Meaning of "Unravel" by Björk

The lyrics of "Unravel" explore the pain and longing that comes with being separated from a loved one. The image of the heart unraveling like a ball of yarn suggests a sense of vulnerability and fragility. The ball of yarn represents the speaker's love, which is slowly taken away by the devil with a grin. This imagery could symbolize the destructive forces or negative influences that can come between two people when they are apart. The repetition of the phrase "He'll never return it" emphasizes the irreversible loss and the speaker's resignation to the fact that their love will never be fully restored.

The lyrics also hint at the idea of renewal and rebuilding. The line "When you come back, we'll have to make new love" suggests that the speaker and their loved one will have to start over and rekindle their relationship from scratch. This highlights the transient nature of love and the need for constant effort and reinvention in order to sustain it. The repetition of this line throughout the song further emphasizes the theme of renewal, as if reminding the listener that love is a continuous process that requires commitment and adaptation.

Overall, the lyrics of "Unravel" convey a sense of longing, vulnerability, and the need for resilience in maintaining a relationship. It explores the emotions and challenges that arise when being apart from a loved one, and the importance of actively working to rebuild love when reuniting.