I See Who You Are by Björk Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Layers of Intimacy and Mortality

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Björk's I See Who You Are at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I see
Who you are
Behind the skin
And the muscles

I see
Who you are now
And when you’ll get older later
I will
See the same girl
Seem so lioness fire heart, passionate lover

And afterwards
Later this century
When you and I have become corpses

Let’s celebrate now
All this flesh on our bones
Let me push you up against me tightly
And enjoy every bit of you
Love me

Let’s celebrate now
All this flesh on our bones
Let me push you up against me tightly
Let’s celebrate now
All this flesh on our bones
And enjoy every bit of you

I see who you are
Let me see who you are

Björk, the Icelandic queen of avant-garde music, has always had the unique ability to channel raw human experience into a soundscape that defies genre and expectation. ‘I See Who You Are’, a track from her 2007 album ‘Volta’, radiates with this enigmatic energy, laced with the poetic depth listeners have come to expect from the artist.

Through the lens of this haunting melody, we explore the nuances of recognition and the bittersweet awareness of mortality that Björk articulates. It’s a journey through the layers of self beyond the physical—reaching into the essence of a lover, and confronting the inevitability of time’s passage.

Transient Flesh, Timeless Souls: The Intertwined Themes of ‘I See Who You Are’

Björk invites us into a sphere where the human form is a mere vessel for a more profound entity. ‘Behind the skin and the muscles,’ she sees her subject’s true self, suggesting a deep-seated intimacy that transcends superficial appearances. This intrinsic recognition echoes through the ages as she croons about seeing ‘the same girl’ even in later years.

However, this track does more than serenade a lover; it serves as a simultaneous reminder of our temporal existence. The eventual decline into ‘corpses’ is approached not with dread but with an almost celebratory tone, urging us to embrace the ‘flesh on our bones’ while we still inhabit it.

The Celebratory Ode to Presence: Dancing with Mortality

The repetition of ‘Let’s celebrate now’ is an intentional mantra, urging the listener to sink into the present moment. There’s a carnal emphasis on physical closeness, the act of ‘push[ing] you up against me tightly’ as much an act of love as it is a defiance against the fleeting nature of life.

Björk’s perspective gives mortality a new dimension, one without fear. The dance with death becomes less about loss and more about the richness of being alive, of enjoying ‘every bit of you’ without reservation or future denial.

The Hidden Meaning: Empowerment Through Vulnerability

Deep within the haunting strains of ‘I See Who You Are’ is an underlying current of empowerment. By acknowledging the raw humanity in her lover and ultimately herself, Björk invites us to strip away our defenses and connect truthfully.

This act of seeing and being seen devoid of pretense is liberating. It suggests that within our most vulnerable moments—whether in the throes of passion or in the face of our mortality—lies our greatest strength.

‘Seem so lioness fire heart, passionate lover’ – The Metaphor That Roars

Among the song’s most memorable lines, this metaphor imbues the subject—presumed to be the same ‘girl’ both now and later—with a wild, untamed force. It expresses a ferocious energy, and the use of ‘lioness’ carries connotations of a protective and powerful femininity.

It’s a celebration of her character that will persist despite the aging body, a ‘fire heart, passionate lover’ that time’s erosion cannot touch. The juxtaposition of this enduring spirit against the backdrop of Ashes-to-ashes sentiments reiterates the song’s depth.

The Echoes of Eternity: ‘I See Who You Are’ as a Reflection on Immortal Love

Ultimately, ‘I See Who You Are’ is a mesmerizing reflection on the type of love that feels infinite. It doesn’t shy away from the realism of aging and death yet finds infinite beauty in these inescapable truths.

By delving beyond the corporeal realm, Björk connects with the eternal. It’s an affirmation that the essence of who we are and the love we share knows no bounds—not even those set by the constraints of our mortal coil.