Mena was thirteen years old she moved to live with her musician father. She sang and wrote lyrics as a form of therapy for her feelings and frustrations. Not all the stories in her diary became songs, but "My Lullaby" was one of them, expressing her pain from her parents' divorce. After pleading with her father to make a demo, he contacted some industry experts to record Maria's songs in the studio. Then he presented his daughter's demo to the music industry. Sony Music signed Maria Mena to their label.
In March 2002, Mena's single "My Lullaby" reached number five in the Norwegian charts. The young singer quickly gained fans and soon earned her first platinum record. 2005 saw the release of Apparently Unaffected, including singles "Miss You Love" and "Just Hold Me". A significant success in Norway, the album gained three Spellemann nominations: best female artist, best hit, and best music video.
In September 2008 Mena's fifth studio album was released, Cause and Effect.
This Too Shall Pass
Maria Mena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over-analyzing everything
The circle of us
Won't break its pattern
Won't cease, cause
I am your stubborn hypocritical lover
Guarded by thorns of my past
And none of us thought it would last
The winds of your ego
The waves of my tears
Made the most perfect almighty storm that we've seen this year
But experience gathered we've learned from our past
So don't worry, darling
Cause this too shall pass
Soul-bruising, I look at you
Accusingly cause I am black and blue
Emotional fist
You are the only man who makes me feel like this
I am your weakness, I am your protector
But who will protect you from me
The damage is obvious, patch me together
Loosen your grip boy, I can't breathe
The winds of your ego
The waves of my tears
Made the most perfect almighty storm that we've seen this year
But experience gathered we've learned from our past
So don't worry, darling
Cause this too shall pass
In Maria Mena's song "This Too Shall Pass," the singer is opening up about the challenges she's facing in her relationship. She screams, "Not again," suggesting that she's been through this before, and is stuck in a negative pattern with her partner. She indicates that she is over-analyzing everything, and feels trapped in a never-ending cycle. Her hope for a break in this cycle seems lost, as she mentions that the circle of them will not break its pattern.
In the following verse, she identifies herself as her partner's "stubborn hypocritical lover," guarded by thorns of her past. She acknowledges that both her and her partner are at fault for the problems in their relationship, having wounded each other and bled out. Despite their mutual contribution to the harm, they never thought it would last. She describes the "almighty storm" that they've faced, caused by "the winds of his ego" and "the waves of her tears." However, she reassures her partner that they've learned from their past experiences, and that this difficult time will eventually pass.
Towards the end of the song, she looks at her partner accusingly, feeling soul-bruised and black and blue emotionally. She acknowledges that she is her partner's weakness, but also his protector. She also worries about damaging him in return. She tells him to loosen his grip on her as she feels like she can't breathe anymore. Again, she highlights the lesson of the song, that this difficult time they are facing will also pass.
Overall, Maria Mena's lyrics in "This Too Shall Pass" paint a picture of the difficulties faced in a relationship and the hope for resolution. She highlights the importance of learning from past experiences, and encourages her partner to loosen their grip to allow healing and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Not again," I scream
Expressing frustration and disappointment at the repetition of negative events
Over-analyzing everything
Indulging in obsessive rumination and worrying
The circle of us
Refers to the dysfunctional patterns in a dysfunctional relationship
Won't break its pattern
Refers to the intractability of those patterns
Won't cease, cause
Refers to the resistance to change
I am your stubborn hypocritical lover
Admitting to one's own faults and flaws in the relationship
Guarded by thorns of my past
Refers to the emotional baggage and trauma carried by the singer
You have been wounded, bled out, anger gushing
Acknowledging the harm done to the partner and the intensity of the resulting emotions
And none of us thought it would last
Suggesting that both partners were aware of the volatility and fragility of the relationship
The winds of your ego
Refers to the arrogance, selfishness or dominance of the partner
The waves of my tears
Describing the singer's emotional vulnerability and instability
Made the most perfect almighty storm that we've seen this year
Metaphorically describing the intense and destructive conflict in the relationship
But experience gathered we've learned from our past
Using past mistakes and hardships to inform and improve the current situation
So don't worry, darling
Comforting the partner and providing reassurance
Cause this too shall pass
Affirming that the current difficulties will eventually come to an end
Soul-bruising, I look at you
Indicating emotional trauma and pain caused by the relationship
Accusingly cause I am black and blue
Attributing the emotional wounds to the partner's actions
Emotional fist
Metaphorical description of the partner's emotional abuse
You are the only man who makes me feel like this
Acknowledging the intensity and complexity of the singer's feelings for the partner
I am your weakness, I am your protector
Describing the dynamic of dependence and care in the relationship
But who will protect you from me
Implying that the artist's emotional state may become harmful or unstable
The damage is obvious, patch me together
Acknowledging the harm done to the relationship and requesting emotional repair
Loosen your grip boy, I can't breathe
Asking for space, independence and freedom in the relationship
Contributed by Andrew S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.