Mother
Big Thief Lyrics
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She cooks that egg so perfect
To eat it warm
To eat it warm, warm
And you sleep under her arm
Where spells fly
To the high white noise
She looks that bird in the eye
Cuts his throat and bleeds him dry
To eat him warm
To eat him warm, warm
And you sleep under her arm
Where the spells fly
To the high white noise
To the highway dime
She makes milk inside her breast
She dove down to find what's left
And eat it warm
And eat it warm, warm
And you sleep under her arm
Where the spells fly
To the high white noise
To the highway dime
The lyrics to Big Thief's song "Mother" are a powerful exploration of the complex and sometimes conflicting emotions that can arise in the relationship between a mother and her child. At once intimate and visceral, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a mother who is simultaneously nurturing and predatory, protective and destructive.
The opening lines, "She wears flowers around her neck / She cooks that egg so perfect / To eat it warm / To eat it warm, warm," suggest a maternal figure who takes pleasure in the simple domestic rituals of cooking and caring for her child. However, the darker undertones of the song soon become clear when the lyrics describe the mother cutting the throat of a bird to eat it warm. The juxtaposition of these two images highlights the duality of the mother's role - she is both a source of sustenance and a violent predator.
The final verse, "She makes milk inside her breast / She dove down to find what's left / And eat it warm / And eat it warm, warm," further underscores the idea that the mother's nurturing nature is often intertwined with more primal instincts. The lyrics suggest that even the most nurturing acts, like breastfeeding, can have a violent undertone.
Overall, "Mother" is a haunting exploration of the many contradictions and complexities of the mother-child relationship. It portrays a mother who is both loving and violent, nurturing and predatory, and asks difficult questions about what it means to be a mother in a world where survival often depends on taking what you need.
Line by Line Meaning
She wears flowers around her neck
The woman wears flowers symbolizing her nurturing nature
She cooks that egg so perfect
She takes care in preparing food for her loved ones
To eat it warm
She wants her loved ones to enjoy the meal while it is still warm
To eat it warm, warm
This emphasizes her desire for her loved ones to enjoy the warmth of the food
And you sleep under her arm
The artist feels safe and protected under the woman's arm
Where spells fly
The woman's love and care have a magical effect on the singer
To the high white noise
The singer is taken to a higher state of consciousness due to the woman's love
To the highway dime
This line can be interpreted as the artist being taken on a journey or being led somewhere by the woman's love
She looks that bird in the eye
The woman is portrayed as a fierce hunter, providing for her family
Cuts his throat and bleeds him dry
The process of preparing the bird for food is shown in a graphic manner, emphasizing the woman's strength and determination
To eat him warm
The woman wants her family to enjoy the food while it is still warm
To eat him warm, warm
Again, this line emphasizes the woman's desire for her family to enjoy the warmth of the food
She makes milk inside her breast
The woman is shown as a nurturing figure, providing for her child
She dove down to find what's left
The woman has gone to great lengths to provide for her child
And eat it warm
The woman wants her child to enjoy the milk while it is still warm
And eat it warm, warm
This line emphasizes the importance of the warmth of the milk to the woman and her child
And you sleep under her arm
Similar to the previous mention, the artist feels safe and protected under the woman's arm
Where the spells fly
Once again, the woman's love and care have a magical effect on the singer
To the high white noise
The singer is brought to a higher state of consciousness due to the woman's love
To the highway dime
Similar to the previous mention, this line can be interpreted as being taken on a journey or being led somewhere by the woman's love
Writer(s): Adrianne Lenker
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.