B

The videos are completely random and full of nothing but random bizarre images, right? Wrong. They actually tell a story that is tied into a Arabic, African, AND European legends about something quite unexpected... Let me explain. I think I have this figured out.

Something we should start with is looking more in depth at the continuous imagery of the white substance on Jonna Lee (the singer and woman in all of the iamamiwhoami videos), on the plants, the mud on Jonna Lee, and the constant plant references throughout all of the videos.

So, first thing's first, what do the numbers in the first six introduction videos mean? Let's decipher them, shall we?

699130082.451322-5.4.21.3.1.20.9.15.14.1.12:

FIIAC**HB.DEACBB-E.D.U.C.A.T.I.O.N.A.L

9.1.13.669321018:

I.A.M.FFICBA*AH

9.20.19.13.5.723378:

I.T.S.M.E.GBCCGH

13.1.14.4.18.1.7.15.18.1.1110:

M.A.N.D.R.A.G.O.R.A.AAA*

15.6.6.9.3.9.14.1.18.21.13.56155:

O.F.F.I.C.I.N.I.R.U.M.EFAEE

23.5.12.3.15.13.5-8.15.13.5.3383:

W.E.L.C.O.M.E-H.O.M.E.CCHC

Mhm. It says: "Welcome home. I am educational. It's me, Mandragora Officinirum."

It's significant to note that one of the numbered videos spell out "mandragora" and "officinarum," otherwise known as the mandragora, or, the mandrake plant. The mandrake root, according to ancient folklore, is believed to have grown where a hanging man's semen spilled onto the ground, hence the white substance throughout the videos.

Philip de Thaun was an Anglo-Norman who wrote a book in the first half of the 20th century. In this book "Bestiary," de Thaun, says the following about the mandrake: "It has two roots, the make of a man and a woman."

(HA! Jonna and the mystery man!! But waittt, it gets better...) "The man who is to gather it must fly around about it; must take great care that he does not touch it - then let a dog be bound - let it be tied to it." Following these guidelines are instructions to starve the dog, then after three dogs, offer the dog some bread. Naturally, the dog will come running to the food in your hand. Then... "the dog will draw it to him; the root will break; it will send forth a cry; the dog will fall down dead." This explains the six dogs, then the following six graves/crosses in two of the introduction videos!

(I AM AM I WHO AM I = I AM MANDRAKE. Let's continue...)

"...if the man heard it, he would directly die - therefore, he must stop his ears and take care that he does not hear the cry. When one has the root, it is of great value for medicine, for it cures every infirmity - except only death."

The six dogs turn up dead in the introduction videos, this is obvious at seen by the six crosses used as tombstones. I believe Jonna's character in these videos is actually one half of the root (the man being the other; in U-1, it almost seems like they are connected and unified as one) and her voice is symbolic of the mandrake's cry. The cry, as stated above, is believed to be deadly, but also a miracle plant to cure all illness (just like love and faith can be the cure for all despair and sorrow, as well as the perfect weapon to diagnose pain and agony). This is why the tags for the Youtube videos relate so much to life and death. Such examples include the following tags on the introduction videos: fetus, umbilical cord, habitat, moisture, disciple, amniotic fluid, nest, lay, mount, etc.

Here is another paragraph I found interesting, and this imagery is in several of the iamamiwhoami videos: "A cut of the female mandrake root" ... "cases the figure of a naked woman with the plant shooting into leaf and flower from her head." (Which was blatantly seen in "N")

Also note that mandrake superstition has been rampant through human ages. As I've said, it's associated with providing life and causing death (more often, death). Some common synonyms for the mandrake are: Satan's Apple, Mandragora, Devil's Testicles, etc. Here is another paragraph I found informative:

"The officinarum variety is yellow-greenish; the autumnalis variety is purple. The flowers are born on separate stalks, which emerge from the centre of the leaf-rosette. They later give rise to the golden yellowish fruits, that are often referred to as 'apples', which they resemble, though their size approximates more that of a crab-apple or mirabelle. The fruit has a pleasant scent. The root can grow to over half a meter (2 feet) in length and is often strangely forked, which has given rise to anthropomorphic associations, likening their appearance to a human male or female body shape. The root has a tough brown rind but is white inside. The leaves emerge directly from the crown of the root." (Hence the crown she wears in "T") So, why is Jonna covered in black-brown while maintaining her long, blonde locks? Because her body symbolizes the root in the ground, covered in dirt, and (as stated) it has a "brown rind but is white inside."

The white is shown in "Y" as Jonna sings in the paper house, covered in mud, and her paper dress represents the inner white inside the root. Her hair symbolizes the yellow leaves. Plain and simple. Also, in "T," Jonna is seen covered in the white substance while wearing a crown ("the leaves emerge directly from the crown of the root").

Here is another paragraph: "Mandrake originates in the eastern Mediterranean region and is distributed throughout southern Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, where it grows in waste places and abandoned fields in sandy and rocky, well draining soil. There is also a species that is endemic to the Himalaya. Nowadays it is cultivated in gardens north of the Alps, but doesn't naturalize there, as it needs a warm and protected setting." This is why Jonna is standing in a flower pot, surrounded by other leaves, in a greenhouse in "O." She IS the mandrake root. She needs that warm and protect setting. Get it?

Let's address the constant use of six: six was the quantity of dogs, berries, and cats throughout the videos. Six dogs, six cats, six berries. 666, right? Well, it isn't Satanic symbolism; it's just an allusion to the devil and the end, simply because the mandrake has been called The Devil's Apple and The Devil's Testicles. The use of 666 simply signifies the end of a bond. Once you understand the mythology behind the mandrake, iamamiwhoami's videos make MUCH more sense.

So, here's the big question: Why even use the mandrake symbolism and allusions?

Well, the mandrake was believed to have a male and female root, right? The root belonged to one plant, one organism, one creation, one being, one idea. This can be symbolic of a love or bond that held significant meaning. However, the root was ripped from the ground and split in two. The female root shrieked, giving birth to Jonna's voice and lyrics.

In case you haven't noticed, the lyrics are about a love / significant connection to someone or something gone horribly wrong.

"B" is the initial love / connection. "O" is the sudden halt this love / connection takes. "U-1" is total remorse for this ending. "U-2" is the continued remorse. "N" is the insecurities brought on by this newly found independence. "T" is learning that one has potential by oneself, with or without this person / idea. "Y" is merely IAM personifying her / their hope and moving on.

:)

fantastic artist, fantastic song, fantastic video.

I love the part:

"All that white only turns you blue Look after me I'll look after you"

Wanting higher Wanting higher 'til morning forces us to climb back down I'd rather stay I'd rather let us drown

THERE IT WAS THE LAND OF DECAY! what are you listening to that you hear all that extra stuff, listen to the live version.

i'd rather stay i'd rather let us drown

These lyrics are WRONG.

There it was, the land of decay We should pack our things and run away Rest in the quicksand Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand Sink slowly now, take flight Let silence take this empty light Take a deep breath as we go, as we go

Wanting higher Wanting higher up Wanting higher Until the moon forces us to climb back down I'd rather see the both of us drown

Wanting higher Wanting higher up Wanting higher

With a harsh, unpleasant hello The paranoia I've learned to live with although I will never shake what's there behind Your songs are still playing in my mind All the white only turns to blue Look after me and I'll look after you Take a deep breath as we go, as we go

its ACTUALLY "There he was, alone I decay"

just sayin <3

There it was, the land of decay We should pack our things and run away Rest in the quicksand Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand Sink slowly now, take flight Let silence take us at daylight Take a deep breath as we go, as we go

Wanting higher Wanting higher up Wanting higher... 'Till morning forces us to climb back down I'd rather stay I'd rather let us drown

Wanting higher Wanting higher up Wanting higher...

What a harsh, unpleasant hello The paranoia I've learned to live with, although I will never shape what's there behind Your songs are still playing in my mind All that white only turns to blue Look after me, I'll look after you Take a deep breath as we go, as we go...

these are the correct lyrics:

"there it was, the line of decay we should pack our things and run away rest in the quick sand - shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand

sink slowly, not take flight let silence take us at day light take a deep breath as we go, as we go

wanting higher wanting higher up wanting higher

till the moon forces us to climb back down i'd rather stay, i'd rather let us drown"

<3

Love this song. But, the first line is most definitely not "there it was, the land of decay". It doesn't even sound like that. It goes "There YOU WERE, staring/ standing at a gate". It's kind of hard to make out but I honestly don't know how someone heard that first line.

I feel that most of the comments on these songs only pertain to the veracity of the lyrics and not what they're actually about, so I'm going to take a stab at analyzing it myself.

There are two major themes in the VIDEOS for these songs, which is CHILDBIRTH and RELIGION, namely Jesus Christ in particular. This leads me to think that it tells the story of Mary giving birth to Jesus Christ. At the same time, however, I suspect that the videos are also about the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion and resurrection.

In the B video, it ends with an empty crib, signifying the beginning of things to come. Also, Jonna Lee is seen in the video playing on what looks like a piano that could appear in a church. There are men in the room with her listening to her play her music, as if they are the people in a church's mass. At the same time, however, this video can signify the impregnation of Mary (played by Jonna Lee) seeing as she flings her arms in the air in the middle of the video, almost as if she is connecting with God, becoming impregnated.

As far as the lyrics go, there is more of a dissonance with the theme of the birth of Jesus. In almost all of the songs by iamamiwhoami, there is a theme of drowning, or being engulfed in something, however. "Rest in quicksand" "Take a deep breath as we go" "Wanting higher until the moon forces us to climb back down" "I'd rather see the both of us drown" and "All the white only turns to blue" all signify this theme of drowning. Similarly, Jonna Lee is wrapped, head to toe, in the video.

In all of the videos, however, Jonna is wrapped in some sort of material. What this has to do with the birth of Christ, I have no clue. Sadly I am not a biblical studies buff, so I cannot give much deep insight into whether certain bible stories are being referenced here or not.