The Modern Things by Björk Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Echoes of Progress
Lyrics
Like cars and such
Have always existed
They’ve just been waiting in a mountain
For the right moment
Listening to the irritating noises
Of dinosaurs and people
Dabbling outside
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Það er sól thegar
Andar inn í mér
Hann bítur mig
Hann bítur mig
Já, hann kemur með
Fylgir eftir mér
Telur með
Siglir eftir mér
All the modern things
Have always existed
They’ve just been waiting
To come out
And multiply
And take over
It’s their turn now
Kahi
Engin fylgist alveg
Kahiiiiiii
Sólin sekkur
Kahi
Engin sér við mér
Nestled within the avant-garde soundscape of Björk’s post-album ‘Post’ lies a curious composition—’The Modern Things.’ The track, woven with the Icelandic artist’s signature blend of electronic surrealism and emotive vocalisations, stands as an enigmatic ode to the latent continuity of technology and human progress. It invokes a reflection on how the modern conveniences we see as novel have an ancient and inevitable essence.
The cryptic nature of the lyrics invites listeners to embark on an introspective journey through time and innovation. Each line seems to serve as a coded message, urging us to decipher the intricate relationship between our current reality and a preordained technological destiny. But beyond the surface lies a deeper, more profound understanding of Björk’s vision—a vision we will attempt to clarify through the exploration of its multidimensional layers.
Whispers From the Mountain: Symbolism Unearthed
The opening lines, ‘All the modern things / Like cars and such / Have always existed,’ suggest a timeline where modernity isn’t spawned but rather emerges from a period of hibernation. Does the mountain serve as a vault for the inevitable? One might contend that Björk views progress less as a linear journey and more as an awakening of dormant forces, patiently waiting for their cue to transform our existence.
This interplay of natural imagery with industrial evolution presents a dream-like scenario where the past, present, and future are entangled. The mountain, eternally silent and stoic, holds within it a pulsating hub of potential—the very essence of ‘modern things.’ The theme of latent emergence challenges the notion that human ingenuity alone drives forward motion, positing instead that the seeds of the future are perennially sown in the fabric of the universe.
The Irritating Noises: Disruptive Echoes of the Past
Describing the ‘irritating noises of dinosaurs and people,’ the song evokes an image of a landscape that is both archaic and bustling. It elicits a sense of technological eons, encapsulating the cacophony before creation. We get the impression that the ‘modern things’ are bystanders, observing and outlasting the chaos of prehistoric eras and human endeavor alike.
The comparison places dinosaurs and people on the same continuum, indirectly perhaps, touching on the ephemeral nature of our own existence. Despite our belief in the permanence of our creations, the song suggests that they too, like the dinosaurs, will be reduced to mere ‘noises’ in the face of future innovations—an incessant cycle of obsolescence and rejuvenation.
The Hidden Meaning: Technology’s Quiet Conquest
Delving into the ‘hidden meaning’ of the text, it’s tempting to interpret the song as an allegory for technology’s silent proliferation. ‘They’ve just been waiting to come out / And multiply / And take over / It’s their turn now,’ implies a natural progression where technology’s rise to dominance is not only expected but also assertive and undebated.
The echoing sounds of ‘Kahi’ resemble a chant, an incantation for the transition from dormancy to supremacy. Technology does not simply aid humanity; in Björk’s vision, it possesses its own life force—an advancement that breathes, multiplies, and ultimately asserts autonomy. It suggests a future where human creation may tip the scales, initiating a new epoch where they ‘take over,’ hinting at a singularity-like shift.
Through Björk’s Lens: Melding the Natural and the Synthetic
Björk, ever the maestro of melding the mechanical and organic, crafts a musical landscape that sonically embodies the union described in her lyrics. The use of Icelandic phrases such as ‘Sólin sekkur’ (the sun sets) followed by ‘Andar inn í mér’ (breathes into me) captures a tension between the human subject and the sprawling existence of the ‘modern things.’
This medley of mechanical beats alongside Björk’s ethereal voice narrates a cyclical tale—a paradoxical blend of the narrative of evolution and the core of nature. It underscores an intrinsic mutualism between humanity and technology: we breathe life into our machines, and they, in turn, become a part of our own existential rhythm.
Memorable Lines: The Echo of ‘It’s their turn now’
As we parse the song’s narrative, some lines resonate more profoundly than others. ‘It’s their turn now’ does not merely signify a change of guard but a pivotal moment of transition in the history of existence. It is a prophetic whisper that what we consider to be the pinnacle of enhancement is but a precursor to a far greater manifestation of innovation.
With the inevitability of ‘their turn,’ Björk conveys a subtle reminder of humility. Humanity is not the last step in the grand scale of progress; we are merely custodians of the present, setting the stage for the next actors in the play of evolution. This ominously memorable line forces us to reckon with the relentless march of time and the transformative forces at work beyond our direct control.
