Pneumonia

Björk says she wrote the song at the piano in one take, after seeing the film "Pan’s Labyrinth" — and after having pneumonia for two weeks.

There is a physical sadness to wheezing away with that disease. That, coupled with the determination of the little girl in that film to believe in her imagination, whatever it took, even though no one believed her, struck a chord with me.

A few days later, the song was recorded with seven horn players.

The Washington Post, 5 may 2007