Mariee Sioux (born Marie Sioux Sobonya in Arcata, CA, on 4 February 1985) i… Read Full Bio ↴Mariee Sioux (born Marie Sioux Sobonya in Arcata, CA, on 4 February 1985) is an American folk singer-songwriter in the vein of Joni Mitchell and Joanna Newsom. She has also released music under the name Mariee Siou.

Raised in Nevada City, CA, Sioux released two albums independently on CD in 2005 and 2006 respectively: "Pray Me a Shadow" and "A Bundled Bundle of Bundles."

Her official debut, "Faces in the Rocks" - partially consisting of re-recorded demos from her previous albums - was recorded in May of 2007 and released via Grass Roots Records in October of that same year. A friend of Alela Diane since childhood, the two worked together for Mr. Toad's Sessions.

"Gift for the End," her second album, was released in Europe on March 5, 2012, on the Almost Musique label, and in the USA in April 2012 on Whale Watch Records.

In 2019, she released "Grief in Exile" on Night Bloom Records, and, in 2023, "Circle of Signs," her debut solo EP.

Gray Whale Winter
Mariee Sioux Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somehow, we'll have to find

The bones that we left in each other's mouths

'cause you still have the ones that allow me to stand upright

And now the night, it ties me tight to the bare trees

And now the night, it holds me tight to my brown knees

This will be a gray whale winter

Pulling everyone under

Golden breaths going down deeper

We will need to have fireflies in our mouths

And swallow them down, down, down, down, down

And swallow them down, down, down, down, down

So when we leave the sky behind

We will find ourselves

Blowing under waves black as crows' wings

Glowing under waves black as crows' wings

So when we leave the sky behind

We will find ourselves

Blowing under waves black as crows' wings

Glowing under waves black as crows' wings

Blowing under waves black as crows' wings

Somehow, we'll have to find

The sun that we left in each other's mouths

'cause i still have the light you left in my teeth

And now the day, it throws me out on the streets

And now the day, it throws me out of your reach

This will be the end of garden mothers

Throwing their fists through the walls

Failing to catch the falling hope clouds

She will need to have fireflies in her belly today

To shine their light on a path so she won't stray

So she won't stray

So when she leaves the sky behind

She will find herself

Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes

Glowing through the forest black as crows' eyes

So when she leaves the sky behind

She will find herself

Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes

Glowing through the forest black as crows' eyes

Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Mariee Sioux's song Gray Whale Winter seem to speak of a profound and unsettling sense of loss, coupled with the desire to find something or someone that can restore a sense of balance and stability. The first few lines paint a picture of fragmented relationships and broken promises, as the singer describes trying to find "the bones that we left in each other's mouths." The metaphorical image of bones suggests something that is essential to the singer's identity or stability, and the fact that they are missing implies that something crucial has been lost or destroyed.

As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the present moment, where the singer is struggling to find a foothold in a world that feels unstable and uncertain. The night "ties [them] tight to the bare trees," emphasizing the sense of being trapped or stuck in a difficult situation. The repetition of the phrase "blowing under waves black as crows' wings" suggests a feeling of being swept away by powerful currents that are beyond the singer's control.

The second half of the song seems to offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer acknowledges that there is still some light left in the world, even if it is difficult to access. The image of "fireflies in [their] mouth" suggests the need for internal illumination and the idea of "swallowing them down" implies that this process requires active effort and intention. The repetition of the phrase "so she won't stray" suggests a desire for direction and purpose, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

Overall, Gray Whale Winter seems to be a powerful meditation on loss, struggle, and the search for meaning in difficult times. The song's sparse instrumentation and haunting vocals enhance its sense of ethereal beauty and introspective depth.

Line by Line Meaning

Somehow, we'll have to find The bones that we left in each other's mouths 'cause you still have the ones that allow me to stand upright
We need to reconcile and find what we have lost in each other, because what we have is necessary for us to stand strong and support each other.

And now the night, it ties me tight to the bare trees And now the night, it holds me tight to my brown knees This will be a gray whale winter Pulling everyone under Golden breaths going down deeper
The dark times are upon us, and it feels suffocating and overwhelming. It's like being pulled under the water with no escape, and the weight of it is dragging us deeper.

We will need to have fireflies in our mouths And swallow them down, down, down, down, down And swallow them down, down, down, down, down
To survive these dark times, we must have hope within us. We must take it in and let it light the way through the darkness.

So when we leave the sky behind We will find ourselves Blowing under waves black as crows' wings Glowing under waves black as crows' wings Blowing under waves black as crows' wings
When we leave behind what once gave us comfort and security, we will be alone and vulnerable. But we must have faith that we will find our way and grow stronger through the challenges we face.

Somehow, we'll have to find The sun that we left in each other's mouths 'cause i still have the light you left in my teeth And now the day, it throws me out on the streets And now the day, it throws me out of your reach
We need to remember what once brought us joy and happiness, because it has the power to give us strength and motivation. However, the harsh reality of life separates us from what we love and puts us in challenging situations.

This will be the end of garden mothers Throwing their fists through the walls Failing to catch the falling hope clouds She will need to have fireflies in her belly today To shine their light on a path so she won't stray So she won't stray
These dark times will affect everyone, including those who have always been a source of comfort and guidance. They may feel lost and helpless, unable to catch even a glimmer of hope. But they must find a way to cling onto hope and light, to guide them on their path and prevent them from straying from it.

So when she leaves the sky behind She will find herself Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes Glowing through the forest black as crows' eyes So when she leaves the sky behind She will find herself Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes Glowing through the forest black as crows' eyes Blowing through the forest black as crows' eyes
Even if someone feels lost and alone, they must hold onto hope and faith in themselves. When they leave behind what once gave them comfort and security, they may be lost in the dark, but they must keep looking and they will find their way. They will grow stronger and more resilient, just like the black crows who thrive in the darkness of the forest.

Contributed by Cole R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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