Susanne Sundfør began her rise to fame in her homeland in 2005. That year she toured the country opening for English singer/songwriter Tom McRae, and in 2006 she joined Madrugada on tour, performing their song "Lift Me," a duet the band originally recorded in the studio with singer Ane Brun. Late in 2006, she digitally released her debut single, "Walls," which would climb to number three on the Norwegian singles chart. It was the same position her debut self-titled album took on the album charts when it was released in 2007. The live effort Take One followed in 2008 -- the same year that her debut won the Spellemannprisen for Best Female Performance. Sundfør accepted the award with some hesitation, stating her work represented her as an artist first, and a woman second, bringing into question whether the Norwegian Grammy board was acting archaically with such gender-specific awards. Two years later, her album The Brothel would climb to the top of the Norwegian album charts thanks in part to the success of its title track. Jazz keyboardist Christian Wallumrød and members of Jaga Jazzist appeared on her 2011 effort, the all-instrumental A Night at Salle Pleyel. In 2012 she released the single "White Foxes" along with the album The Silicone Veil. She ended the year collaborating with Morten Myklebust on the track "Away," along with electronica duo Röyksopp on their single "Running to the Sea."
In 2013, Sundfør collaborated with French electronic band M83 on the Oblivion soundtrack, and later that year her back catalog was released in the U.K. for the first time. She went on to make her production debut for Bow's Each Other record. By 2014 she was set to release her fifth studio album, which was preceded by the single "Fade Away." Ten Love Songs went on to become a commercial and critical success for Sundfør upon its release in 2015, and saw the record appear in many year-end "best-of" lists. Following that record's release, she spent time traveling the world, and her follow-up record reflected the different environments and politics she encountered, along with the anxiety felt by many due to an ever-changing world. Music for People in Trouble was released in 2017, with the track "Undercover" as the lead single. The ten-track record also featured a guest appearance from John Grant on its last song, "Mountaineers." In 2019 Sundfør issued the accompanying concert LP People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican, which was recorded in London the year prior. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi
Black Widow
Susanne Sundfør Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lay all my eggs in your eye
I'd kill all my darlings for you, my love
If only you would stay one more night
I do not know why you love me so
I'm floating through your veins
I sway you in a silken shroud
The lyrics of Susanne Sundfør's "Black Widow" paint a picture of a woman who is deeply in love, yet also deeply dangerous to her partner. She sees herself as a black widow, a spider known for killing and consuming its mate, and puts all her eggs in her partner's eye, a metaphor for complete reliance and submission. She is willing to kill anyone who gets in their way, even those she loves dearly. She does all of this in the hopes that her partner will stay with her for just one more night. The lyrics show a complex mixture of love, obsession, and danger.
The lines "I do not know why you love me so / I'm floating through your veins" indicate that this love is one-sided and that the singer is aware of this. She is manipulating her partner and using her ability to sway him with her words and her physical allure. The reference to a "silken shroud" indicates that she will ultimately engulf and destroy him. The use of the phrase "swallow your heart" also highlights the danger and darkness of this relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "Black Widow" explore themes of love, obsession, and the destructive power of that kind of love. The singer is both the victim and the aggressor in her relationship, and her words are both seductive and chilling.
Line by Line Meaning
I am your black widow
I am the embodiment of a spider that kills its mate - I may destroy you in the end.
I lay all my eggs in your eye
I place all my trust and affection in you, leaving myself open and vulnerable to the possibility of being blinded or hurt.
I'd kill all my darlings for you, my love
I would be willing to sacrifice everything that I hold dear, even those closest to me, for your sake.
If only you would stay one more night
I am trying to hold onto you for as long as possible, but deep down I fear that you will soon leave me.
I do not know why you love me so
I am uncertain as to why you are enamored with me to the extent that you are - I doubt my own worthiness of your love.
I'm floating through your veins
I am drifting within the current of your very being, influencing and penetrating every part of you.
I sway you in a silken shroud
I seduce you with my charm and appeal, concealing my true motives behind a veil of beauty.
In the end I'm going to swallow your heart
Ultimately, I will have complete control over you, absorbing your every emotion and essence until there is nothing left to give.
Contributed by Cameron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.