Mehitabel
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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He will never have to hear what I had to say
My little words are lost in the wind
With no where to go and I am just like them
There's a voice in the alley in the cold bare arms of a tree
When the moon sails high, a ghost ship in a dark and lonely sea
Mockingbird, your song burns right through me
Like that little mockingbird, high up in the pine
All I do is worry, all I do is cry
We're lost in the shadows of a beautiful spring
Empty-handed lovers and all we do is sing
In Jolie Holland's song Mehitabel's Blues, the singer is feeling incredibly down and blue. She has to remove herself from someone or something, which is evident from the line, "Feeling my blues, I tear myself away. He will never have to hear what I had to say." Perhaps she is leaving a relationship or a situation, and her words were never heard or understood by the other party. Her words are lost in the wind, with nowhere to go, and she is just like them. This line suggests that the singer feels like she has no purpose, and her words or thoughts have no value.
Later in the song, there's a voice in the alley in the cold bare arms of a tree. The voice is that of a mockingbird, whose song burns right through the singer. The mockingbird's tune is powerful and meaningful, just like the singer's words. She can relate to the bird, who sings all day and every night. Like the mockingbird, the singer is stuck worrying and crying, lost in the shadows of a beautiful spring. The singer and her lover are empty-handed, and all they do is sing. This phrase can be interpreted in various ways. Perhaps they are singers, and that is all they do, and there's no financial gain. They could also be saying that they have nothing to offer, just their music or words.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling my blues, I tear myself away
I am feeling sad and upset, and I force myself to leave the situation that is causing me distress.
He will never have to hear what I had to say
The person I want to talk to won't ever hear what I have to say, whether because they won't listen or because I won't have the chance to speak.
My little words are lost in the wind
The things I want to say seem insignificant and unimportant, and they disappear quickly like a wind that carries them away.
With no where to go and I am just like them
The words I want to say have no destination or purpose, and I feel lost and directionless like they do.
There's a voice in the alley in the cold bare arms of a tree
A voice can be heard in the alley, where it is cold and deserted with only a tree providing shelter.
When the moon sails high, a ghost ship in a dark and lonely sea
The moon is high in the sky, and it illuminates a ghost ship that is bobbing up and down on a dark and empty sea.
Mockingbird, your song burns right through me
The song of a mockingbird affects me deeply and in a powerful way.
I know why you singing, all the day and every night
I understand why the mockingbird sings continuously, both day and night.
Like that little mockingbird, high up in the pine
I am similar to a little mockingbird that is perched high up in a pine tree.
All I do is worry, all I do is cry
I only worry and feel sad about situations in my life.
We're lost in the shadows of a beautiful spring
Despite the picturesque backdrop of the spring season, we feel lost and unsure.
Empty-handed lovers and all we do is sing
We are without gifts or offerings, but we still make music and sing together.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind