In 2008 the band won a prestigious Ivor Novello award for ‘People Help The People’, a recognition of Simon Aldred’s evocative songwriting.
The band have supported Amy Winehouse, Doves, crowded house, and Smog
Only A Mother
Cherry Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Broken clean in the struggle
Too fair an age
For this war that we wage
In the rubble
A tender old tyrant
To fend off the dawn as we sleep late
That falls to the floor
Like a dead weight
Tides will turn
And in time I'll learn to love
What only a mother could
Only a mother could
Black broken no joke
Go twos on the last smoking show me
A night laced with lies
That could cradle the cries
Of the lonely
Tides will turn
And in time I'll learn to love
What only a mother could
Only a mother could
Like a hound dog that's tailing its prey
Like a night that dissolves into day
I will conquer every heartbeat on the way
The tip of your tongue seemed to promise
Some fresh pearl of wisdom
Try as I might boy
You keep them hidden depths
Well hidden
Tides will turn
And in time I'll learn to love
What only a mother could
Only a mother could
What only a mother could
Only a mother
Only a mother
Only a mother
Only a mother
The song "Only A Mother" by Cherry Ghost is a melancholic ode to the relationship between a mother and her child. The opening lyrics paint a picture of a broken world, where the struggle of life has left the singer injured and struggling to cope. Despite being too young to experience such a war, the singer finds themselves in the rubble, trying to make sense of the chaos. The metaphor of pouring tea with a broken limb is a powerful one, symbolizing the difficulty of carrying on with ordinary tasks when one is wounded. The image of a tender old tyrant suggests that the only person who can protect us from the harsh realities of life is our mother. She is the one who will fend off the dawn and make everything alright, even when we're not sure it can be.
The middle section of the song is a series of images that evoke a sense of despair and loneliness. The reference to a night laced with lies suggests that the singer has experienced disappointment and betrayal. The phrase "black broken no joke" is ambiguous, but it could be a reference to addiction and the toll it takes on those who struggle with it. The imagery of a smoking show and cradling cries suggest a sense of emptiness and despair, where the only solace to be found is in the knowledge that our mother is looking out for us.
The final section of the song shifts to a more hopeful tone, with the singer comparing themselves to a hound dog on the hunt. They are determined to conquer every heartbeat on the way, to find their way through the wreckage of their life and come out the other side. The tip of the tongue promising pearls of wisdom suggests that the singer is searching for answers, seeking guidance from their mother, who always seems to know what to do. The repetition of the phrase "Only a mother" at the end of the song emphasizes the central message, that there is a bond between a mother and child that cannot be broken.
Line by Line Meaning
Pouring the tea with a limb
Trying to complete the simple task of pouring tea with one's limb severely broken in the struggle
Broken clean in the struggle
Injured badly in a fight or conflict
Too fair an age
Too young to be experiencing the harsh realities of war and conflict
For this war that we wage
For this ongoing battle or struggle we are fighting
In the rubble
Among the debris, destruction or remains of what was once there
A tender old tyrant
An elderly person who likes to be in charge or control things, but in a gentle way
To fend off the dawn as we sleep late
Protecting or delaying the start of a new day, as we choose to sleep in instead
And end up here punchline
Arriving at this point in life where we feel like a joke or the butt of a joke
That falls to the floor, like a dead weight
Something that loses all of its value and significance, and becomes a burden, weighed down and useless
Tides will turn
Things will change for the better, eventually
And in time I'll learn to love
Through experience, I will learn to embrace or appreciate something better
What only a mother could
The enduring love, patience and support that only a mother can give
Black broken no joke
Something that is not only broken, but dark and serious - not something to laugh about
Go twos on the last smoking show me
Sharing the responsibility or cost for the final act of smoking or burning something
A night laced with lies
A night filled with dishonesty or deception
That could cradle the cries
That is capable of providing comfort and sympathy for those who cry out in pain or sadness
Of the lonely
Of those who feel disconnected or isolated from others
Like a hound dog that's tailing its prey
Being determined and persistent in pursuing something, like a hunting dog chasing after its target
Like a night that dissolves into day
Like a smooth transition from darkness to light, from one state to another
I will conquer every heartbeat on the way
I will overcome every challenge, obstacle or fear along the journey
The tip of your tongue seemed to promise
You appeared to have a wise or insightful statement to share
Some fresh pearl of wisdom
A new and valuable piece of advice or knowledge
Try as I might boy
Despite my best efforts or attempts, young man
You keep them hidden depths
You keep those deep thoughts or insights hidden or guarded
Well hidden
Very difficult to find or uncover
What only a mother could
The exceptional love, care, and understanding that only a mother can provide
Only a mother could
No one else can quite match or replace the role and impact that a mother has
Only a mother
Emphasizing the unique and irreplaceable value of a mother's love and influence
Only a mother
Repeating the importance of a mother as the central theme of the song
Only a mother
The final reminder that no one else can do what a mother can do
Contributed by Madison B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ryan Carter
One of my favourites by Cherry Ghost.
Kitchener Leslie
Love it...gotta listen to more of yous guys
ronald zandvliet
fantastic song xxxx
Halford Slain
Great band no longer with us...
Elena Haig
wuuhuuuuuuuuu