Her Mother's House

Album: Fossora (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On this poignant track, Björk delves into the bittersweet experience of watching her youngest child spread their wings and leave the nest. What makes this song particularly special is that it features and was co-written by none other than Björk's own daughter, Isadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney.

    Isadóra was conceived during Björk's relationship with the famed arthouse director from New York, Matthew Barney. She has made her name in the fashion industry, collaborating with powerhouse brands such as Miu Miu.
  • Isadóra infuses a pure, folksy sound into the track. In an interview with The Guardian, Bjork said she approached her daughter to write about the experience of leaving the family home, with one caveat: There was no need to hold back on the truth. Clearly proud of her daughter's contribution to the song, Björk notes that the lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek nod to her own tendencies to hold onto things, laughing at herself for being a bit "clingy."
  • Bjork pokes fun at her heavy-handed parenting during this rueful meditation. "I'm trying to make fun of how clumsy and clingy you can be," she laughed to Uncut magazine. "When your kids are leaving, you gather up your courage to do a really graceful goodbye, and of course for five years you are still saying goodbye, and they are still coming back because you have to help them through things. So, asking my daughter to do this song with me was really trying to make fun of myself. Saying, 'I'm just doing my best, forgive me!' You're trying not to be overprotective, and then you find your underprotective in other areas. You can't win!"
  • Bjork recorded "Her Mother's House" for her 10th album, Fossora. The Icelandic singer's other child, her son Sindri Eldon, lends vocals to another Fossora track, "Ancestress."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.