Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
My mother lost her mother twice
Once in '54, then later in life
The exchange was quick and quiet
The records sealed, the names made private
Her search began and ended with a judge
Her papers had been claimed in a freak basement flood
An entire family tree
An eternal privacy
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
And I don't think you can pull me out of this
There's virgin oil painted over my door
And hotel soap from every city
Lined up in my window
Blew my per diem on an eighth of Blue Dream
So I can breathe but I still can't breathe
Around my mouth, brown paper bag
Founding fathers on my back
I'm no martyr
I'm no martyr
I'm just
Afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I've so much that I want to sing
But there's no room for toothbrushes and poetry, I
Pray to Jesus Christ incessantly, I
Shine my shoes for the Fat Lady, I'm still
Underwater
I'm underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
And I don't think you can pull me out of this
I will no longer claim to know
Where we go when it's time to go
But when you go, will I go too?
When you go, I am going too
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
Mother, father
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
Mother, father
I'm underwater
Once in '54, then later in life
The exchange was quick and quiet
The records sealed, the names made private
Her search began and ended with a judge
Her papers had been claimed in a freak basement flood
An entire family tree
An eternal privacy
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
And I don't think you can pull me out of this
There's virgin oil painted over my door
And hotel soap from every city
Lined up in my window
Blew my per diem on an eighth of Blue Dream
So I can breathe but I still can't breathe
Around my mouth, brown paper bag
Founding fathers on my back
I'm no martyr
I'm no martyr
I'm just
Afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I've so much that I want to sing
But there's no room for toothbrushes and poetry, I
Pray to Jesus Christ incessantly, I
Shine my shoes for the Fat Lady, I'm still
Underwater
I'm underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you're not here, I cannot be here for you
If you're not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I'm underwater
And I don't think you can pull me out of this
I will no longer claim to know
Where we go when it's time to go
But when you go, will I go too?
When you go, I am going too
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
Mother, father
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
I'm underwater
Mother, father
I'm underwater
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Page
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Mackenzie has said: “‘The Exchange’ is the story of my adoptive mother […] my mom was leading a Bible study, and my birth mother attended and hand-selected her to be my adoptive mother; she actually approached her and told her that she wanted her to be the mother of her child — me. “The Exchange” is really everything that I’ve tried to articulate to the people that I love but have never been able to, for whatever reason. My crippling fear of mortality; my intense, intense love of life; my fear of losing my parents and seeing people that I love get old. That was my own way of saying that I’m drowning but I’m OK. But I’m drowning. [laughs]”
pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9639-im-drowning-but-im-ok-the-revelations-of-torres-mackenzie-scott/