Mermentau
Arborist Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dear child, fill your lungs with your first breath.
This is your life. This is your curse.
You were born to die--to struggle to find a purpose or a meaning.
This disgusting world will not hesitate to degrade you or dismantle you from the inside out.
You will be worthless and insignificant to the ones you love.
You are nothing. You are earth, and to earth you shall return.
But there has to be something so much greater than this.
Perhaps there's reason as to why man does not exist alone.
O Vagrant Soul, my dearest son, listen to my words to you:




I never found the answers, but I hope you do.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Arborist's song "Mermentau" are a poignant commentary on the nature of existence and the struggles that come with it. The song's opening lines, "Dear child, fill your lungs with your first breath. This is your life. This is your curse," set a somber tone that continues throughout the rest of the lyrics. The singer acknowledges the harsh reality that, as humans, we are destined to die and struggle to find a purpose or meaning in life. The world can be cruel and unforgiving, and it can often feel like we are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The singer urges his son to listen to his words and search for the answers that he himself never found.


The second half of the song takes a more hopeful turn as the singer suggests that there must be something greater than the struggles of everyday life. He raises the possibility that human beings are not meant to exist alone and that there is a deeper purpose to our existence. In the end, the singer expresses his hope that his son will find the answers that he himself never could.


Overall, Arborist's "Mermentau" is a thoughtful and deeply emotional reflection on the nature of life and the human condition. It is a reminder that despite the many challenges and hardships we face, there is always hope for something more.


Line by Line Meaning

Dear child, fill your lungs with your first breath.
As you are born, take in your first breath, dear child.


This is your life. This is your curse.
Your life and being are both a blessing and a burden.


You were born to die--to struggle to find a purpose or a meaning.
Your existence is always fleeting and fraught with the difficulty of finding purpose or meaning.


This disgusting world will not hesitate to degrade you or dismantle you from the inside out.
The world is full of challenges and obstacles that will slowly wear you down or even destroy you.


You will be worthless and insignificant to the ones you love.
Even those closest to you may not appreciate or value you properly.


You are nothing. You are earth, and to earth you shall return.
Ultimately, you are just a small part of the vast universe and will return from whence you came.


But there has to be something so much greater than this.
Despite these harsh realities, there must be something more meaningful and significant beyond our understanding.


Perhaps there's reason as to why man does not exist alone.
Maybe the fact that we are not alone is a clue to a deeper meaning or purpose.


O Vagrant Soul, my dearest son, listen to my words to you:
Addressing the soul as a wandering traveler, the artist urges the listener to pay attention.


I never found the answers, but I hope you do.
Although the artist never discovered the answers to life's mysteries, they hope the listener does.




Contributed by Keira G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions