Mvula grew up in the Birmingham suburbs of Selly Park and Kings Heath with two younger siblings, and was influenced by the girl band Eternal. She sang with Black Voices, an a capella group set up by her aunt. She graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in composition. While she was working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school, she started writing songs on her laptop. She was working as a receptionist when she sent out two demos to several people in the music industry. She is married to singer Themba Mvula.
Signed to Sony subsidiary RCA, Mvula released her debut extended play, "She", on 16 November 2012. Her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon, was released on 4 March 2013. One person has described her music using a new term, "gospeldelia". The album was preceeded by the single "Green Garden". The song is an elegy to her home in Kings Heath. On 6 December 2012, Mvula was shortlisted for the Critics' Choice award at the 2013 BRIT Awards. On 9 December, she was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2013 poll, and finished in fourth position. On 1 February 2013, she gave a live TV performance on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, singing "Green Garden".
Father Father
Laura Mvula Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw you wandering in my dream last night singing
Wonder, wonder what you might do
You can't simply hide our dream in the blue
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, please don't let me go
Brother, brother, let me love you
Whisper all your deepest fears
You can trust me
And when it's over we can begin
Finally to make amends
Try to save us
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
The song "Father Father" by Laura Mvula is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that explores the depths of love, loss, and the longing for human connection. The song's lyrics contain a repeated plea to a father figure to stay close and not let go. The opening verse depicts the singer dreaming about her father and his wandering, perhaps indicating that he is no longer physically present in her life. The chorus offers a heartbreaking appeal for her father not to abandon her, as she feels she has lost her heart to him.
The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's brother, who also seems to be struggling with fear and insecurity. She offers to be a supportive companion, and hopes that they can reconcile and begin anew. As with the chorus, the repetition of the refrain "Don't try to fight; don't let me go" underlines the desperation and vulnerability of the plea.
Overall, "Father Father" is a poignant exploration of the complex emotions that can accompany family relationships. It touches on themes of abandonment, forgiveness, and the power of love to heal. Mvula's soaring vocals and the song's sparse, melancholy instrumentation perfectly capture the sense of longing and heartbreak that lies at the core of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Father, father, let me love you
The singer wishes to actively love her father and establish a bond with him.
Saw you wandering in my dream last night singing
The singer dreams of her father who is singing and wandering around, depicting an aimless nature.
Wonder, wonder what you might do
The singer ponders what her father might do and feels a sense of uncertainty around him.
You can't simply hide our dream in the blue
The singer pleads with her father to not ignore their dreams and to work together to make them a reality.
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
The singer urges her father to not push away her attempts to connect with him.
You've gone too far from what I know
The singer recognizes her father's detachment and feels that he has strayed too far from her.
I lost my heart in the dark with you
The singer has been hurt by her father's behavior and feels brokenhearted.
Father, father, why you let me go
The singer questions why her father has let her grow distant from him.
Father, please don't let me go
The singer desperately asks her father to not let their relationship deteriorate any further.
Brother, brother, let me love you
The singer reaches out to her brother, inviting him to connect with her and letting him know that she wants to care for him.
Whisper all your deepest fears
The singer encourages her brother to confide in her and share his vulnerabilities.
You can trust me
The singer emphasizes that her brother can rely on her and that she will always be there for him.
And when it's over we can begin
The singer suggests that after facing their problems, they can work towards creating a better future.
Finally to make amends
The singer hopes to reconcile and heal their relationship.
Try to save us
The singer acknowledges the need to save their family dynamics and to bring them back together.
Let me love you
The singer reiterates her willingness and desire to love and care for her family members.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE MELVIN BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
esme
Lyrics
Father, father, let me love you
Saw you wandering in my dream last night singing
Wonder, wonder what you might do
You can't simply hide our dream in the blue
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Brother, brother, let me love you
Whisper all your deepest fears
You can trust me
And when it's over we can begin
Finally to make amends
Try to save us
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Charles Stratton
I'm sorry you lost your dad.
I wish someone could reach my daughter before I die. I was just diagnosed wIth "Man Cancer". You remind me of her.
Three things is all I want before I go.
1. To be hugged (freely) from her.
2. To be called Dad(dy).
3. To hear her say I love you Dad.
This will never transpire. I would have better odds from a total stranger.
esme
Lyrics
Father, father, let me love you
Saw you wandering in my dream last night singing
Wonder, wonder what you might do
You can't simply hide our dream in the blue
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Brother, brother, let me love you
Whisper all your deepest fears
You can trust me
And when it's over we can begin
Finally to make amends
Try to save us
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you
Don't try to fight; don't let me go
You've gone too far from what I know
I lost my heart in the dark with you
Father, father, why you let me go
Father, please don't let me go
TD
I didn't need the lyrics but I appreciate that you put them here. New fans probably use them. You're a real one
Nuna Yabusiness
this song says so much about sorrow and forgiveness and your voice literally is perfect, I was so angry at my dad for a very long time and this song just opened me up like a book and i just can't stop crying this song is amazing
Big CJ Young
This is by far the most heartfelt rendition of this hymn that Ms. Mvula has done. There are several, so I have to listen to more than one before I can find this one. Humble, but not beseeching, earnest and loving, simply wanting to know, "Why you let me go"? Then as an afterthought, "Please, don't let me go". It is everybody's song.
A Cameron
One of the most beautiful, heartfelt songs I've ever heard. I lost my father when I was 16 so it cuts me very deeply. I appreciate her new, poppier style, but the rawness and purity of this song will last in my heart forever.
Ken K
This woman is legendary.
LongLiveQueen England
David Makes Man got me here this 🙌 songs breaks my heart and heals me at the same time Father God please 🙏 don't let me go.
L Myers
This song is just so beautiful, it brought me to tears.
Tonia
I hear this song I always cry....beautiful song
Baba Setshedi
“I lost my heart in the dark with you” on the 24th-June-2005. May my mother's soul rest in perfect peace🥺🖤😇