Previously, Mayberry was a member of the bands Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives. Mayberry is a trained drummer and also did a four-year law degree, followed by a Masters in journalism. Cook was a member of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours and also wrote music for film and TV. Doherty was a live member of The Twilight Sad. According to Mayberry, "Iain and Martin went to university together so they've known each other for quite a long time".
The band started in October 2011 as a studio project between the long time friends Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Cook already knew Lauren Mayberry from working with Blue Sky Archives and suggested her as a potential vocalist for the project.
CHVRCHES were influenced by acts such as Prince, Tubeway Army, Robyn, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Laurie Anderson. The band write, record, mix and master everything in a basement studio in Glasgow.
In May 2012, they released the song "Lies". In the same year, CHVRCHES toured with Passion Pit, as the opening band for their concerts and also toured on their own. "Lies" ranked at number 28 on NME's Best Tracks of 2012. CHVRCHES also came fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list.
On 25 March 2013, they released Recover EP. They performed at SXSW and won the Inaugural Grulke Prize (for Developing Non-US Act). The band also supported Depeche Mode on four shows in July during their The Delta Machine Tour 2013.
On 20 September 2013, CHVRCHES released their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. The album is supported by the singles "The Mother We Share", "Recover" and "Gun".
Links: official site at chvrch.es | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Tumblr | Vimeo
The Mother We Share
CHVRCHES Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The chorus of CHVRCHES' The Mother We Share speaks of how one should come in misery and be able to identify with the old omens, and how the "mother we share" will never prevent one's proud head from falling. Here, the "mother" refers to an idea or a concept that people can share as a common symbol, helping each other to survive in the difficult times. The track is an ode to the bonds one shares with others, including family or friends, who are there for support during tough times.
The first verse suggests that the singer has never taken sides or verbally abused or insulted someone behind their back. However, although they might keep their "lips shut tight," they will only be able to continue in a relationship until the other person realizes that they should go. The second verse describes a companion who will always be there, acting as a shield and covering the other person until they go. Yet, when they tell the truth, they are free, keeping a prize with them until their companion ultimately leaves.
The chorus is repeated several times, serving as a reminder that we are not alone, despite feelings of isolation or despair. People can come together in shared misery, and the "mother" will be there to help us through, never allowing our proud heads to fall, or our cold hearts to stop calling.
Line by Line Meaning
Never took your side
I haven't sided with you in any conflict or argument.
Never cursed your name
I've never spoken badly about you or insulted you.
I keep my lips shut tight
I choose to stay silent and not express my opinions or feelings.
Until you go
I'll remain quiet until you leave or give me a reason to speak up.
We've come as far
We've progressed as much as we possibly can.
As we're ever gonna get
We've reached the limit of our potential.
Until you realize
I believe that you need to recognize something before any further progress can be made.
That you should go
I think that you need to leave or move on in order to make things better.
Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
You're welcome to join me in my sadness, where you can appear as old and wise as your predictions.
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
We can rely on our shared experiences and emotions to support and comfort each other when we're feeling vulnerable.
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
This journey is difficult, but you can make it less challenging for me.
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Even though we may feel emotionally distant, we can still reach out to each other in times of need.
In the dead of night
During the darkest and quietest hours of the night.
I'm the only one here
I'm alone and don't have anyone else to turn to.
And I will cover you
I'll protect and take care of you.
And if I told the truth
If I were honest with you.
I will always be free
I'll be liberated by my honesty, even if it causes complications or difficulties.
And keep a prize with me
And hold onto something that I treasure.
Until you go
Until you move on, and we're no longer connected in the same way.
Into the night for once
Let's escape together under the cover of darkness, just this once.
We're the only ones left
We're the only ones still around or willing to be together in this moment.
I bet you even know Where we could go
I wouldn't be surprised if you already have an idea of where we could go together.
And when it all fucks up
In the event that everything goes wrong.
You put your head in my hands
You seek comfort and support from me, and I provide it for you.
It's a souvenir For when you go
This memory or experience is something you can hold onto and treasure when you eventually leave or move on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Iain Andrew Cook, Lauren Eve Mayberry, Martin Clifford Doherty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind