Motherland
Julia Jacklin Lyrics

These new lines on my face Spell out "girl pick up your pace, If you want to stay true to what your younger self would do"
The lines on her face signify getting older and the lyric is telling her to keep moving forward in order to stay true to what her younger self would do.

And this kink in my walk Makes me focus when I talk If I can't trust my feet, Then it's my tongue I choose to keep
Her limp forces her to focus on what she is saying, and if she can't trust her own footing, she is more cautious about what comes out of her mouth.

And I walk slow so I can read Let my head fall, my hips lead Why'd you write the words so small? Did you fool me, are they words at all?
Walking slowly allows her to read what's written in small print, but it also makes her ponder if the words are even true and if the writer intended to deceive her.

Or are you pulling down the veil Keeping grounded as you set my sail? By the time I pull it off All my innocence is lost
The veil that's being pulled down keeps her grounded as she navigates, but once she takes it off, it leaves her feeling exposed and without innocence.

And oh I'm good, I think I'm good Will I be great, will I be great? Is it money I wanna make or is it sweet love For his sake?
She feels like she is doing well in life, but she wonders if she will ever be great and if her motivations for success are based on money or love.

And these new parts I now need To help me function, help me feed They are beyond my modest earnings Oh the girls they keep turning up the heat As if it's cold But I'm hot, too hot to hold I'll burn a hole right through the hull
She needs new necessities to get by, but they are too expensive for her modest income. Meanwhile, the girls around her are trying to act cool, but in reality she is feeling overwhelmed and like she is burning out.

When will I Ever see the land? Will I ever see the land? Oh water can't revive me I need dirt in my hand Will I ever see the land? Will I ever see the land? Oh the ground will give me something I know that it can
She questions if she will ever find a place to call home and how she longs for something solid and stable to hold onto. The ground represents a promise of something solid that can give her some peace.

See I have charm and I have sight And I always try and do what's right But I have faults you know it's true Especially when it comes to treating you well
She has good qualities but is aware of her own flaws, especially in how she treats others.

I will work when all my thoughts are mine again See I was sure at the start, turns out I tried too hard And oh I'm good, I think I'm good Will I be great, will I be great? Is it money I wanna make or is it sweet love For his sake?
She plans to start working again once she regains control over her thoughts, and realizes that she had been pushing herself too hard before. She's still questioning if her motivations are based on money or love.