No matter where I go
You're always following me
No matter what I do
Boy, you give me misery

You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
Can't even breathe when I'm with you

You hang over my shoulder
Whenever I try to talk
You cling into my arms
So may just make it harder to walk ?

You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
Can't even breathe when I'm with you

I see all the girls
Are laughing with their friends
I wish that we were over
So I could begin my life again

You think that you can own me
That I belong to you
See, you never really know me
Oh my God, you don't have a clue

You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
You're smotherin' me baby
Can't even breathe when I'm with you

You holding on with claws
You think you're making me stay
The more you put your pawns
They make you push me away

Overall Meaning

In Imelda May's song "Smotherin' Me", the singer details the struggles of being in a relationship with a man who is not granting her any space. The opening lines reveal that the man is constantly following her, regardless of where she goes. He makes her feel utterly miserable, no matter the efforts she puts in. This emotional abuse has left her feeling suffocated, which she makes clear by repeating the lines "You're smotherin' me baby, Can't even breathe when I'm with you."

The second verse further adds to her dilemma, he is not only encroaching on her personal space but also on her social life. Whenever she tries to communicate with anyone, he is hanging over her shoulder, and when she tries to walk away from him, he clings to her, making it even harder for her to move. She looks on as other girls laugh and enjoy the company of their friends, wishing that she too could have the same freedom.

The chorus echoes again, emphasizing how he is suffocating her, holding on to her with claws, thinking that he is making her stay, but in fact, he is pushing her away. The song ultimately presents a passionate portrayal of a relationship that serves as a trap for one person, and it tells the sad story of a woman who is yet to find a way to extricate herself from her abuser.

Line by Line Meaning

No matter where I go
Regardless of my location

You're always following me
You're consistently watching my movements

No matter what I do
Irrespective of my actions

Boy, you give me misery
You bring me discomfort and pain

You're smotherin' me baby
Your behavior is suffocating and overwhelming

You hang over my shoulder
You peer over my shoulder

Whenever I try to talk
During any conversation I try to have

You cling into my arms
You hold onto me tightly

So may just make it harder to walk ?
Does it hinder my ability to move properly?

Can't even breathe when I'm with you
Your presence is stifling and oppressive

I see all the girls
I observe other women