Ode to My Family
•The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Understand the things I say
Don't turn away from me
'Cause I've spent half my life out there
Do you see me, do you see?
Do you like me
Do you like me standing there?
Do you notice, do you know
Do you see me, do you see me?
Does anyone care?
Unhappiness where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother
She'd hold me
She'd hold me when I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, well he liked me
Does anyone care?
Understand what I've become
It wasn't my design
And people everywhere think
Something better than I am
But I miss you, I miss
'Cause I liked it
'Cause I liked it
When I was out there
Do you know this, do you know
You did not find me
You did not find
Does anyone care?
Unhappiness where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother
She'd hold me
She'd hold me when I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, well he liked me
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
In "Ode To My Family," The Cranberries sing about their longing for the comfort and familiarity of family, even as they struggle with the expectations and judgments of those around them. Despite feeling like outsiders, they yearn to be seen, understood, and embraced by their loved ones. The lyrics reflect on the experience of growing up with a carefree attitude towards life, and feeling the weight of disillusionment and disappointment as one grows older.
The song’s verses contemplate the lead singer’s sense of alienation from the world that she has grown up in. She sees herself as a misfit who is ignored by others and begs to be noticed. This is particularly clear in the lines "Do you see me, do you see me? / Does anyone care?" Here, she directs her deep pleas for understanding towards her family, hoping that they will recognise her struggles and accept her for who she is. However, her feelings of isolation are amplified by the bitter realisation that life is not always fun, and that the adult world has left her feeling lost and alone.
The chorus, with its repeated plaintive refrain of "Does anyone care?", echoes the feelings of loneliness and alienation that pervade the rest of the song. The singer longs for the love and support of her family in a world that she feels is hostile and indifferent. Ultimately, "Ode To My Family" is a poignant reflection on the trials and tribulations of growing up in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Doo doo doo do, doo doo doo do
The song begins with a repetitive tune that sets the tone for the melancholy lyrics that follow.
Understand the things I say
The singer wants to be heard and understood for who she is.
Don't turn away from me
She fears rejection and being ignored by others.
'Cause I've spent half my life out there
The singer has been searching for fulfillment and a sense of belonging outside of her family.
You wouldn't disagree
The singer assumes her audience can relate to her feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Do you see me, do you see?
The singer is questioning if others truly see her for who she is and recognize her struggles.
Do you like me
She is hoping to find acceptance and affirmation from others.
Do you like me standing there?
She's wondering if her presence matters to anyone.
Do you notice, do you know
The singer is asking if anyone is aware of her situation and cares enough to help her.
Does anyone care?
The singer is pleading for someone to acknowledge and care about her pain.
Unhappiness where's when I was young
The singer feels like her youth was plagued by a sense of unhappiness and lack of fulfillment.
And we didn't give a damn
When she was younger, the negative feelings were not taken seriously and were ignored.
'Cause we were raised
The upbringing of the singer and possibly her family has a part to play in the way she feels.
To see life as fun and take it if we can
The joy of life should be sought out and taken if possible, according to the singer's upbringing.
My mother, my mother
The singer is reminiscing about the love and care her mother gave her.
She'd hold me
The physical embrace of her mother brought her comfort.
My father, my father
The singer's father also had a positive impact on her life.
He liked me, well he liked me
The singer was able to feel loved and valued by her father.
Does anyone care?
The singer ends the song with the same plea, seeking someone to care about her struggles and pain.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Noel Anthony Hogan, Dolores Mary O'Riordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@melissacrockett4085
My mother, my mother,
She'd hold me,
She'd hold me when i was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, well he liked me does anyone care?
A beautiful song and relate .My mom and dad are no longer here..
Song brings me bck to childhood, life was easy then bam, adolescence & adulthood bring so many wonderful experiences too but ,
when childhood is over and you lose your parents.Gutwrenching)
MY FATHER , MY MOTHER LIKED ME,AND NO ONE CARES.😢❤
@user-ww9fg4qj5t
Understand the things I say
Don't turn away from me
'Cause I've spent half my life out there
You wouldn't disagree
Do you see me? Do you see?
Do you like me? Do you like me standing there?
Do you notice? Do you know?
Do you see me? Do you see me?
Does anyone care?
Unhappiness where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
Did she hold me ,when I was out there
My father, my father, he liked me
Oh he liked me,does anyone care?
Understand what I've become
It wasn't my design
And people everywhere think
Something better than I am
But I miss you, I miss
'Cause I liked it. I liked it
When I was out there
Do you know this ? D'you know
You did not find me, you did not find
Does anyone care?
Unhappiness was when I was young,
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun, and take it if we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
Did she hold me ,when I was out there
My father, my father, he liked me
Oh he liked me,does anyone care?
does anyone care?
@MundoGamerBrasil_
Forever The Cranberries
@IcecreamMcGuy
Yes.
@kd-zf9ux
En France ça nous change un peu de la daube. Ca ne fait pas de mal.
@HolaEveryone_
YES...
@chrisvincent5375
@@IcecreamMcGuy❤❤❤q❤1111111
@stayeasy5169
Forever
@Iggypres
The king is already gone, prince too, now queen, - the royals are fading away ... sad
@wizzydoesdallas3408
Igor Presnyakov literally all my favorite singers are dead...
😔
@tatotato7777
:((((((((((((
@RusselF013
Igor Presnyakov listening to this song before already brought me to tears.. and now after this news, I just cried so badly..