Ode to My Family
Cranberries Lyrics
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Don't turn away from me
'Cause I spent half my life out there
You wouldn't disagree
D'you see me, d'you see
Do you like me, do you like me standing there
D'you notice, d'you know
Do you see me, do you see me
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
Did she hold me, when I was out there
My father, my father, he liked me
Oh he liked me, does anyone care
Understand what I've become
It wasn't my design
And people everywhere think
Something better than I am
But I miss you, I miss
'Cause I liked it, I liked it
When I was out there
D'you know this, d'you know
You did not find me, you did not find
Does anyone care
Unhappiness was when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
Did she hold me, when I was out there
My father, my father, he liked me
Oh he liked me, does anyone care
Does anyone care
b
The song "Ode to My Family" by Cranberries is a reflective piece that delves into the songwriter's past and the significance of family. Through the verses themselves, the songwriter voices a yearning for attention and understanding from others, asking repeatedly if they are seen, liked, noticed, or even cared about. This is likely inspired by a past of feeling isolated or possibly even neglected, as the lyrics mention spending half of their life "out there" - somewhere beyond the embrace of their family.
The song then transitions into the chorus, which explores a period of happier times, when the songwriter was young and carefree, unencumbered by the struggles they face in the present. In these cherished memories, the family is a central and loving figure, with the singer's mother being mentioned as someone who has held and cared for them. In contrast, the present reality is defined by a feeling of inadequacy, with the songwriter lamenting that people "everywhere think something better than I am." The central theme of the song is the longing for a sense of belonging and connection to others and the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Understand the things I say
Please listen to me and try to comprehend my message
Don't turn away from me
Please do not ignore or avoid me
'Cause I spent half my life out there
Because I have spent a significant portion of my life outside of my home
You wouldn't disagree
I don't think you would argue with me
D'you see me, d'you see
Do you physically see me in front of you
Do you like me, do you like me standing there
Do you enjoy my presence and the fact that I am currently standing here with you
D'you notice, d'you know
Do you observe and understand what is happening to me
Do you see me, do you see me
Do you really see and recognize me as a person
Does anyone care
Does anyone truly care about me and my experiences
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
I experienced sadness and dissatisfaction when I was younger
And we didn't give a damn
And we didn't care about anything
'Cause we were raised
Because we were taught and brought up
To see life as a fun and take it if we can
To view life as an enjoyable experience and seize opportunities when we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
My mother embraced me and provided comfort
Did she hold me, when I was out there
Did she still hold and support me when I was away from home
My father, my father, he liked me
My father had affection for me
Oh he liked me, does anyone care
However, it seems like no one cares about the positive relationships I had with my parents
Understand what I've become
Please try to comprehend how I have changed over time
It wasn't my design
It wasn't my intention or plan to become who I am today
And people everywhere think
People all around me believe
Something better than I am
That there is something better or more valuable than me
But I miss you, I miss
But I miss certain individuals and things from my past
'Cause I liked it, I liked it
Because I enjoyed those experiences and things
When I was out there
When I was away from home
D'you know this, d'you know
Do you realize or understand this
You did not find me, you did not find
You didn't seek me out or notice me
Does anyone care
Is there anyone who truly cares about me and my experiences
Unhappiness was when I was young
I experienced sadness and dissatisfaction when I was younger
And we didn't give a damn
And we didn't care about anything
'Cause we were raised
Because we were taught and brought up
To see life as fun and take it if we can
To view life as an enjoyable experience and seize opportunities when we can
My mother, my mother she hold me
My mother embraced me and provided comfort
Did she hold me, when I was out there
Did she still hold and support me when I was away from home
My father, my father, he liked me
My father had affection for me
Oh he liked me, does anyone care
However, it seems like no one cares about the positive relationships I had with my parents
Does anyone care
Is there anyone who truly cares about me and my experiences
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NOEL ANTHONY HOGAN, DOLORES MARY O'RIORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind