The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.
A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, Songs Whistled Through White Teeth, released in the UK in October 2006. The Pirate's Gospel was released in the UK on Names Records in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times and NME.
Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview, her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.
She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.
Mother's Love
Alela Diane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you blame the sky when a mama leaves her babies behind
Can you blame the sea, O can you blame the sea,
'Cause she's a flowin' in that water deep
Is it the dirt that you envy so
'Cause in it her strong roots still grow
No, no, no
No, no, no
I'll blame those birds flocking so
I'll blame those birds flocking so
Blame those birds flocking so
'Cause with them she's a flying
O 'cause with them she's flying
All those mamas are flying
They're watching us from above
They're watching us from above
Dropping their feathers with a mother's love
In Alela Diane's song "Can You Blame the Sky?" she poses a series of rhetorical questions to highlight the complex and often inexplicable nature of life and the natural world. The repeated phrase "Can you blame the sky when a mama leaves her babies behind?" speaks to the painful reality of maternal abandonment, but also implicates the sky - a seemingly immutable force - in this tragedy. The following question shifts focus to the sea, asking if it deserves blame for its unrelenting flow, which can both nurture and destroy life. However, the following lines suggest that the true origin of life's mysteries and hardships may lie deeper, in the very "dirt" that nurtures plants and allows them to thrive despite adversity.
The verse concludes with a shift in tone and focus, as the singer declares their intention to "blame those birds flocking so" because they allow the mother to fly and escape from her troubles. The final lines of the verse add depth and poignancy to this imagery, painting a picture of departed mothers who watch over their children from above, "dropping their feathers with a mother's love."
Line by Line Meaning
Can you blame the sky when a mama leaves her babies behind
Do you really think it's the sky's fault when a mother leaves her children?
Can you blame the sea, O can you blame the sea, 'Cause she's a flowin' in that water deep
Are you going to blame the sea for its natural movement and currents?
Is it the dirt that you envy so 'Cause in it her strong roots still grow
Do you wish you had the stability of the earth, where her roots still thrive?
No, no, no
No, none of these things are to blame.
I'll blame those birds flocking so, 'Cause with them she's a flying, O 'cause with them she's flying
I will blame the birds who fly with her, for they have taken her away from us.
All those mamas are flying, They're watching us from above, Dropping their feathers with a mother's love
All the mothers who have left us are now in the sky, watching over us and leaving us signs of their love.
Contributed by Evan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.