The Pretenders – Hymn To Her

"Hymn To Her" as written by and Meg Keene....
Let me inside you
Into your room
I've heard it's lined
With the things you don't show
Lay me beside you
Down on the floor
I've been your lover
From the womb to the tomb
I dress as your daughter
When the moon becomes round
You be my mother
When everything's gone

And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Somethings change
Some stay the same

Keep beckoning to me
From behind that closed door
The maid and the mother
And the crone that's grown old

I hear your voice
Coming out of that hole
I listen to you
And I want some more
I listen to you
And I want some more

She will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same

She will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same

Let me inside you
Into your room
I've heard it's lined
With the things you don't show
Lay me beside you
Down on the floor
I've been your lover
From the womb to the tomb
I dress as your daughter
When the moon becomes round
You be my mother
When everything's gone

And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same

She will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same

And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

"Hymn to Her" as written by Meg Keene

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Hymn To Her song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentI think this song is a daughter talking to her mother...
    missmeon March 06, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis is a pagan song about the great mother Goddess. This is readily apparent by the lyrics "the maid and the mother and the crone that grows old." These are the three aspects of the Goddess that we pagans worship. The Goddess is also said to be with us "from the womb to the tomb" in pagan teachings. While the song can be interpreted many ways, this is clearly a tribute to Her.
    dawn107794on March 06, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwe played this song at my grandma's funeral.. it makesme and my mum cry when we hear it.
    elnon January 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSuch a beautiful, underrated song.
    !!**!!on February 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThere seem to be several levels to this song, but I think although this can be applied to a specific woman, or relationship between women (ie: mother-daughter, etc), I get a strong sense that it's deeper than that - more akin to the pagan notions of Mother Earth, Mother Nature, the feminine in the divine, etc.

    References to "the moon"; being a lover from womb to tomb, entering a room with "things you don't show"; the maid, mother and crone (stages of female human life?) - it all points to a deeper and more existential "female-ness" and feminity being referred to.
    HTUKon December 06, 2007   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General CommentInteresting you mention that eln, I was reading this song as a woman who is dealing with the deal of her mother. The opening verse comes across as the family clearing out her room after she's died, and the line:

    'I dress as your daughter'

    could be a reference to her funeral. Sorry for your loss anyway.
    Lex_Zeppelinon June 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentbeautiful. you can hear the strain and passion in her voice when she sings the first "i listen to you". totally overcome by affection.
    heart of darknesson August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe pagan/wicca references are pretty obvious, but there's some other meaning too...

    I think it's a mother/daughter thing, but maybe not her maternal mother... It seems to be more of a mother-figure to me, rather than her actual mother.
    taniwhaon August 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationI think Hymn to Her is deffinatly a pagan observation but, i think those people who saw it as a daughter speaking to and about her deceased mother are probably correct too, ive always loved this song and as a pagan/witch who has lived through losing her mother, it speaks to me on many levels, i am a daughter of the Goddess and the daughter of the most wonderful and gentle woman who ever graced the earthplain
    Blessings x
    paganroseon December 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAs a man whos now grown up my mother passed when I was a teenager. I always loved this song even though it wasn't son to mother. The line, 'lay me beside you, down on the floor' personnaly I think is refering to what some may call crazy...laying on the grass next to the grave and having the enjoyment of speaking and recapping old memories in the hope she can somehow hear you...
    PQ1on August 03, 2011   Link

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