I'm surprised no one has mentioned that it could be about childhood abuse. At least that's my interpretation. My examples as follows:
You don't remember my name
I don't really care
[( Could be talking to the abuser, showing strength and calling the abuser out for past misdeeds.)]
Can we play the game your way?
[( Remembering as a child that there was no power. So in a sense, giving in to someone you thought you could trust.)]
Can I really lose control?
[( Feeling like you are loosing it because of the past abuse, and don't know how to mend.)]
Just once in my life
I think it'd be nice
(Just to lose control, just once)
[( Wanting to get control of the situation, because you felt so powerless. You so desire that freedom from the pain.)]
With all the pretty flowers in the dust
[( Lost childhood and lost innocence, because of the suffering of child abuse.)]
Mary had a lamb
His eyes black as coals
If we play very quiet, my lamb
Mary never has to know
[( Mary could be the mother that is naive towards what's happening. And the abuser's eyes are black as coals because he is just an evil person for causing the abuse as interpreted from a child's point of view. Also, the abuser doesn't want anyone to know and tells the child to not tell the mother.)]
Just once in my life
I think it'd be nice
(Just to lose control, just once)
[( Begging to be released from the painful abuse and the past.)]
If I cut you down to a thing I can use
I fear there will be nothing good left of you
[( Realization that the child now adult doesn't have to make excuses for the abuse and the abuser has nothing good to give or nothing to help mend the past. Everything is rotten about the abuser and it's time to let go of that relationship.)]
Just to lose control, just once
[( The child now adult realizes that he/she is not going crazy and is finally at peace with what happened. And is not longer that child who has to hide.)]
That's actually a very great interpretation :) A pedophile was the first thing I thought of when I heard it, actually. I imagined a pedophile (who must keep his/her desires under control at all times) singing to a child. How they wish they could lose control for once with all the "pretty flowers". Also, since the notes of the piano are always high, it gives it that childlike innocence feel, don't you think? Especially with the whole mary had a little lamb thing. At the "If I cut you down to a thing that I can use...." lines, I imagine...
That's actually a very great interpretation :) A pedophile was the first thing I thought of when I heard it, actually. I imagined a pedophile (who must keep his/her desires under control at all times) singing to a child. How they wish they could lose control for once with all the "pretty flowers". Also, since the notes of the piano are always high, it gives it that childlike innocence feel, don't you think? Especially with the whole mary had a little lamb thing. At the "If I cut you down to a thing that I can use...." lines, I imagine he/she looking in a mirror singing about how much they hate themselves for what they do. Just thinking out loud :)
I'm surprised no one has mentioned that it could be about childhood abuse. At least that's my interpretation. My examples as follows:
You don't remember my name I don't really care [( Could be talking to the abuser, showing strength and calling the abuser out for past misdeeds.)]
Can we play the game your way? [( Remembering as a child that there was no power. So in a sense, giving in to someone you thought you could trust.)]
Can I really lose control? [( Feeling like you are loosing it because of the past abuse, and don't know how to mend.)]
Just once in my life I think it'd be nice (Just to lose control, just once) [( Wanting to get control of the situation, because you felt so powerless. You so desire that freedom from the pain.)]
With all the pretty flowers in the dust [( Lost childhood and lost innocence, because of the suffering of child abuse.)]
Mary had a lamb His eyes black as coals If we play very quiet, my lamb Mary never has to know
[( Mary could be the mother that is naive towards what's happening. And the abuser's eyes are black as coals because he is just an evil person for causing the abuse as interpreted from a child's point of view. Also, the abuser doesn't want anyone to know and tells the child to not tell the mother.)]
Just once in my life I think it'd be nice (Just to lose control, just once) [( Begging to be released from the painful abuse and the past.)]
If I cut you down to a thing I can use I fear there will be nothing good left of you [( Realization that the child now adult doesn't have to make excuses for the abuse and the abuser has nothing good to give or nothing to help mend the past. Everything is rotten about the abuser and it's time to let go of that relationship.)]
Just to lose control, just once [( The child now adult realizes that he/she is not going crazy and is finally at peace with what happened. And is not longer that child who has to hide.)]
That's actually a very great interpretation :) A pedophile was the first thing I thought of when I heard it, actually. I imagined a pedophile (who must keep his/her desires under control at all times) singing to a child. How they wish they could lose control for once with all the "pretty flowers". Also, since the notes of the piano are always high, it gives it that childlike innocence feel, don't you think? Especially with the whole mary had a little lamb thing. At the "If I cut you down to a thing that I can use...." lines, I imagine...
That's actually a very great interpretation :) A pedophile was the first thing I thought of when I heard it, actually. I imagined a pedophile (who must keep his/her desires under control at all times) singing to a child. How they wish they could lose control for once with all the "pretty flowers". Also, since the notes of the piano are always high, it gives it that childlike innocence feel, don't you think? Especially with the whole mary had a little lamb thing. At the "If I cut you down to a thing that I can use...." lines, I imagine he/she looking in a mirror singing about how much they hate themselves for what they do. Just thinking out loud :)
Wow that just made me look totally differently on this song! Now it speaks to me so much more than it did before <3
Wow that just made me look totally differently on this song! Now it speaks to me so much more than it did before <3