Earth Intruders by Björk Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Eclectic Artist’s Battle Cry
Lyrics
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
Turmoil, carnage
Here come the earth intruders
We are the paratroopers
Stampede of sharpshooters
Come straight from voodoo
With our feet thumping
With our feet marching
Grinding skeptics into the soil
Shower of goodness
Coming to end the doubt pouring over
Shower of goodness coming to end
We are the earth intruders
We are the sharp shooters
Flock of parashooters
Necessary voodoo
I have guided my bones
Through some voltage
And loved them still
And loved them too
Metallic carnage
Ferocity
Feel the speed
We are the earth intruders
We are the sharp shooters
Flock of parashooters
Necessary voodoo
There is turmoil out there
Carnage, rambling
What is to do but dig
Dig bones out of earth
Mudgraves, timber
Morbid trenches
Here come the earth intruders
Stampede of resistance
We are the canoneers
Necessary voodoo
And the beast
With many heads
And arms rolling
Steamroller
We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
Forgive this tribe
We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
Marching
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
Marching
March
March
March
Icelandic musician Björk has never feared the unorthodox, dancing on the avant-garde edge of music with an otherworldly charm. Her 2007 track ‘Earth Intruders’ from the album ‘Volta’ pulsates with tribal beats and an urgency that demands our attention. Upon the surface, it’s a ferocious call to arms set to a thumping rhythm, but as we delve into the cryptic poetry of her words, there is a layered narrative waiting to be unearthed.
To understand ‘Earth Intruders’, it is imperative to immerse oneself in the multidimensional aspects of Björk’s artistry. She encompasses the role of a musician and a storyteller, where her songs often harbor a deeper ecological and socio-political resonance. ‘Earth Intruders’ is no exception, fusing visceral imagery with a sense of impending environmental and humanistic calamity.
The Soundscape of Rebellion: More Than Just Music
Björk’s ‘Earth Intruders’ thrives on the aesthetic of rebellion. The percussive drive, along with the clashing electronics, resembles the sounds of invasion. Each beat envisions an army’s march, a heart-pounding warning of a disturbance that is about to unfold. The song musically incarnates the concept of an intruder, unapologetic in its intent and insistent in its message.
By harnessing these chaotic elements, Björk converts her music into an aural battleground. It reflects the turmoil she perceives in the world – a place where violence and beauty coexist, simultaneously clashing and blending. Listening to ‘Earth Intruders’, one becomes a part of this soundscape of insurrection, compelled to address whatever Björk is rallying against.
Marching to the Beat of Earth’s Alarm: Ecological Urgency
‘We are the earth intruders’ she declares, equating humanity to an invasive species. Björk juxtaposes natural elements (mud, twigs, branches) with human-made chaos (‘turmoil, carnage’). This places the listener directly in the midst of environmental destruction, reinforcing the notion that humans are not outside of the ecosystem but a disruptive force within it.
The track explores the motif of intruders assaulting the Earth, drawing parallels to industrial invasion and its repercussions on nature. The lyrics ‘Muddy with twigs and branches’ could symbolize the interconnectedness of life and how human actions disrupt this harmonious balance. Through Björk’s voice, the very soil seems to cry out for relief from the oppressive ‘march’ of mankind.
The Hidden Meaning: A Commentary on Globalization
At a deeper level, ‘Earth Intruders’ can be interpreted as a critique of globalization and its ruthless stampede over cultures and the natural environment. The ‘flock of parashooters’ symbolizes invasive forces, perhaps corporations or armies, descending upon unsuspecting lands, driven by the ‘necessary voodoo’ of consumerism and exploitation.
The fervor with which Björk delivers the lines ‘We are the earth intruders’ reveals an identity, not just as a bystander, but as a participant in global commerce and conflict. It’s a profound admission of complicity and a rallying cry for collective consciousness, urging for reflection on our roles within these global processes.
Memorable Lines: ‘Shower of Goodness Coming to End’
Amidst the aggressive pounding and the imagery of conquest, a glimmer of optimism surfaces with the line ‘Shower of goodness coming to end’. It’s a powerful juxtaposition that interrupts the narrative of confrontation and destruction with a promise of redemption—a cleansing shower to wash away the cynicism and extend an olive branch of hope.
The purposeful repetition serves as a chant, conjuring an image of redemption through not just environmental recovery, but through a moral awakening within humanity. The ‘shower of goodness’ is, in Björk’s vision, an opportunity to mend the rifts created by ‘earth intruders’ through compassion and action.
A Rallying Cry for Resistance: ‘Stampede of Resistance’
‘Here come the earth intruders / Stampede of resistance’, she sings, hinting at a counter-attack. This line suggests an uprising, a unification of those who oppose the infringement upon our planet and ourselves. Björk captures the spirit of resistance, encouraging the mobilization against forces that threaten to undermine the sanctity of the Earth.
As much as ‘Earth Intruders’ may be seen as an accusation, it also propels the listener towards collective empowerment and resistance. In this battle cry lies the undercurrent of revolution—an invocation to join the ‘stampede of resistance’ and defend what is being eroded, whether it be the planet’s ecosystems or indigenous cultures overshadowed by contemporary globalization.
