Her voice is comparable to Ms Newsom and Björk; but she is better compared with Anohni, (formerly Anthony Heggarty).
From When I Wake The Want Is
Kathryn Joseph Lyrics
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Under my eyes and I draw with my tongue
All of your lines in my mouth, in my mind, in its back and spine
The hold of me over your bones have of mine
The way that your mouth covers my mouth
The way that you suck all the darkness out
The way that my mouth covers your mouth
The way that I swallow the darkness down
From when I wake the want is
Under my tongue and I draw with my eyes
The all of your lines in my mouth, in my mind, in its back and spine
The hold of me over your bones have of mine
The way that your mouth covers my mouth
The way that you suck all the darkness out
The way that my mouth covers your mouth
The way that I swallow the darkness down
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
And all the doubt we had, it died out
How do I let go of all this fucking love?
How do I let go of all this fucking love?
And all the doubt
And all the doubt
And all the doubt
And all the doubt
The lyrics of Kathryn Joseph’s song “From When I Wake The Want Is” introduce us to a person who is consumed by her desire, hence the repeated phrase “from when I wake the want is.” The first verse talks about how the person continues to think and obsess over someone, with lines of this person being etched “in my mouth, in my mind, in its back and spine, the hold of me over your bones have of mine.” This line suggests a deep entanglement, where the want consumes both parties equally, like a symbiotic relationship or a shared intimacy.
The chorus, however, takes on the imagery of mouth and darkness, suggesting something darker and more intense. Their mouths cover and suck each other’s darkness out, an act that is both erotic and terrifying, while heightened by the ominous backdrop of the song. It’s a bleakly beautiful moment that represents the destruction that often accompanies intense emotions.
The second verse continues with a similar theme and the line, “how do I let go of all this f***ing love?” becomes the central question of the song. Ultimately, the song seems to explore the idea of how love and desire can create such intense connections and then, as suddenly as it appeared, disappear into the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
From when I wake the want is
Describing the longing and desire felt upon waking up.
Under my eyes and I draw with my tongue
Feeling the presence of desire under one's eyes and expressing it through drawing the lines with the tongue.
All of your lines in my mouth, in my mind, in its back and spine
Imagery of lines drawn by the other person being permanently etched in the singer's memory and body.
The hold of me over your bones have of mine
The artist's strong hold over the other person's being and vice versa.
The way that your mouth covers my mouth
The intimate way in which the other person's mouth overlaps and covers the artist's mouth.
The way that you suck all the darkness out
The other person's tendency to erase negative thoughts and feelings, replacing them with positive emotions.
The way that my mouth covers your mouth
The singer's desire to submit to the other person's will and power.
The way that I swallow the darkness down
The artist's willingness to absorb the negativity and darkness in order to please and satisfy the other person.
And all the doubt we had, it died out
After a period of uncertainty, doubts have been resolved and trust has been established between the two people.
How do I let go of all this fucking love?
Exasperation over the intensity and overwhelming nature of the love felt.
And all the doubt
Repeating the idea that doubts have been eradicated and the relationship is now stable.
Writer(s): kathryn joseph
Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.