Your Blood

Album: What Happened to the Heart? (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Aurora's "Your Blood" is a shimmering embrace, her voice a balm for weary souls. Through glistening synths and hopeful guitars, she whispers wisdom and shared burdens, reminding us that in darkness, we dance together.

    "The world is always bleeding," Aurora said. "And you never know what is going on under people's skin. I think it's only when we reach out to each other, that we understand what compassion and beauty we are capable of as human beings."

    She continued, adding: "Even if we can't understand what people are going through: we should still try. If we don't, what is a life truly worth? Sometimes addressing the pain, your own, or the pain of the world hurts so much it feels like dying. But in truth, I believe it is then we are born. Your blood. My blood. Our blood."
  • Aurora first teased this hymn of shared humanity on Instagram on October 31, 2023, and released it as a single on November 8, 2023, during a period of heightened humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine. Prior to the release, she'd called for a cease-fire on social media and openly criticized the actions of the Israeli government against Palestinians.
  • Aurora wrote "Your Blood" with the song's producer Chris Greatti. An American songwriter and producer, Greatti has also worked with Yungblud, Grimes and Simple Plan.
  • Aurora released "Your Blood" as the lead single from her fifth album, What Happened to the Heart? Naturally, this begs the question: why kick off an album with a song about blood?

    "It's an album about humans - our anatomy, our organs," she explained to The Sun. "The value of a human - of a heart, of our blood. And since I always start every album with knowing that title first, I knew it would be about the heart. So it felt right to starting with blood."
  • As it turns out, the album title was plucked not from a dream, a fjord, or some obscure Nordic myth, but from a letter by an indigenous climate activist group titled "We Are the Earth." The letter was a rallying cry for a collective response to global warming.

    "The voices of indigenous people have spoken truth for so many years, and for so many years the world has refused to listen," Aurora lamented to The Sun, visibly agitated by humankind's stubborn indifference. "It resonated with my heart so deeply, seeing such an important message being overlooked once again. It troubles me that the world still isn't willing to change its ways, even now, when we know we might not survive if we don't. I cannot wrap my head around it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.