Melanie adopted the nickname Maple Bee in 2003, when she formed her now disbanded band Vertigo Angels.
City in a Belly
Maple Bee Lyrics
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There's too many places, can't find my way around
I've got what I wanted, no day or no night
But without you here there's nothing I cannot fight
Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?
There's too many people in my town
If I close my eyes to open with my head hanging down
Can I find the virgin air there where nobody's breathed?
Can I melt this body down, dear, and turn into steam?
Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
'Cause tall walls cover something and they keep out the air
'Cause the streets are all just grey now without you there
'Cause tall walls cover something and they keep out the air
'Cause tall walls cover something and they keep out the air
'Cause the streets are all just grey now without you there
Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
'Cause tall walls cover something and they keep out the air
'Cause the streets are all just grey now without you there
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
The song 'City in a Belly' by Maple Bee talks about feeling lost and disconnected while living in a city that is too crowded and overwhelming. The lyrics describe a feeling of being invisible in a place where there are too many people and too many places to go. The singer is searching for a way to escape this feeling of emptiness by either building a home with someone or letting the city consume her entirely.
The verses suggest a sense of loneliness and isolation, amplified by the crowded streets and tall walls that block out the fresh air. Even though the singer does not specify who she's missing, the absence of the person has made her feel hollow and unsupported. The listener can also understand that the singer is searching for something deeper and meaningful than the physical things that she has acquired.
The chorus repeats the same question twice; 'Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?' and 'Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?' which represents the two opposing choices she is facing. It's up to the audience to decide whether the singer will stay lost in the city or find her way out.
Overall, 'City in a Belly' is a song that reflects a common urban problem, where people struggle to find a sense of belonging and human connection in a fast-paced and overcrowded city. The song conveys a sense of hopelessness and a longing to escape, but also a willingness to find a solution.
Line by Line Meaning
There's too many faces in this town
I feel overwhelmed and lost in this place because there are so many people here.
There's too many places, can't find my way around
There are so many different locations in this town that I struggle to navigate through it.
I've got what I wanted, no day or no night
I have achieved what I set out to do, but now the constant emptiness of the city makes me feel like there is never anything different between day and night.
But without you here there's nothing I cannot fight
Even though I am struggling, I will do everything in my power to keep going because I am determined to overcome these obstacles without you.
Shall I let this empty city swallow me up whole?
Should I give up and allow the bleakness of this metropolis to consume me entirely?
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low
I am feeling extremely down and helpless in this environment.
Shall I give myself to someone and build me a home?
Is it worth trying to start anew with someone else, and create a new sense of belonging in this alien place?
There's too many people in my town
I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of individuals living in this place, which gives me a sense of isolation and sadness.
If I close my eyes to open with my head hanging down
I try to ignore the reality of my situation by blocking out the external stimuli, but it just makes me feel worse.
Can I find the virgin air there where nobody's breathed?
I am yearning for a sense of purity and newness in the air, free from the pollution and staleness of this city.
Can I melt this body down, dear, and turn into steam?
I wish I could escape from this reality so thoroughly that I could become something entirely different, to start again as something pure and free.
'Cause tall walls cover something and they keep out the air
The city's tall buildings hide something from view, and they make the air feel stagnant and claustrophobic.
'Cause the streets are all just grey now without you there
The city feels dull and lifeless to me now that you're not here with me to share it.
Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.