: As part of the Citizen of Glass project, the song explores the feeling of being "transparent" and viewed by others, as if one's inner world were a glass prism reflecting the past.
: Listeners often interpret the "happening again" refrain as a representation of cyclical mental health struggles, such as the recurring waves of depression or trauma. Agnes Obel - It's Happening Again (Official Video)
The for "It's Happening Again" by Danish artist Agnes Obel is a surreal, animated journey directed by her long-time collaborator and husband, Alex Brüel Flagstad . Released as part of her 2016 album Citizen of Glass , the video uses a distinct, blocky "31-bit" pixelated style to explore themes of memory and the cyclical nature of time. Visual Style and Concept : As part of the Citizen of Glass
The video avoids a literal narrative, instead focusing on abstract imagery that includes buildings, cosmic elements, and a pixelated representation of Obel herself. Released as part of her 2016 album Citizen
: Obel describes the past as something that is never truly dead but continues to "speak through us". The lyrics "The past isn't dead / It's alive, it is happening / In the back of my head" highlight this recurring mental state.