Rootless
Marina The Diamonds Lyrics
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Dripping tears from the sky
I'm a snail without a shell
A leper with a golden bell
I've got nowhere to do
I'm a stray cat on the roam
Choking on a chicken bone
For a home sweet, no sweet home
For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree
But there's somebody that reminded them of me
Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love
I'm rootless
I'm rootless
Work your fingers to the bone
Building castles out of snow
I'm a nomad walking on
Humming to the same old song
Lower case society
In touch with no community
A kingdom without a king
With no sense of belonging
For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree
But there's somebody that reminded them of me
Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love
I'm rootless
I'm rootless
Running with my roots pulled up
So they could cut me free of love
Running with my roots pulled up
Caught me cold so they could cut
What there was left of love
I'm rootless
I'm rootless
Jagged roots through the snow
For a home sweet and no sweet home
I've got nowhere to go
I'm rootless
I'm rootless
The song "Rootless" by Marina and the Diamonds portrays the feeling of loneliness and being disconnected from the world. The singer of the song is represented as a cloud, a snail without a shell, and a stray cat without a home. These entities all show their lack of solid ground and a place of belonging. The lyrics emphasize the desire for roots, leaves, branches, and a tree that provides a sense of stability and foundation. The singer is seeking a sense of belonging and security that they cannot seem to grasp.
The singer is further represented as a nomad, a lowercase society, and a kingdom without a king. Each of these symbols conveys a sense of displacement and a lack of direction. The singer is wandering aimlessly in search of a home and a community to belong to. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that the singer is running with their roots pulled up, caught cold so that they could be cut free of love. The line "What there was left of love" highlights the idea that the singer has experienced emotional trauma that has left them feeling disconnected and rootless.
Overall, "Rootless" by Marina and the Diamonds is a powerful song that conveys the feeling of being disconnected from the world and experiencing emotional trauma. The song's lyrics paint a picture of a person seeking a sense of belonging, security, and stability in a world that seems to be constantly shifting and without direction.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a cloud drifting by
I am disconnected from the world, aimlessly wandering alongside it
Dripping tears from the sky
Crying helplessly and unable to control the tears that fall, like rain from above
I'm a snail without a shell
I feel unguarded, exposed and vulnerable to the world around me
A leper with a golden bell
I may have something valuable, but I am isolated and rejected by society due to my supposed 'impurity'
I've got nowhere to do
I have no place to be, or no purpose in life, aimlessly wandering
I'm a stray cat on the roam
I am a lone and independent person who is constantly moving from one place to another
Choking on a chicken bone
I am struggling to survive, and have been pushed to the limit
For a home sweet, no sweet home
The idea of a 'home' is fleeting, and I don't really have a place where I belong
For a root, for a leaf, for a branch, for a tree
I am searching for some kind of stability or structure in my life
But there's somebody that reminded them of me
There's someone out there who may be able to relate to my feelings of displacement and longing
Running with my roots pulled up
I am fleeing from something that has held me back, but in doing so, I have become even more unmoored
Caught me cold so they could cut
Someone took advantage of my vulnerability and weakness to hurt me even more
What there was left of love
My heart has been broken so many times that I no longer have any capacity for affection or emotions
I'm rootless
I am completely disconnected from any sense of belonging or purpose
Work your fingers to the bone
I am working tirelessly, but not achieving any real progress towards my goals
Building castles out of snow
I am creating something beautiful, but it is completely fleeting and will disappear in an instant
I'm a nomad walking on
I am constantly moving, but without direction or purpose
Humming to the same old song
I am stuck in a cycle of repetition and routine, and cannot escape my own monotony
Lower case society
I feel like an outcast, and do not fit into the norms of 'proper' society
In touch with no community
I am disconnected from my surroundings, and have no place to call my own
A kingdom without a king
I lack strong leadership and direction in my life, and have no one to turn to for guidance
With no sense of belonging
I feel adrift and without a place to call my own
Jagged roots through the snow
I have tried to establish roots, but have been unable to do so in the harsh, cold conditions of the world
For a home sweet and no sweet home
I am searching for a place to belong, but am not sure if such a place exists
I've got nowhere to go
I am lost and without direction, unable to find a path forward
I'm rootless
I am completely disconnected from any sense of belonging or purpose
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LIAM HOWE, PASCAL GABRIEL, MARINA DIAMANDIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind