He should not be hid
He's just too big
In a cloud please come down
I'd put stars at your feet
Put Mars at your head
Show yourself to me
And I'd believe
I'd moan and I'd weep
Fall silent at your speak
I'd burst it
Full to the brim
Mary lost her head
And let it bleed
Came crying back to me
My son, where's he been?
Don't deny it
And don't you hide him
No I've missed him
No words no sign
Mary say I'm not lying
How come he's so big
But good Lord he's been hid
Good Lord where you hid
No I've missed him
Yes, I really think it is/could be. When I listen to it I usually try not to look at it like that, maybe because I'm agnostic. But... I guess it is about wanting some kind of sign/proof that there is a God. About "missing" him. About wanting to know if there really is a "creator" or if the "creator" is nothing more than a creation of ours. About needing to know. Anyway - amazing song!
Man, some of you people are bonkers. Song is about looking for evidence for the existence of big god and his son and finding none. PJH was raised by un-believing parents, so when she reached adulthood she got curious about Biblical tales, read them from the perspective of a non-religious person and the various myths from the Bible made good fodder for lyrics. "No I've missed him" = "I've looked everywhere but couldn't find him." Another song about agnoticism/atheism also from 1993 is Kim Deal's "Divine Hammer."
@thinskizzy I like this interpretation and it makes sense
@thinskizzy I like this interpretation and it makes sense
The lyrics at the end of the second verse are incorrect. They should read "I'm bursting, filled to the brim."
This song is about a big cock. She hears how big it is, but doesn't believe it until she sees it.
If you'll notice at the end, she changes from "I/I've missed him" to "I miss him" after a few lines. Fantastic song, really unusual rhythm but it flows beautifully.
This is one of my favourite PJ-songs.
Could this be a biblical reference?
It sounds like it's about when the body of Jesus went missing from the tomb. Or the mourning of his death.
Actually, that line is "I'd burst it full to the brim." At least, that's what it says on PJ Harvey's website.
i think she's singing about missing the Rapture.. "Him" = Jesus
To me it sounds like the mother made her daughter, cause at to young of age the daughter got pregnant and so the mother made her give her daughter\'s baby up for adoption. The daughter ended up having a boy, and many years later the son searched for his biological mother and found her. With the mother of the daughter now grandmother, seems like she\'s being haunted by the son of her daughter. And now she feels remorse and guilt for making her daughter give up her own baby !