Mother
Goldie feat. Diane Charlemagne Lyrics

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Sometimes when I'm on the street
Somebody's perfume will make my heart skip a beat
It's the one you used to where before
I'd recognize it anywhere it's Trèsor
Then suddenly the memories
Start flooding back to me
It's '93 and I see
Us sitting by your vanity

How you'd glow; How you'd shine
All I wanted was that life to be mine
But I'd grow up to find
Some dreams are just too blind
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
And I'll never be your little girl
But Mama that's alright at least I've got you in my life
I know I don't fit tradition right so I'll give up this fight
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
In the attic there's that portrait of you
The debutante of '72
You look so pretty all dressed up in white
But we both know I'll never have that rite and
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never be your little girl
But Mama that's alright at least I've got you in my life
I know I don't fit tradition right so I'll give up this fight
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never wear your mother's pearls

And I'll never be your little girl
Oh no...

Overall Meaning

The song "Mother" by Goldie featuring Diane Charlemagne speaks to the relationship between a mother and daughter and the desire for the daughter to live up to her mother's expectations. The lyrics describe the moment when the daughter catches a familiar scent on the street, reminding her of her mother's perfume. This triggers memories from 1993 when the daughter was sitting with her mother by her vanity, admiring her and wishing to live the same glamorous life filled with pearls and beauty. However, the daughter has grown up since then and has realized that some dreams are just too unrealistic. She laments that she will never wear her mother's pearls, be her debutante daughter, or fully fit the traditional role that her mother may want her to. Yet, she comes to a realization that she is grateful to have her mother in her life and is willing to let go of the fight to please her mother's expectations.

The lyrics in "Mother" portray a universal message of accepting one's own identity and not conforming to societal pressures or parental expectations. It highlights the importance of love, acceptance, and gratitude towards family members, even if they do not fit into the perfect mold that they may have expected. The song also touches on the idea of living vicariously through others and the potential danger of projecting one's own unfulfilled dreams onto their children.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes when I'm on the street
Occasionally, while I'm outside,

Somebody's perfume will make my heart skip a beat
I'll catch a whiff of a scent that reminds me of you,

It's the one you used to where before
It's the fragrance you used to wear,

I'd recognize it anywhere it's Trèsor
I can identify it as Trèsor without any hesitation,

Then suddenly the memories
It'll bring back all the memories,

Start flooding back to me
My mind will deluge with memories,

It's '93 and I see
I'll be transported to 1993 and will visualise,

Us sitting by your vanity
Sitting together by your dressing table,

How you'd glow; How you'd shine
You'd look brilliant and luminous,

All I wanted was that life to be mine
All I longed for was a life like yours,

But I'd grow up to find
As I matured I realised,

Some dreams are just too blind
Some aspirations are too unrealistic,

I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never put on your mother's pearls,

And I'll never be your little girl
I'll never be a little girl in your eyes,

But Mama that's alright at least I've got you in my life
But Mom, it's alright because I still have you in my life,

I know I don't fit tradition right so I'll give up this fight
I'm aware I'm not a perfect fit for your traditions, so I won't contest anymore,

In the attic there's that portrait of you
There's a picture of you in the attic,

The debutante of '72
Taken when you were a debutante in 1972,

You look so pretty all dressed up in white
You look beautiful in white attire,

But we both know I'll never have that rite
You and I both know that I'll never have the privilege,

and I'll never wear your mother's pearls
Of wearing your mother's pearls,

I'll never be your little girl
I'll never be your little girl,

But Mama that's alright at least I've got you in my life
But Mom, it's alright because I still have you in my life,

I know I don't fit tradition right so I'll give up this fight
I'm aware I'm not a perfect fit for your traditions, so I won't contest anymore,

I'll never wear your mother's pearls
I'll never put on your mother's pearls,

And I'll never be your little girl
I'll never be a little girl in your eyes,

Oh no...
Oh no...

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Golde Arnold

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@Krakatoa4

13w

La voz de todos los tiempos, sin iguales, Diane Charlemagne! La generación 90's
Agradezco a la vida por tener la virtud de escucharla, como soundtrack de vida!🙏🏽💐🪄🍷