She continues to be involved in the influential Glasgow based label Chemikal Underground. A second solo album, The Law of Large Numbers, was released by the label on March 1, 2010. Her third solo album, In Search of Harperfield, was released on January 29, 2016.
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The Child In Me
Emma Pollock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But this book has some missing pages
Got the introduction right
But I've been stuck on it for ages
I might sit and look like you
But I can't do the things you do
The years belie my true conviction
You must not leave me in this company
I think they'll know that they've got years on me
Oh they will find me out most certainly
Cause they will surely see the child in me
(Oh they will surely see the child in me)
If this is what we're calling fun
I think I'll use this chance to run
Instead of making conversation
I really do not have the patience
How do I get qualified?
To act completely horrified
When hearing tales that honestly
I would have told myself you see
I really think you know me better
I really think you know me better
Won't you stay just a little while longer?
Won't you stay 'till I feel a bit stronger?
The lyrics in Emma Pollock's song, The Child In Me, depict a sense of disconnection and discomfort with growing older. Pollock talks about how while she may look the same as others her age, she feels different as though time has not caught up with her. The metaphor of a missing page in a book is used to convey how she may appear to have it all together but in reality, there is something missing. She also mentions feeling out of place in social situations, unable to participate in conversations like those around her.
There is a sense of longing for the comfort of familiarity from those who know her best as she pleads for someone to stay with her. The lyrics may resonate with those who have felt like they do not belong or struggle to relate to those around them as they grow older. The child in the song can be interpreted as the innocence and carefree nature that fades as we get older, a loss that can be difficult to accept.
Line by Line Meaning
I might look a certain age
Despite my appearance, I may not be as old as I look
But this book has some missing pages
My life story is incomplete and there are parts of my past that are unaccounted for
Got the introduction right
The beginning of my life appears normal and well-adjusted
But I've been stuck on it for ages
However, I have been struggling to move past the introduction for a long time
I might sit and look like you
Although I may appear similar to you on the surface
But I can't do the things you do
I am unable to engage in the same experiences due to my lack of life experience and age
The years belie my true conviction
My perceived age does not reflect my personal beliefs and principles
This life is a work of fiction
My life feels like a made-up story due to my inability to relate to others and engage in their life experiences
You must not leave me in this company
Please do not abandon me in the presence of others
I think they'll know that they've got years on me
Others will likely realize that I am much younger than they are
Oh they will find me out most certainly
There is no doubt that they will discover my true age
Cause they will surely see the child in me
My lack of experience and youthful naivety will be apparent to others
If this is what we're calling fun
If this is the extent of what is considered enjoyable to others
I think I'll use this chance to run
I would rather leave and avoid participating in activities that do not interest me
Instead of making conversation
I prefer to avoid small talk and connect with others on a deeper level
I really do not have the patience
I do not possess the necessary mental endurance needed to engage in mundane conversation
How do I get qualified?
I don't know how to act in certain situations due to my lack of experience
To act completely horrified
To react in a manner of shock or disgust, despite not truly understanding the situation at hand
When hearing tales that honestly
When listening to stories that are not relatable to my own life experience
I would have told myself you see
I would not have believed it if I hadn't experienced it myself
I really think you know me better
I believe that you understand me more than others do
Won't you stay just a little while longer?
Please don't leave me alone
Won't you stay 'till I feel a bit stronger?
Please stay with me until I feel more confident in myself and my ability to connect with others
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
katabatic222
Good song. Thank you.
Bob Rhoads
should be a star!