Bad Seed
Jenny Dalton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Are you ready to go?
Just keep yourself strong," I said
To the grotto and stone
the gardens and the thorns of a monastery
And the minute she arrived,
they knew they'd have to bury a bad seed
But she's here, don't go. Let go.
Don't let go, she could be anywhere
Like a clouded sky, she's almost everywhere
You can't the holy out of the water
And she knew right then she could be anywhere
and here.
Routier pauvre et chantant
And there she concedes
in the gardens and the thorns of a monastery
dirt in her finger nails, dig a little hole for a bad seed
And the minute it was buried,
she knew she'd lost a friend and a sister
She was ready to go
from the grotto and the stone of the monetary
All the life she could taste
from the gardens and the thorns of a bad seed
The lyrics of "Bad Seed" by Jenny Dalton evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue, as the singer tells the story of a wayward individual who is seen as a troublemaker by those around her. The opening line, "Routier pauvre et chantant," is French for "poor and singing traveler," which sets the scene for a vagabond character who is not afraid to speak her mind. The singer then encourages this person to stay strong, implying that she has faced challenges in the past.
The lyrics then describe a visit to a monastery, complete with garden and stone structures, which makes the people there uneasy due to the visitor's reputation as a "bad seed." Despite this, the visitor persists and tries to be present and accounted for, though it is clear that the monastery's residents are less than welcoming. The song then shifts to a somber tone as the visitor buries a metaphorical bad seed, symbolizing the loss of a friend or sister. The visitor then leaves the monastery, feeling that she has finally tasted life to the fullest.
This song is a haunting and atmospheric exploration of the human experience, specifically the struggle to find acceptance and belonging in a world that can often be judgmental and cold. It speaks to the idea that everyone has a dark side or a "bad seed," and that we must learn to live with and accept our flaws.
Line by Line Meaning
Routier pauvre et chantant
She's just a poor, singing traveler.
Are you ready to go?
She's asking if you're ready for the story she's about to tell.
Just keep yourself strong, I said
She's offering some encouragement and strength.
To the grotto and stone
She's describing a specific location.
the gardens and the thorns of a monastery
She's still describing the location and adding more detail.
And the minute she arrived, they knew they'd have to bury a bad seed
When she showed up, they realized there was trouble coming.
But she's here, and she tries
Despite the earlier warning, she's still there and trying her best.
But she's here, don't go. Let go.
She wants people to stay with her, even though things may be difficult.
Don't let go, she could be anywhere
She's warning people not to give up on her, because she might need their help at any moment and in any place.
Like a clouded sky, she's almost everywhere
She's describing how pervasive and distracting her troubles are.
You can't the holy out of the water
Some things can't be contained or removed.
And she knew right then she could be anywhere and here.
She recognizes the vast scope of her challenges, but is still determined to be present wherever she is.
And there she concedes
She finally admits to something she's been denying or avoiding.
in the gardens and the thorns of a monastery
She's still in the same place, but her perspective has shifted.
dirt in her finger nails, dig a little hole for a bad seed
She's taking ownership of her actions and burying the source of her troubles.
And the minute it was buried, she knew she'd lost a friend and a sister
She understands that the person or thing she's let go of meant a lot to her and won't be coming back.
She was ready to go
She's preparing to move on from this difficult chapter.
from the grotto and the stone of the monetary
She's leaving the place where she buried the bad seed.
All the life she could taste
She's excited for what's next and all the experiences that await her.
from the gardens and the thorns of a bad seed
She's ready to leave behind the difficulties of the past and move forward.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.