Sisters Sigga, Beta & Elín Eyþórsdóttir, also known as Sísý Ey, Tripolia, or (for Eurovision purposes) Systur will represent Iceland at Eurovision 2022. During Iceland’s national final, Söngvakeppnin 2022, their soft folk entry “Með hækkandi sól” charmed the Icelandic audience, and they emerged victorious after a close final duel for the ticket to Turin.
The song describes the emotion of hope by using a metaphor that is very relevant to life in Iceland. Located in the Arctic, the country is prone to extremely long nights during winter and long days during summer. The title of the song isn’t directly translatable to English. According to the songwriter, it would roughly translate to “with the sun getting higher every day”.
Scroll down for the “Með hækkandi sól” lyrics
Iceland in Eurovision 2022: Systur “Með hækkandi sól”
The three Icelandic sisters have a long history with many different styles of music. They’ve released folk, pop, even EDM music — but always together, all three of them. They have released their music under many different names, but Eurovision viewers will know them as Systur, the Icelandic word for sisters.
They come from the coastal capital Reykjavík, whose winters are very cold and usually have only four hours of sunlight. These conditions are often difficult to live in, but since we’re well into springtime, the country is getting more hours of sunlight. This atmospheric Icelandic-language song mirrors the feeling of warmth derived from this time of year when the sun appears for more and more hours with each passing day.
What do the “Með hækkandi sól” lyrics mean?
Moments after the folk track won the Icelandic selection, Sigga Ey, in a YouTube comment, shared an explanation of the title and main motif from the song’s lyricist and composer Lay Low, an accomplished Icelandic singer of Sri Lankan descent. She wrote:
“During the winter months in Iceland we lose a lot of daylight. Days get darker and longer and in the darkest winter months we only get sunlight a small part of the day. But from around December 20th the sun starts to come earlier and set later each day. We have the saying for this period for the sun as being ‘með hækkandi sól’ that could translate to ‘with the sun getting higher each day’.
“Originally it was written as a point of view from a 18th or 19th century Icelandic woman who was in ‘Vistarband’. The Icelandic vistarband was a requirement that all landless people be employed on a farm. Poor people did not really have any control of their lives and were forced to work for others and live under their rule. But the lyrics can also be related to anyone in many and all sorts of situations. Seeing some hope with the sun getting higher and days getting warmer.”
The exact title does not appear in the song’s lyrics — which is unique to only Iceland and Moldova out of all of this year’s Eurovision songs — but the motif is still very clear throughout the song. The chorus expresses that feeling of looking forward in hope, as the three croon: “The darkest winter waits for the sun to ease away the longest nights with light. The darkest winter waits for spring to warm our embraces again”.
“Með hækkandi sól” lyrics – Systur (Iceland Eurovision 2022)
Written and composed by: Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir (aka Lay Low)
Original Icelandic lyrics |
English translation |
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Öldurót í hljóðri sál
Þrautin þung umvafin sorgarsárum
Þrá sem laðar, brennur sem bál
Liggur í leyni – leyndarmál – þei þei
Í ljósaskiptum fær að sjá
Fegurð í frelsi sem þokast nær
Þó næturhúmið skelli á
Og ósögð orð, hugan þjá – þei þei
Í dimmum vetri – hækkar sól
Bræðir hjartans klakabönd – svo hlý
Í dimmum vetri – vorið væna
Vermir þitt vænghaf á ný
Skammdegisskuggar sækja að
Bærast létt með hverjum andardrættir
Syngur í brjósti lítið lag
Breiðir úr sér og andvarpar – þei þei
Í dimmum vetri – hækkar sól
Bræðir hjartans klakabönd – svo hlý
Í dimmum vetri – vorið væna
Vermir þitt vænghaf á ný
Og hún tekst á flug
Svífur að hæstu hæðum
Og færist nær því
Að finna innri ró
Í dimmum vetri – hækkar sól
Bræðir hjartans klakabönd – svo hlý
Í dimmum vetri – vorið væna
Vermir þitt vænghaf á ný
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Undercurrents sweep the heart All but covered in deep wounds of sorrow A deep longing burns within Lies in hiding – come what may – Hush hush In the twilight you can see beautiful freedom moving closer As the night sky drowns The day torn by words No one can say – Hush hush The darkest winter, waits for the sun To ease away the longest nights – with light The darkest winter, waits for spring To warm our embraces again Darkness of winter closing in Forcing every single breath they take With growing hope for brighter days The ice and shadows will give way – Hush hush The darkest winter, waits for the sun To ease away the longest nights – with light The darkest winter, waits for spring To warm our embraces again She rises to the sky Embracing her own power And along the way Finding a sense of peace The darkest winter, waits for the sun To ease away the longest nights – with light The darkest winter, waits for spring To warm our embraces again |
What do you think of the “Með hækkandi sól” lyrics? Are you a fan of the rising sun like Systur? Let us know in the comments below.
There is something very special about this Song ,The first time I heard it I really liked it..but as days passed it grew on me in a very Special way ..So much so I had to see the English translation.
In that I studied the lyrics ..Wow absolutely amazing ..each day that passes I am drawn closer to this magical composition..
I am from Ireland and really love the deep celtic haunting tune …hidden to some ..but my God does it lift my Spirit.
Beautiful song ..well done ladies truly awesome.
It’s kind of ironic that the sun isn’t working in Turin
one of my favs this year!!! love everything about the song so fingers crossed that this qualifies
Iceland is in my top 3 along with Serbia and Portugal. You don’t need to understand a word in Icelandic to feel the warmth. Having said that, it is understandable why it is not very high in the odd. If you don’t listen to the song attentively, it will get lost easily. Still, I hope they qualify, and not be put in no.2 in the grand final.
Bro, same feeling. So good and deep music by this 3 countries.
One that may rival it for me is the Dutch song.
In my opinion, the best lyrics of the year, along with the ones for “In Corpore Sano”. I hope the sisters get some love for it, since many times great lyrics aren’t rewarded in Eurovision, even by jurors that should pay attention to them, Jeangu being the last example of that.