Mal Madrigal is self-reliant and principled in its "do it yourself" work ethic . The band spent late nights at a local guitar store recording a collection of more than 30 songs. The building, built in the late 1800s, was an inspiring environment to track the songs live to 1/2" analog tape. The majority of the recordings were made in this way, with overdubs done on the computer when necessary. Mistakes were kept, songs left pure, and sounds unadulterated by technology.
Mal Madrigal has shared the stage singer/songwriters and rock bands alike including Nina Nastasia, Eric Bachmann, Vic Chesnutt, the Medications, Ladyfinger, Back When, Shiny Around the Edges, Mayday, Simon Joyner, Scout Niblett, Damien Jurado, Edith Frost, Jesse Sykes and many other like-minded artists.
THE WORLD
Mal Madrigal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When my roots are sewn to unsteady ground
Will you still be around?
When the love is wrong, when I'm not my song,
No one belongs inside a song,
Will you still sing along?
My hope is not my own.
Your love, my friend, alone.
To this end, my joy betrothed.
The world is not my home.
This set of lyrics by Mal Madrigal is a poignant representation of the fragility of human existence and the necessity of companionship to endure the challenges of life. The first lines "When God is gone, all the rules blown, When my roots are sewn to unsteady ground" speak to the feeling of disorientation that can arise when one's stability is threatened - whether that be through the loss of faith or the encroachment of instability in one's life. In this time of vulnerability, the lyricist asks whether their loved one will still stand by them "When my roots are sewn to unsteady ground, Will you still be around?"
The second set of lyrics pose the question "When the love is wrong, when I'm not my song, No one belongs inside a song, Will you still sing along?" This is a call for empathy and understanding when times are tough and the individual may not be the best version of themselves. It's an appeal for grace and forgiveness in the face of difficulty. The lyricist acknowledges that not everyone can be a part of their experience, but they hope that their loved one will still be present with them, even in the midst of pain.
The final set of lyrics "The world is not my home. My hope is not my own. Your love, my friend, alone. To this end, my joy betrothed" brings the song to its central theme - the idea that the world in which we live can be a lonely, difficult place, but the love of a friend can be a powerful balm to the soul. It's a reminder that, ultimately, human connection is what makes life worth living. The line "My hope is not my own" is particularly resonant, as it speaks to the idea that our hope is shared, that we need each other to survive and thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is not my home.
The singer feels like they do not belong in this world.
My hope is not my own.
The singer's hope comes from an external source, rather than from themselves.
Your love, my friend, alone.
The singer relies on the love of a friend for comfort and support.
To this end, my joy betrothed.
The artist is committed to finding happiness through their reliance on someone else's love.
When God is gone, all the rules blown,
The artist feels a sense of chaos and uncertainty after losing faith in a higher power.
When my roots are sewn to unsteady ground
The singer feels unstable and uncertain about their place in the world.
Will you still be around?
The singer seeks assurance that they will have support and companionship during times of difficulty.
When the love is wrong, when I'm not my song,
The artist feels disconnected and out of touch with their own emotions and experiences.
No one belongs inside a song,
The artist understands that life is not always as simple or perfect as a song can portray it.
Will you still sing along?
The artist seeks assurance that they will have support and companionship even when they are not feeling their best.
Contributed by Nora D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.