Leith Ross is a singer-songwriter and performing artist born and raised in … Read Full Bio ↴Leith Ross is a singer-songwriter and performing artist born and raised in the outskirts of Ottawa, Ontario. Struck by a culmination of inspiration sourced from their celtic roots, and potentially the Highschool Musical series, Leith Ross became a vessel for their very own distinctive musical style. As a young person, songwriting quickly became Leith’s most dependable method of processing their identity and lived experiences. Like a metaphorical beating heart on a sleeve, Ross’ music is raw, vulnerable and often received with a deep sense of catharsis.

Leith Ross’s debut EP Motherwell is an incredibly honest and intimate collection of songs. The music was inspired by their own coming of age story, and written in hopes of providing the soundtrack to a shaping moment for someone else. Motherwell was humbly recorded live off the floor in one afternoon with college mates, and released in October 2020 on Birthday Cake.

Songs from Ross’s debut EP have been played on CBC Radio 2 as well as editorial playlists on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. The EP received critical acclaim from Exclaim!, Stylus Magazine, Red Guitar Music, and indie blog If It’s Too Loud.

“The phrase "wise beyond their years" implies that young people don't experience the world as deeply or intellectually as older people, but the wisdom that Ross applies to their music pierces on each song.” - Exclaim!

As they transition into the next phase of life, Leith Ross is using their new music to dive deeper into themes of identity, finding a sense of self, and growing into understanding one’s relationship with the world around them. With plans to share more with the world in the second half of 2021. Leith Ross will embark on their debut international tour in spring of 2022, supporting management and label mates The Bros. Landreth across the UK and Europe.

Understood
Leith Ross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll visit my family to give muscle memory a break Cause I have been learning since I was a baby To take on their pain
I'll visit my family in living rooms that don't get cold Cause blankets and body heat can't be compared When it only took you a week to grow old
Love can be understood,
I'm sick of attachments I recently learned I can't relax and I'm scared of myself,
I'm scared for my health,
Tell me you'll take me back home
Old friends are precious but once, all your old friends were new It takes years of tense shoulders
When growing a person into something that you're used to

I'm sick of the feeling that nothing will ever stand still I wish I could stop
Love can be understood,
I'm sick of attachments I recently learned I can't relax and I'm scared of myself,
I'm scared for my health,
Tell me you'll take me back home
When I get sad I go back to my grandmother's house And picture my mother putting on her wedding dress, Posing beside the same couch that I am lying on,
It helps to remember I took generations to make
Love can be understood,
I'm sick of attachments I recently learned I can't relax and I'm scared of myself,
I'm scared for my health,
Tell me you'll take me back home

Love can be understood,
I'm sick of attachments I recently learned I can't relax and I'm scared of myself,

I'm scared for my health,
Tell me you'll take me back home

Overall Meaning

The central theme of the song Understood by Leith Ross is the complexity of love, family, and attachment. The singer of the song finds solace in visiting their family and reminiscing about their childhood memories with their grandmother and mother. They seek refuge in the warmth of their living room, where blankets and body heat provide comfort in contrast to the tense reality of life.

The lyrics also reveal the singer's fear and anxiety about attachment and their ability to relax. They feel overwhelmed by their own emotions and are scared for their health. The line, "Love can be understood" suggests that despite the confusion and complexities of love, it can still be comprehended and appreciated. The singer longs to go back home, seeking reassurance and familiarity.

The songwriter also touches upon the concept of time and its influence on shaping us as individuals. The line "It took generations to make" emphasizes the deep connection with one's ancestry and the impact of our ancestors on who we are today.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the struggle of finding oneself amidst the chaos of life and the importance of roots and social support in times of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll visit my family to give muscle memory a break
I'll take a break from the constant learning process and visit my family

Cause I have been learning since I was a baby
I've been learning constantly since I was very young

To take on their pain
To empathize and share in their emotional burden

I'll visit my family in living rooms that don't get cold
I'll visit my family in cozy, warm environments

Cause blankets and body heat can't be compared
Comfort from human connection cannot be replicated

When it only took you a week to grow old
Time passes quickly and we age faster than we realize

I'm sick of attachments I recently learned I can't relax and I'm scared of myself,
I've realized that my attachments can hold me back and I'm scared of my own tendencies

I'm scared for my health,
I'm worried about my own well-being

Tell me you'll take me back home
Promise me that you'll bring me back to a place of comfort and safety

Old friends are precious but once, all your old friends were new
Close friendships take time to develop and once, even your closest friends were once strangers

It takes years of tense shoulders
It takes a long time and hard work to develop familiarity and comfort

When growing a person into something that you're used to
When forming a strong connection or friendship, familiarity and comfort takes time

I'm sick of the feeling that nothing will ever stand still
I'm tired of the constant change and uncertainty in life

I wish I could stop
I wish I could find peace and stability

When I get sad I go back to my grandmother's house
When I'm feeling down, I find comfort in memories of my past

And picture my mother putting on her wedding dress
I imagine my mother on her wedding day, a happy and hopeful moment

Posing beside the same couch that I am lying on,
I picture her taking photos in the same place where I am currently finding comfort

It helps to remember I took generations to make
It's comforting to remember the long lineage of my family and the many people who have contributed to my existence

Love can be understood,
Love can be comprehended and appreciated

Tell me you'll take me back home
Promise me that you'll bring me back to a place of comfort and safety

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leith Ross

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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