Mom V Man
Cutouts Lyrics
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Right through my window,
through my window, detergent in the springtime.
I shed the skin of ending, open my eyes in the morning.
See the paint dry, see the paint dry, dust collects on her forehead.
Somewhere in the space between Mom and
Man, something that I'll never understand.
Let me hold the ring that held her fingers.
Makes me want to never leave the sheets.
Cancel my alarm and go back to sleep.
The lyrics to Cutouts' song "Mom V Man" are open to interpretation, but they seem to touch on the passing of time and the struggle to understand one's place in the world. The first two lines describe the different sensations that the singer experiences throughout the year, suggesting a cyclical nature to their life. The third line suggests the arrival of spring, with the smell of detergent in the air. The following lines reference the singer shedding their old skin and waking up to a new day, complete with mundane details like drying paint and dust collecting on someone's forehead.
The final lines of the song seem to tie everything together, as the singer reflects on the relationship between "Mom and Man." This could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps referring to societal expectations of gender roles or the singer's own family dynamic. Regardless, the singer seems to acknowledge that there's something about this relationship that they'll never fully understand. The song concludes with a desire to cling to a physical reminder of someone who has passed - the ring that held their fingers. The final lines of the song suggest a reluctance to leave the comfort of one's bed and face the world outside.
Line by Line Meaning
I smell aluminum in winter, asphalt in the summer.
I sense the different scents of the seasons, particularly the smell of aluminum in winter and asphalt in summer.
Right through my window, through my window, detergent in the springtime.
I can smell the scents of the seasons right through my window, like the smell of detergent in the springtime.
I shed the skin of ending, open my eyes in the morning.
I let go of the past and start anew each morning when I wake up.
See the paint dry, see the paint dry, dust collects on her forehead.
I observe the slow process of change and decay, such as watching paint dry and seeing dust collect on a loved one's forehead.
Somewhere in the space between Mom and Man, something that I'll never understand.
There's an inexplicable something between the roles of mother and father that I'll never comprehend.
Let me hold the ring that held her fingers.
I long to hold a precious item that was once close to my mother, like the ring that once held her fingers.
Makes me want to never leave the sheets.
The weight of my emotions makes me feel like staying in bed and never facing the day ahead.
Cancel my alarm and go back to sleep.
I wish I could ignore my responsibilities and go back to the comfort of sleep.
Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.