Her second album, After, was released through ANTI- on September 25, 2015 to critical acclaim.
Transforming pain into transcendence is the genius of many pop artists, but Doe Paoro brings an entirely ne depth to that process. On her third album Soft Power, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter digs into her own frustration and anguish, and ultimately comes away with a newfound strength that’s profoundly inspiring.
A self-taught pianist and vocalist, Paoro trained in Lhamo while traveling alone through the Himalayas. During this period, she also spent several weeks practicing silent meditation, which allowed her to reflect on the "space between silence and sound." Her cover of Baltimore synthpop band Future Islands' "Little Dreamer" was released in December 2011; original singles "Can't Leave You" and "Born Whole" followed in January 2012. In 2013, Paoro released two songs on a 7" through White Iris Records.
Paoro has performed at SXSW, Osheaga, and CMJ, as well as numerous venues throughout the U.S. She often opens her live performances with an a cappella Tibetan prayer, and credits Vipassanā meditation with having a strong influence over the themes explored in her work, which include attachment, detachment, compassion, and disconnection from the human experience.
"Hypotheticals," Paoro's first track released through ANTI-, was featured on Season 4 of Girls. NPR's All Songs Considered listed Paoro on their Six Musical Discoveries You Can't Miss list.
She has been compared to Fiona Apple, James Blake, Adele, and Lykke Li, among others.
http://www.facebook.com/doepaoro
http://doepaoro.bandcamp.com/
Born Whole
Doe Paoro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
we born whole. we become half
drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
ahhhhooooh
we born whole. we become half
we born whole. we become half
drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
each night i'd wail to the river ready walk on water to find his ghost
im ready to find his ghost
ready to find his ghost
i ask him to send me sign i keep looking i can't find
i'm ready to find his ghost
ready to find his ghost
i'm ready i'm ready
we born whole. we become half
drumming in her soul as she pluck out the lemongrass
oh please please please
return to me, return to me
who will take care of me now
where is he
this is not what i know, this is not what i know
where is he
who will take care of me
who will take care of me
who will take care of me now
where is he (too late)
we born whole. we become half
drumming in her soul as she pluck out the lemon grass
we born whole. we become half
drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
oh please please please
return to me
return to me
we born whole. we become half
yea its been drummin in her soul since she plucked out the lemongrass
The song "Born Whole" by Doe Paoro begins by saying "we born whole, we become half." This line could be interpreted to mean that individuals are born as complete beings, but as they go through life and experience various hardships and challenges, they may lose a part of themselves. This loss is likened to plucking out the lemon grass, which is a process of separating something from its source.
The second verse of the song suggests that the singer is searching for her "ghost," or perhaps a lost loved one. She wails to the river and asks for a sign, but is unable to find what she is looking for. This loss is also reflected in the refrain of the song, where the singer asks for something to be returned to her. It is unclear whether this lost thing is a person, a part of herself, or a connection to something she has lost.
The final verse of the song asks the question "who will take care of me now?" The loss that is described in the song seems to have left the singer feeling lost and alone. This feeling is conveyed through the repetition of the line "where is he?" The song ends with the refrain once again, as the singer pleads for something to be returned to her.
Overall, "Born Whole" is a song that deals with the theme of loss and the search for something that has been taken away. The metaphor of plucking out the lemon grass suggests that this loss is a painful process of separation from something that is essential to who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
we born whole. we become half
We enter this world as complete beings, but over time, we lose parts of ourselves and become incomplete.
drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
An intense feeling within her is growing, making her restless and causing her to search for something to soothe her soul.
each night i'd wail to the river ready walk on water to find his ghost
Every night, she cries to the river, desperately wishing to see the ghost of someone she has lost, willing to do whatever it takes to find him.
im ready to find his ghost
She is tired of feeling lost and wants to find closure by seeing the ghost of the person she has been searching for.
i ask him to send me sign i keep looking i can't find
She is constantly searching for a sign from the person she has lost but has yet to find any indication of their presence.
oh please please please return to me, return to me
She pleads for the person she has lost to come back to her so that she may feel whole and complete again.
who will take care of me now where is he this is not what i know, this is not what i know
She feels lost and alone without the person she has lost, and nothing is the same anymore. She is struggling to find someone to take care of her now that the person is gone.
where is he who will take care of me who will take care of me who will take care of me now where is he (too late)
She laments the absence of the person she has lost and fears that it is too late to find someone to care for her now that they are gone.
yea its been drummin in her soul since she plucked out the lemongrass
The feeling within her has been growing since the moment she began plucking lemon grass, intensifying and causing her to feel incomplete without the person she has lost.
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tranhntube
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
Ahhhhooooh
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
Each night i'd wail to the river ready walk on water to find his ghost
Im ready to find his ghost
Ready to find his ghost
I ask him to send me sign i keep looking i can't find
I'm ready to find his ghost
Ready to find his ghost
I'm ready i'm ready
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she pluck out the lemongrass
Oh please please please
Return to me, return to me
Who will take care of me now
Where is he
This is not what i know, this is not what i know
Where is he
Who will take care of me
Who will take care of me
Who will take care of me now
Where is he (too late)
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she pluck out the lemon grass
We born whole. we become half
Drumming in her soul as she plucks out the lemon grass
Oh please please please
Return to me
Return to me
We born whole. we become half
Yea its been drummin in her soul since she plucked out the lemongrass
@launderground
we love doe paoro.
@ybvmoveon
I love this!
@socksarecozy
This is wonderful!!!!
@Teonareine
Very beautiful too !
@monterrosojr
👍👏💬💎💎💎🍚🍚🍚
I like the vocals beautiful. the beat. & instrumentals. I liked.
from your fan
Rideshare Driver. -Benjamin M.
@DynastyTragdyzZ
Creepy joker smile at the end gave me goosebumps ... i like it
@Jwags0802
Good song.. being human
@carlosperez8574
Bud!!!
@zyjen1338
wow
@jomomma3587
R.I.P.
Douglas James Gunter
9/2/96-12/6/19
Love and miss you
Baby brother
♥️🌹❤️🤍🙏🏽💔