Hidden Place (song)

Björk Writer(s) Björk Producer(s) Björk Length 5:29 singles chronology Singles "Hidden Place" "Pagan Poetry" "Cocoon" Vespertine track listing — "Cocoon"

"Hidden Place" is a song by Björk from her album, Vespertine. It was released on 3 August 2001 as the lead single from the album.

Background

Björk's descriptions of the song:

"I guess 'Hidden Place' is sort of about how two people can create a paradise just by uniting. You’ve got an emotional location that’s mutual. And it’s unbreakable. And obviously it’s make-believe. So, you could argue that it doesn’t exist because it’s invisible, but of course it does. And it’s sort of a one-nil situation. Or, if you believe in something high enough - I mean, maybe at first when you mention it, and you talk about it and it doesn’t exist. It might be artificial, but you just keep on believing in it and it grows strong. It’ll become real, you know. And I guess that’s something, sort of the human spirit conquering the dullness and boredom.

I guess the microbeats were from me getting heavily into my laptop and just trying to enjoy the music from its speakers. The songs on Vespertine are introvert. I tried to make it frozen, winterlike. It’s an inside album, a domestic album, I had loads and loads of beats for ’Hidden Place’ but it still wasn’t up enough. Matthew Herbert came for a visit in the studio and offered to do it. He ran away to his studio and came back after a few hours later with a DAT.

In the light of her 2021 Orkestral livestream concerts, she explained what this song is written about:

"Hidden Place" was written falling secretly in love with someone and not being able to express it. So I wanted to make the arrangement a thick current, that is surpressed underground, like taboo, taboo, taboo... unexpressed ove... a hidden muscular fossorial snake...

Single release

CD1

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hidden Place (Edit)"	4:00
2.	"Generous Palmstroke"	4:26
3.	"Verandi"	4:28

CD2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hidden Place (Acapella)"	5:15
2.	"Mother Heroic"	2:44
3.	"Foot Soldier"	2:35

Music video

Premiere date 2001 Director(s) Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, M/M Paris Producer(s) Production company Director of photography

The video's concept was originally planned for a song from Selmasongs, but Björk felt it was more appropriate for Vespertine.

Lyrics

Through the warmthest cord of care Your love was sent to me I'm not sure what to do with it Or where to put it I'm so close to tears And so close to Simply calling you up And simply suggesting We go to that hidden place That we go to that hidden place We go to that hidden place We go to the hidden place Now I have been slightly shy And I can smell a pinch of hope To almost have allowed one's fingers To stroke the fingers I was given to touch with But careful, careful There lies my passion, hidden There lies my love I'll hide it under a blanket Lull it to sleep I'll keep it in a hidden place I'll keep it in a hidden place Keep it in a hidden place Keep it in a hidden place He's the beautifullest, fragilest Still strong, dark and divine And the littleness of his movements Hides himself He invents a charm that makes him invisible Hides in the hair Can I hide there too? Hide in the hair of him Seek solace Sanctuary In that hidden place In a hidden place In a hidden place We'll stay in a hidden place Oh, in a hidden place We'll live in a hidden place We'll be in a hidden place In a hidden place