magahnút
The knot in your stomach


Kiknar í
Crumbles into


Hniáliðum
Joints


Maginn er
The mind is


Malarher
Grinding teeth


Bítur og sker
Biting and sharp


Inní kraumar
Inner turmoil


Rafstraumar
Electric currents


Ég heyri en hlusta ekki
I hear but do not listen


Ég snerti en kem ekki við
I touch but do not respond


Ég sé en horfi ekki á
I see but do not watch


Ég anda en finn ekkert
I breathe but feel nothing




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORG HOLM, JON THOR BIRGISSON, ORRI PALL DYRASON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Katherine Pouliot

This song would fit right into the How to Train Your Dragon movies! I used to have a commute which had me drive above the fog in the mountains. I would play this song and imagine a dragon and rider having the time of their lives.

komikaiba

Read this thru twitter as well - awesome song to drive in for work! Sun broke through wonderfully in the right parts! Magic! :) Thanks, Tom! :)

Kristina Chapin

I started listening to this band in like, 2006 because Eric Szmanda from CSI said they were badass. I was obsessed for a long time but ultimately stopped listening. Hiddleston tweeting about them reminded me how awesome I used to think they were (and made me love Tom even more, if that's possible) so I've been listening to them again lately and asldfkjadsfkjasdf... they always make me feel so connected to everything. The new stuff is awesome, the last album I'd really listened to by them was Takk.

gertyicecream

gosh I was in love with this song before and now the fact that Tom Hiddleston loves it makes it even better! <3

j0eco0l1

This is my favorite song from these guys!

batel.lucie

You can't imagine, how I love this song! Or... maybe you can.

Shipper

Wow. Cure meets Explosions In The Sky. Sublime!! 

HiddlesBatchMuser

Wow. No kidding. This is actually beautiful.

Hustle Boss

This is just a f*cking masterpiece I'm sorry

OH_I _Will

Only insecure music fans apologize

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