Daydream With Dan & Mum
David & The Citizens Lyrics


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And in this video she says:
"I brought down three grown men like it was nothing.
I was a tiger stronger than anyone"

And, yes, there's something ringing
and, yes, there's something echoing
and we hide in the bushes
rolling apples under cars
until some idiot stops
to kick us up to the stars

Mother, is there something I can do
to get through to you?
burn your bed and slide away
Mother, wake up won't you please
Dan is here now
with a bucket and a bag
to carry you

And so I run down five blocks
and when I finally stop
to breath, I turn around
I turn around only to see
Dan has been caught
Dan has been caught
I guess the healing is off

Mother, I've come to get you out
we're leaving this place now
but I stumble in the snow
this sliced up paper snow
blood in my mouth
iron clothes




I can't walk
where did you go?

Overall Meaning

The song "Daydream With Dan & Mum" by David & The Citizens is an emotional and introspective piece that depicts a son's struggle to connect with and help his mother who is suffering from mental illness. The lyrics are rife with imagery that portrays the singer's sense of desperation and helplessness, as he yearns to offer his mother the support and protection that she needs.


The lines, "I brought down three grown men like it was nothing. I was a tiger stronger than anyone," are a direct reference to the mother's past strength and tenacity. It speaks to the singer's admiration and respect for his mother's fierce spirit and her ability to overcome adversities. The comparison of the mother to a tiger is particularly poignant, as it emphasizes the mother's strength, resilience, and ability to protect her kin, while also highlighting the fragility of security.


The chorus of the song reflects the singer's ongoing attempt to break through to his mother and offer her assistance. The line "Mother, is there something I can do, to get through to you?" is particularly heart-wrenching, as it exhibits the singer's persistent struggle to help his mother who is grappling with a mental disorder. The line "burn your bed and slide away," is an allusion to the singer's desire to whisk his mother away from her problems, but also highlights the complex nature of her illness, where one might feel entombed within themselves.


Overall, "Daydream With Dan & Mum" is a poignant and compelling portrayal of the struggles of mental illness and the desire to support, care and be with the ones we love.


Line by Line Meaning

And in this video she says:
The singer is referencing a video and someone speaking in that video.


"I brought down three grown men like it was nothing.
The person in the video claims to have beaten up three adult males with ease.


I was a tiger stronger than anyone"
The person in the video feels like they had the strength of a tiger and were stronger than anyone else.


And, yes, there's something ringing
There is a sound that can be heard.


and, yes, there's something echoing
There is a repeating sound.


and we hide in the bushes
The singer and unnamed individuals go into hiding in foliage.


rolling apples under cars
They play a game involving pushing apples beneath vehicles.


until some idiot stops
Someone eventually comes along and puts an end to their game.


to kick us up to the stars
The singer and friends are hopeful they will be launched high up into the sky.


Mother, is there something I can do
The singer addresses their mother and wonders if they can help her.


to get through to you?
The singer wants to reach her in a way they haven't been successful in doing so far.


burn your bed and slide away
The singer suggests setting the bed on fire and leaving it behind as a means of escaping.


Mother, wake up won't you please
The singer asks their mother to become alert.


Dan is here now
The arrival of a person named Dan is mentioned.


with a bucket and a bag
Dan has come with tools to assist in leaving.


to carry you
Dan's items are for assisting the mother in being moved.


And so I run down five blocks
The singer takes off on foot for five city blocks.


and when I finally stop
The singer eventually comes to a halt.


to breath, I turn around
The singer takes a moment to catch their breath and turn around.


I turn around only to see
The singer experiences disappointment as they observe something they didn't expect.


Dan has been caught
Dan has been apprehended by someone or something.


Dan has been caught
The previous line is repeated to underscore the gravity of the situation.


I guess the healing is off
Any hope of recovery or improvement has been halted by the setback of Dan's arrest.


Mother, I've come to get you out
The singer reiterates to their mother that they are there to help and remove her from harm's way.


we're leaving this place now
The singer emphasizes the urgency of the situation, intending to convey that they need to essentially evacuate themselves/mother from this area..


but I stumble in the snow
The singer has become unstable or injured enough to falter in the snow.


this sliced up paper snow
The singer takes note of the texture of the snow.


blood in my mouth
The singer has suffered an injury resulting in blood inside their mouth.


iron clothes
The singer has on heavy, rigid clothing.


I can't walk
The singer's injuries are such that they are unable to travel on foot any longer.


where did you go?
The singer is questioning where their mother has gone to.




Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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