The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Bjartar vonir rætast
Er við göngum bæinn
Brosum og hlæjum glaðir
Vinátta og þreyta mætast
Höldum upp á daginn
Og fögnum tveggja ára bið
Fjarlægur draumur fæðist
Borðum og drekkum saddir
Og borgum fyrir okkur
Með því sem við eigum í dag
Setjumst niður spenntir
Hlustum á sjálfa okkur slá
Í takt við tónlistina
Það virðist engin hlusta
Þetta er allt öðruvísi
Við lifðum í öðrum heimi
Þar sem við vorum aldrei ósýnileg
Nokkrum dögum síðar
Við tölum saman á ný
En hljóðið var ekki gott
Við vorum sammála um það
Sammála um flesta hluti
Við munum gera betur næst
Þetta er ágætis byrjun
Er við göngum bæinn
Brosum og hlæjum glaðir
Vinátta og þreyta mætast
Höldum upp á daginn
Og fögnum tveggja ára bið
Fjarlægur draumur fæðist
Borðum og drekkum saddir
Og borgum fyrir okkur
Með því sem við eigum í dag
Setjumst niður spenntir
Hlustum á sjálfa okkur slá
Í takt við tónlistina
Það virðist engin hlusta
Þetta er allt öðruvísi
Við lifðum í öðrum heimi
Þar sem við vorum aldrei ósýnileg
Nokkrum dögum síðar
Við tölum saman á ný
En hljóðið var ekki gott
Við vorum sammála um það
Sammála um flesta hluti
Við munum gera betur næst
Þetta er ágætis byrjun
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I thought Ágætis Byrjun translated into 'An alright start'?
Bright hopes come true As we walk the town Smile and laugh happy
Meet friends and fatigue Celebrate the day And boast a two-year waiting
Distant dream came true
Eat drink and be satisfied And cities for us With what we have today
Sit down excited Listen to yourselves beat us In tune with music
It seems no one listening
This is totally different We lived in another world Since we were never (?)
A few days later We talk together again But the sound was not good
We agree that Agree on most things We'll do better next time
This is a good beginning
Google Translate, sorry if it's not 100% correct.
Absolutely beautiful. Sigur Ros changed my life.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
A Pretty Good Beginning
Bright Hopes Come True As We Walk Downtown Smiling And Laughing Happily Friendship And Exhaustion Collide We Celebrate The Day A Two Year Wait A Distant Dream Is Born We Eat And Drink Til We’re Full And Pay For Ourselves With Everything We Have For The Day We Sit Down Excited Listen To Ourselves Play In Rhythm To The Music No One Seems To Listen This Is Completely Different We Lived In Another World Where We Were Never Invisible A Few Days Later We Speak Again But The Sound Wasn’t Good We Were All In Agreement In Agreement About Most Things We’ll Do Better Next Time This Is A Pretty Good Beginning
I first heard Sigur Ros on the Vanilla Sky Soundtrack and fell in love with them. Their sound is awesome...it's something that anyone who loves music can appreciate, even if they can't understand the words. LOL
This is definitely the unsung hero of this album. I love this song, and I think that it's one of their ultimate bests.
That's what they have on their site.
when you translate from another language, the words can be translated to many different things. yes, on the site they say an alright start, but it doesn't make a pretty good beginning any less true.
taking from the site : the first song sigur rós recorded for the ágætis byrjun album was (shock!) ágætis byrjun. when they finished the song, they played it to their friend who really liked it and said it was an "alright start" (= ágætis byrjun), so they named the album after that.
my friend Loren has a tattoo of this on her back. not the whole thing, just the title. I really love what it means.
I don't think you need to understand the lyrics or what's sung. It's the same principle as Hopelandish. Icelandic is such an obscure language as well that the majority of listeners won't understand it. I speak a bit of Icelandic but not well enough to listen to the songs so to the average listener, Icelandic may as well be Hopelandish. It's about stripping back and letting the sound speak for itself. Sigur Ros posess the unique gift of being able to express far more without words than most bands can with them!