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Dear Mother
Cake Bake Betty Lyrics
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there's no broken bones
and I've no feeling
she will glow when she has grown into the sea that shows her gates
the water shall refill the empty space
my dear mother
where's your mining man?
oh he has savored carcasses that lie like lovers in his home
we will sleep in bags that hang along these rows
and that's not all
she will stay
we will sit in fields of oranges and graves
why do you cry
there is no shame
but I hang her in my heart
still to this day
but that's okay
and when the light beams through the porch then we will know
sleeping silent to disrupt the fallen snow
and in your room I saw that you had grown
your cotton sheets did lift you by the throat
I split the numbers indeed
I held my arms outstretched
I cut through brothers in need
to be the curtain for the act that you have left here on repeat
don't forget to crease the pages when you leave
and when the water is as cold as it is deep
we will burn the barns where babes first took to speech
and under beds of water
there will lie my eldest daughter
she has drifted and the sea has held her body from decay
and the world she wouldn't let it
and she'd scream before she left in
and the sky stems from the ocean
and I will get to it some day
The lyrics to Cake Bake Betty's "Dear Mother" seem to be about a person dealing with the loss of a loved one, possibly a mother, and the aftermath of that loss. The lyrics paint a picture of the person trying to find meaning and closure in the wake of the loss, and struggling to come to terms with the reality of death. The beginning of the song sets the tone with lines like "there's no ceiling" and "there's no broken bones" which suggest a world without limits or boundaries, but where life and death coexist. The person then speaks about a "sea that shows her gates" and "the water shall refill the empty space" suggesting that perhaps the person is trying to fill the void left by the loss of their loved one with memories or experiences that somehow bring them closer to understanding their place in the world.
The lyrics also touch on the person's family history, mentioning a "mining man" and "father" who seems to have a dark past. They speak about sleeping in "bags that hang along these rows," suggesting a transient lifestyle, and perhaps familial dysfunction. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing for connection and closure, but also a sense of resignation to the fact that some things cannot be fully understood or grasped.
Overall, "Dear Mother" can be seen as a meditation on the nature of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in a world that is often chaotic, unfair, and unfathomable. The song's lyrics are rich with metaphor and allusion, and make for a haunting and deeply resonant listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
there's no ceiling
There are no limits or restrictions.
there's no broken bones
No one is physically injured or hurt.
and I've no feeling
I am numb to emotions and unable to feel.
she will glow when she has grown into the sea that shows her gates
When she matures, she will find her place in the world that leads her to success.
the water shall refill the empty space
As time passes, life will go on and fill the emptiness left behind.
my dear mother
Addressing the singer's mother with affection.
where's your mining man?
Asking about the singer's mother's husband who worked as a miner.
and where's my father?
Asking about the artist's biological father.
oh he has savored carcasses that lie like lovers in his home
The artist's father takes pleasure in the dead animals he keeps as a collection.
we will sleep in bags that hang along these rows
The artist and their family will sleep in rows of hanging bags, possibly indicating a difficult living situation.
and that's not all
The situation is even more complicated.
she will stay
The artist's mother will remain in the situation.
we will sit in fields of oranges and graves
Despite the difficult living situation, the family will find some moments of peace and joy, surrounded by fields of oranges and graves.
why do you cry
Asking why their mother is crying.
there is no shame
There is no need to be ashamed of the situation they are in.
but I hang her in my heart still to this day
The artist holds their mother dear to their heart, despite everything.
but that's okay
Accepting the situation as it is.
and when the light beams through the porch then we will know
When the light shines through, they will know that a new day has come.
sleeping silent to disrupt the fallen snow
Sleeping quietly to not disturb the peacefulness outside.
and in your room I saw that you had grown
Noticing that their mother has matured and become stronger.
your cotton sheets did lift you by the throat
Their mother was suffocating under the weight of the cotton sheets.
I split the numbers indeed
The artist had to make difficult choices and sacrifices.
I held my arms outstretched
The singer had to take on a lot of responsibility.
I cut through brothers in need
The artist had to make sacrifices and hurt others to protect their family.
to be the curtain for the act that you have left here on repeat
The singer is willing to take on the role of protecting their family at any cost.
don't forget to crease the pages when you leave
Take care of your belongings before you leave.
and when the water is as cold as it is deep
When the situation is difficult and challenging.
we will burn the barns where babes first took to speech
Destroying the places that were once safe havens.
and under beds of water
Referring to death.
there will lie my eldest daughter
The singer's oldest daughter is dead.
she has drifted and the sea has held her body from decay
Their daughter's body is in the sea, preserved by the water.
and the world she wouldn't let it
Their daughter refused to accept the world she lived in.
and she'd scream before she left in
She was in pain and agony before she died.
and the sky stems from the ocean
Everything in the world is connected and related to each other.
and I will get to it some day
The singer hopes to find answers and closure regarding their daughter's death someday.
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.