I'm a cloud drifting by
Dripping tears from the sky
I'm a snail without a shell
A leper with a golden bell
I've got nowhere to do
I'm a stray cat on the roam
Choking on a chicken bone
For a home sweet, no sweet home

For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree
But there's somebody that reminded them of me
Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love

I'm rootless
I'm rootless

Work your fingers to the bone
Building castles out of snow
I'm a nomad walking on
Humming to the same old song
Lower case society
In touch with no community
A kingdom without a king
With no sense of belonging

For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree
But there's somebody that reminded them of me

Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love
I'm rootless
I'm rootless

Running with my roots pulled up
So they could cut me free of love

Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love
I'm rootless
I'm rootless

Jagged roots through the snow
For a home sweet and no sweet home
I've got nowhere to go
I'm rootless
I'm rootless


Lyrics submitted by laymon, edited by SmoothGardener

Rootless Lyrics as written by Pascal Gabriel Liam Howe

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Rootless song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    i think that she feels like she has nothing which defines her, that she is seeking some sense of identity.

    and, it relates to this sentiment exoressed on her myspace page:

    "I am embarrassed about how little I know about my culture, my history and my government. Am I dumb and ignorant or a normal product of my generation?"

    TheWrongGirlon September 30, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think she is expressing being lonely, scared and foreign- just very alone, very unloved. Not foreign in the sense of being from another country, but just like a fish out of water, in terms of humanity- she can't relate to society and nor does she want to, in general.

    Also, I think she's been taken advantage of.

    "Running with my roots pulled up Caught me cold so they could cut What there was left of love"

    Maybe people mis-take her kindness for foolishness, and take her for granted. In the process being very hurt by their actions, because all she wants is to feel a understood- (if she were understood- no one would take advantage of her)..

    Also, "I'm a nomad walking on Humming to the same old song Lower case society In touch with no community"

    I feel like the situation is pretty grim though, because she's not going to change and society is comprised of people who have no real sense of true society- of community- love. and that is what she is in search of, the nomad.

    She has no "home" and it makes her sick inside.

    "Choking on a chicken bone For a home sweet, no sweet home"

    for a root, a leaf, branch, a tree.." " for something, somebody that reminded them of me...."

    No one really knows her, to be reminded of her. She'll never be loved. - or she feels that way.

    Being home very much means being loved

    I think too that she exposes herself on purpose too, (she's very strong- "work your fingers to the bone, building castles out of snow"- she's does the impossible.. and she's on her own, so she has to learn all she can, right? because she's a survivor).

    Trixiemarieon May 06, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    How has no one commented on this song? It's awesome!

    This is my first interpretation, and it hits home pretty hard, so please be nice :)

    My interpretation is of a girl who moved constantly and never really had a home (like me)

    "I'm a cloud drifting by Dripping tears from the sky" She is just walking by, sad.

    "I'm a snail without a shell A leper with a golden bell" She feels isolated and without a home

    "I've got nowhere to do I'm a stray cat on the roam" I don't really understand these, but I think she's describing herself as a stray cat because she's always on the go, she feels homeless

    "Choking on a chicken bone For a home sweet, no sweet home" She's explaining what she would do for a home (choke on a chicken bone)

    "For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree But there's somebody that reminded them of me" She's explaining she would give up her nomad life, but someone is always reminding others of her.

    "Running with my roots pulled up Caught me cold so they could cut What there was left of love" She's struggling to let go of her past, because they made her heart cold and made her immune to love

    "I'm rootless" (the most powerful lyrics i have probably ever heard) She has no home, no stability, no roots to stay down.

    I would do more but I'm knackered.

    eelyloveon March 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think Marina just relates the feeling of being entirely on her own away from anything that makes her feel comfort. it is really a powerful song she has.

    AlecsPenon August 22, 2010   Link

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