This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Never took your side
Never cursed your name
I keep my lips shut tight
Until you go
We've come as far
As we're ever gonna get
Until you realize
That you should go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
In the dead of night
I'm the only one here
And I will cover you
Until you go
And if I told the truth
I will always be free
And keep a prize with me
Until you go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Into the night for once
We're the only ones left
I bet you even know
Where we could go
And when it all fucks up
You put your head in my hands
It's a souvenir
For when you go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Never cursed your name
I keep my lips shut tight
Until you go
We've come as far
As we're ever gonna get
Until you realize
That you should go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
In the dead of night
I'm the only one here
And I will cover you
Until you go
And if I told the truth
I will always be free
And keep a prize with me
Until you go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Into the night for once
We're the only ones left
I bet you even know
Where we could go
And when it all fucks up
You put your head in my hands
It's a souvenir
For when you go
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Lyrics submitted by TheBowser, edited by afraidofpop, ate50eggs, donyon, yaerb, switchnode, sue_defender, benjamin1286, karlbrace, bassmaster, Mindmeal, StayUndrTheTid, Rob734, LumberjackNick, Vikabell, leonardo88
The Mother We Share Lyrics as written by Lauren Eve Mayberry Iain Andrew Cook
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Not gonna speculate much, but: The Mother (that) We (all) Share is Mother Earth. No one has thought of it yet? That's really what I thought it is about. Really looking forward to other people's opinions.
That changes the substance but not the tone of the song ... seems kind of hostile, which I don't get. Sort of hoping I'm wrong.<br />
agree. mother earth being the mother, not about siblings, or the mother being music and talking about switching bands like she did, or how it could just symbolize parts of her self. those seem more interesting lyrics. but like the vocalist from MN said, the interpretation can show more about the person interpreting then the person who wrote it ;) its def interesting to see how different people relate to the same lyrics that are, in a way, pretty vague. open for 5 or 6 interpretations. <br /> <br /> i also like your interpretation because the song feels more like a song to the human race, anyone shes met, people or lovers shes been close to, parts of her self.. .. just seem more broad.. something about it all doesnt seem as simple as siblings<br /> .(im not dissing anyones personal identifying with the song for siblings)<br /> <br /> the other reason i dont see it obviously about siblings, is the main character is a distrauht looking, wondering woman, clearly full of emotions. her expressions and how they match up to lyrics.. i identify with it inside of myself, more than i would about me and my sister who will probably never see eye to eye and have a strained relationship, and yes also been cutting cords and deciding how to love her and respect her, and keep our distance.(im saying YES i relate to the sibling thing going on others express)
I don't think it's necessarily "earth" in particular, but whatever it is that binds us as humans - the universe, god, spirit, music, whatever you want to define it/call it.
@VirtualZ Many have thought of that, and it is evident in the comments. I don't think its correct personally. I think it is about just what it seems to be -- incest.
@VirtualZ I do think it's about mother earth, when she says "the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling" I get that as a way to see natural selection, who doesn't care about who you are, your achievments or your ego, what we are doing to earth it's going to put us in misery... or sort of haha.
@VirtualZ I do think it's about mother earth, when she says "the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling" I get that as a way to see natural selection, who doesn't care about who you are, your achievments or your ego, what we are doing to earth it's going to put us in misery... or sort of haha.
the song is more likely about a secret kept between a pair of siblings of extreme importance. however, the secret is in danger of spilling and one of them decide to bear the responsibility in order to keep the other safe. the penalty of such a crime could even be death and the mother not willing to keep her child's proud head from falling could be literal. two of them decide to take the secret to the grave with only one of them bearing full responsibility while the other feign ignorance. quite likely it's about incestuous relationship.
Hello everyone, I'm rev. I'm the vocalist for a band out of Minnesota called Simplicia. I'm new to this site. I stumbled on it when I ran a search for lyrics to this song
As a song writer myself, I believe the meaning of a song in relation to the person listening is the crux of the en-devour. in other words as far as the artist is concerned, what a song means to the listener can be much more important than what the artist originally wrote it about. It's the truth. To be completely honest, if the writer felt the need to leave nothing open to interpretation, they most certainly have the means to do so. What it means to you can be the most pleasing part of lyrical ingestion and can often reflect more about the listener than the songwriter. This skill is not lost on the true music lover..
I love this song. I also love that in the comments on this song no one has said "she" meant this or "she" meant that or, this happened to "her"(the vocalist) or that happened to "her". Artists can share very personal details about themselves (and others) within their music. Above all they are story tellers, poets and, entertainers. The questions about the root of a song that are begged from the desire to identify with the artist singing it is a slippery slope. Taking someones music and lyrics as a road map to who they are as people is simply asking for trouble. You guys/girls said what it has meant to YOU. That's refreshing.
On to the song. I believe this song has the potential to be interpreted in five to six different ways. Personally, I think that's a pretty damn good spread for a song writer. If it is superficially distilled (undeservingly) into happy or unhappy, i actually would lean toward the happy and comforting end of the spectrum! In fact, to me this song is a snapshot within a love story. It's a real event of significance too.
Like previous comments have hinted I'm also inclined toward that of a sibling relationship. Most daring would be that of an incestuous one. In a given interpretation, the lines referring to the mother they share are not necessarily those of reverence. Respect?-sure but perhaps in the way and resented.
For the purpose of discussion here's an imaginative but twisted expansion: Imagine a brother and sister in love and a physical relationship for some time. The imediate predicament is one of growth and limitation. The biggest limiting factor is their aloof and heavy-handed mother. An insufferable type. The SISTER has been there time after time filling her mother's role. Comforting him, propping him up. giving him love. She knows the shortcomings of the mother and finds herself as the more competent mother to the boy.
As siblings I also find there to be a coming-of-age contingent for the both of them. -For her it is one of confidence, courage, sacrifice and, steadiness. She sees him as having to go. To leave is imperative -Partially to spread his wings and get out from underneath something for sure but, whatever it is it doesn't seem to be up for discussion. She's insistent that he goes somewhere. Somewherer removed. Somewhere safe. In a nutshell, as far as she's concerned he should have been gone yesterday. At this point she's resorted to pleading with him!
But why? Why so urgent? What could possibly have gone so wrong?
Perhaps it was HIS coming of age. As a mother to him she would have always seen him as her's but also as a boy. Throughout the years (and their undercover escapades) she has protected him and covered for him and actually "covering him".
What is she covering him with? Perhaps a blanket? But why? Possibly to hide him and claim there was no one else in her bed with her. It all seemed to have worked in the past. So what went wrong? What IS the predicament? Why is she now pleading with him to get away and escape? And from what? What is it for which she can't provide sanctity? What is the one thing she couldn't possibly sweep under the rug for him?-For the both of them??
How about her unplanned pregnancy? As the father to his own sister's unborn child it is something he would never be forgiven for. As for her, she's not going to even try to dodge her role in the mess. It's going to be apparent very soon. his omens are signs of her pregnancy. he is man, she is woman and woman is fucking pregnant! As soon as he's gone she's to be he one to face the music. She has almost no choice and is going to face it head on and for the both of them.. not so much of a 'break up' after all. more of a..'I'll see you soon...' All together It's a dilemma they are both very aware of and at this point the brother even suggests a way and a place for the both of them to escape TOGETHER.-They really don't have to part! she doesn't have to face this alone! But once again she's there to comfort him by saying that no matter how their mother shames them for their cold hearted evil ways, there is nothing she can do to keep their hearts from yearning for each other and seeking one another out.
Yet in the same vain- let us not forget the possibility of a father or step father in place of a brother. To me the father type role can can throw throw an opposing slant of a very devious nature to the entire song. This carries with it some very dark and vengful lines of thought within those lines. (hence the "unhappy")
What is the true "meaning" of the song? More to the point, what exactly did the song writer write it about?? Maybe a game of Frisbee in the rain on a Thursday. ..on second thought it's most likely.
No matter how we interprate a given song or pine to wrap it into our ugliness and cynicism we must all remember our primary responsibility while ingesting an art form. -To tear bare our breast whilst breathless and become the beholders of beauty. For me, It is the song writer who swings the sharpest of impliments.
Rev Minneapolis, MN
Very concise thoughts & well spilled out! I wondered myself if instead the brother or perhaps it is a sister to the 'speaking character'. So let's say this sibling who is not their lover but instead is a sickly sibling in which she is burdened to care for as a direct addendum to your description of how the mother is inept (also possibly SHE too is sickly). Maybe sister is waiting on sibling to die from a disease that has a documented grim ending as she watches and cares him/her through suffering. Hoping for their eternal release into health even if by death. Stating this, I presume the mother maybe is psychotic or more likely has had a stroke. Either way it appears as if the mother will be earth bound for some time while the siblings time is near but not near enough for the sister, as she is 'wasting away' her youth and her identity while caring for both, but especially the sibling. Just a thought.
@audrea24 <br /> here i am 2 and a half years later still hitting repeat on this song and thinking about your take on this song. thanks again for replying to my one and only post on this site. <br /> wanna hear something strange? everytime i listen to this song now... for some reason i think about large victorian home and yours AND my interpretation taking place in the early to mid 1920s. <br /> if the county doesnt send someone out to test my windows for LSD soon i i swear i'm gonna start askin around..
@Simplicia Hi rev. i love your post. i'm listening to every open eye while trying to write some fiction. are you enjoying the new album? in terms of the meaning of the mother we share. i honestly have no idea i was just curious what others thought i don't think i can quite hear your interpretation but it doesn't matter i like the sentiment. some songs i get a very strong feeling what it's about straight away. i don't with chvrches i just like the music.
Thanks Andrea I still love this song and have been imagining your interpretation as well!
@Djornson thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately I haven't heard many new albums lately but I'm always willing lol.<br /> -Rev
@Simplicia It sounds like Mother Kali talking to an Asura and the girl with pink hair is Lucy from Elfen Lied. Mother Kali is in that film.
@Simplicia Your comment is really long
Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Think about it.
@delirium01 <br /> <br /> I've always said this is my sister and I's song, but oh my God the GOT reference is just perfect and I can't think of it in any other way now! xD
@delirium01 The song is absolutely about incest. I guess people are so repelled by the idea of incest that they just can't see it in the song, even though it is freakin' obvious.
I think the last verse is written incorrectly. I listened to that part a couple times and watched her lip movement in the music video, I'm pretty sure it's "Into the night for once", not "until the night falls". Please fix this 'cause that potentially changes what the song is closer to meaning/could mean for others.
Here's the link to check yourself: youtube.com/watch
Agreed - And when you click on the link to edit the lyrics, it says that the lyrics are provided under license and cannot be edited. Oh well.
I agree, she definitely says, "Into the night for once"!
I'm glad others found this to be about siblings like I did. When I heard this song, it reminds me of me and my sister. She is older by 21 months and struggles with a serious drug addiction. She is sober right now. But this song reminds me of the undying love for your sibling. But also that you must let them go. If she was to relapse again. I would have to let her go. I've done all I can for her, besides just physically dying myself. I pray this is not the outcome. And I'm optimistic of her recovery. But this song, reminds me of that utter pain of letting someone that is part of you, like a sibling, just go.
@amydyan82 <br /> <br /> I totally agree with this being about the "undying love for your sibling." My sister and I's relationship has always been very difficult. She is 15 years older than me and there have been times when I thought we'd never speak again. I've hated her. I'm sure she's hated me. But at the end of the day I'd take a bullet for her...even if we cut each other off someday, we'll always be sisters.
@amydyan82 <br /> even more freaking heart wrenching
@amydyan82 It's about siblings. It's also about incest.
It seem to me to be two sisters who are very different one a wild free spirit and another proper and domineering and their love hate relationship. I believe it is written from the wild ones perspective, It seems as though both of them has little or no family except each other. Although they both have voiced interest in closer ties they often can not tolerate to much of the others personalities.
This was my initial thought too! Comes from personal experience.
First time posting here... just had a light bulb go off in my head. I think Lauen was writing about the emotions of breaking things off with her previous bands.
"We come as far as we're ever gonna get"... the band is at a stand still, it isn't getting anywhere musically or succeeding in any way.
I think the "Mother [they] share" is music. As long as they have their musical talents, it will keep their "proud heads from falling" because in the end, they love music and love what they do and their is a lot of pride in doing so.
"The way is long, but you can make it easy on me"... this her conveying that she sees a greater potential in her new band, CHVRCHES and the other band can make it easy on her by letting her go-o o-o o-o o-o. =)
I can go on and on but it seems repetitive. Just my 2 cents. What do u guys think?
agree. it could be about siblings but when this song was sent to me and saw just the title, nothing about siblings crossed through my mind, but, how similar my fiance's mother is to me ran through my head and how he loves and HATES it how we are alike. hes also visiting her, and their relationship like ours has been strained. with the lyrics, i took it more about me and him, he listens to lyics. not always sending me songs for me to dissect the words as a WHOLE MESSEGE, but, he always relates and i dont see this being about him and his brother. crossed through my mind while listening, but no. the mother earth idea, and this being two sides of herself seem more accurate. maybe it just makes for a better song for me with those interpretations tho ;) <br /> <br />
@cris141277 interesting one. i can see that.
@cris141277 but the lyrics said the mother they shared will NEVER keep their proud heads from falling. through the song, the singer describe their mother as someone who doesn't care about them at all
Hmm, my interpretation of this song appears to be rather different to most everyone else here, but here goes.
I'm under the pretense that the vocalist and the person they're singing about are actually the same person, albeit probably two different parts of the same consciousness. I believe that this is indicated by the fact that the lyrics keep switching between pronouns (I'm, we're, our, your, etc.).
I think that the singer is the stoic visage that the person is putting on over their tumultuous, emotional core. Something traumatic probably happened to the person that has left them confused and wondering where to go from there. I think this traumatic event was likely something illegal (rape, maybe?) as indicated by the line:
"And if I told the truth, I will always be free"
This points towards something happening to the person or someone close to them that has affected them deeply, but they find themselves unable to tell anyone what really happened.
I believe that the person is then considering suicide, and follows through. This is shown by the constant references to the person going, i.e.
"Until you realize, That you should go" or "It's a souvenir For when you go-o-oh"
With this line of thinking, the 'Mother we share' could be a reference to their actual mother; however, I believe that it is more likely to be the metaphorical 'Mother' that binds them together in their mind and connects them.
I imagine that the person was likely a proud, independant person before this incident happened, but was drastically changed after the aformentionned event, and this outward view of them is only visible now upon the singer, who is covering the emotionally distraught person.
I further believe that the person must have feared this sort of thing happening before it actually did, as indicated by the usage of the term 'omens' in the chorus.
Well, that was just my interpretation of this song, I can see where others are coming from though.
I was wondering too that it might be about two different parts of a person. I guess many people talk to themselves as if to another person, like "hey, what are you doing?!"<br /> <br /> The song seems kind of mysterious though, and so does the video, especially the ending! So I am placing a bet that the two parts of a person are something like a higher and a lower self, or soul and ego. The singer is in the role of the higher self/soul. The mother is their common source, or God(dess). Their problem is spiritual fall, or separation from God. The soul-part retains the higher spiritual knowledge but it is suppressed by the ego, so these miserable twins just keep on plodding through the world until the ego wakes up and realizes that it should "go" back to the soul and thus restore the person's union with God. <br /> <br />
@arandompenguin this song describe the experience when I talk yo another identity in myself so well.<br /> I had to have other identity to deal with the raper and she was so stronger than other identity she is a monster.<br /> I also have a little girl who has dream and purpose in life.<br /> The one is writing is me the operator.<br /> <br /> This song really touch me and can calm the monster down.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
I tried to write an interpretation of this song and it became too long and too much like a written therapy session. So I deleted it and now, all I will say is that I relate to this song in a deep way. And what it speaks to me is about my relationship with my sister and my alcoholic mom... and the 3 way relationship we all have that leaves me feeling in the middle. The lyrics to me are literal... about being the "go to" confidant for a sibling hurt by being neglected by our mother and a mother hurt by being neglected by her mother.... and the cycle continues. It's about being on both sides and neither side simultaneously ( I am hurt by mother, which I can share with my sister, but I still love my mother which I can share with her and my sister can't) and how easy it would be on me if neither parties talked about the other... or just got along. It's also about self fulfilling prophecies... about predicting the future (omens) and therefore creating them. You think, therefore, you are.
Maybe someone else will relate to this interpretation but even if not, I feel comforted thinking this song was written about my own situation.
@2tonbackpack This is pretty much exactly the interpretation that was starting to germinate in my brain. The part about omens makes me think of genetic markers or other events that may have portended the mother's poor health or descent into something like alcoholism; the omens also make me think of the implications of alcoholism, other substance abuse problems, or mental health for offspring and the way a mother's struggles could (but hopefully aren't) a predictor for the two sisters. <br /> <br /> My interpretation is colored by a more positive sibling relationship where my sister and I are support systems for each other, and in that sense "[she] can make it easy on me" even though "the way" (perhaps the life long struggle to cope with this) "is long." <br /> <br /> Sorry that this reply is about five years after your initial post, but thanks for sharing!
I relate to this so much. It's like the closer I am to my mother the further apart my sister and I get. Feeling responsible for trying to fix their relationship and also feeling like I put more effort into that than either of them do.
"Basically what Gnosticism says is that us--humans--and the creator God of the Bible, we're actually created by the same thing--this Mother Goddess--Mother Earth--who is kind of attacked by her offspring. God stakes claim as the creator of everything and promises an otherworldly salvation, denying the goodness of our own earth. The concept really spoke to us, and that's kind of what the song is about." --Lauren Mayberry (of CHVRCHES)
thank you. comments like this are why i keep coming back to this website.