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Cooling of the Embers Lyrics
You put your hand on top of mine
you're talking fast but talking blind
and i can't bring myself to meet you're eyes
'cos death is slowly covering you
in galaxies of black and blue
and under your skin all his colours bloom
And you're only half here
like someone left a frail body and took the rest
But i remember when you were strong
never wanted help from no-one
what you've become is not who i remember
Is this the cooling of the embers?
She's back again through summers past
the smell of rain and freshly cut grass
seems those ordinary days are the ones that last
Cos he was there, the one you loved
the one you never could let go of
and there's something you know as you're looking up
That your only half here
like someone left a frail body and stole the rest
But i remember when you were strong
never wanted help from no-one
what you've become is not who i remember
Is this the cooling of the embers?
is this the cooling of the embers?
Cos you are not who i remember
it's like you are a child, you are a child, you are a child once more
and all of our yesterday's have gone
You put your hand on top of mine
you're talking fast but talking blind
and i can't bring myself to meet your eyes...
you're talking fast but talking blind
and i can't bring myself to meet you're eyes
in galaxies of black and blue
and under your skin all his colours bloom
like someone left a frail body and took the rest
never wanted help from no-one
what you've become is not who i remember
the smell of rain and freshly cut grass
seems those ordinary days are the ones that last
the one you never could let go of
and there's something you know as you're looking up
like someone left a frail body and stole the rest
never wanted help from no-one
what you've become is not who i remember
is this the cooling of the embers?
it's like you are a child, you are a child, you are a child once more
and all of our yesterday's have gone
you're talking fast but talking blind
and i can't bring myself to meet your eyes...
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Missy said at her concert that this song is about her Grandmother. In this song it seems she is very close to death and she's not really herself at all. It's very much about the struggle of watching somebody go through that and trying to grasp at the beautiful old memories you have of them. When she sings "I can't bring myself to meet your eyes", I think its very much about cherishing those beautiful moments and, in a way, trying to ignore how painful it is to watch her go through such a debilitating transformation. Such a beautiful song, I cried like a baby when she sang it at her show.
I don't know if Missy meant it like this but this is how I interpreted it. I think its about a girl whos parents got a divorce when she was pretty young and her mother is not very kind to her throughout her childhood. Now her mom is dying and she is trying to apologize and make up for all the things she did. the daughter wonders if it is truthful because "she only half here". She remembers the times before the divorce "She's back again through summers past the smell of rain and freshly cut grass seems those ordinary days are the ones that last" (I just have to say that phrase are probably the most amazing lyrics I have ever heard and so true) She kind of mocks her in the next phrase saying she could never let go even though she did let go of him. she seems to regret it but "shes only half here". In the chorus the daughter is shocked that her mom is being so kind to her shes "not who she remembers". "Is this the cooling of the embers"; is it the time to drop all the resentment and except this new person whos only half here. The reference to the child means the sudden change in her mother is like the many sudden changes a child experiences everyday. The daughter does know what to think should she trust what she knows about her mother which is the terrible side or should she "cool the embers" and let go of that and trust this new person who apologizes.
Just have to say I LOVE MISSY HIGGINS VOICE and I LOVE this song it makes me cry.
Missy has said this song is about her grandma who lives in a retirement home and suffers from dementia. It's such a powerful song
I've always loved this song, and I never really 100% had a solid interpretation of the lyrics until my grandmother got sick with alzheimers. She's penned the emotions of that journey perfectly, the confusion and having to come to terms with the struggle of having memories that someone else no longer remembers. The way they're still themselves in a way, but no wbete near the same person they were at the same time. Them talking fast but never really talking about anything in particular; such a sad battle that was turned into a beautiful song.