Her surname is pronounced "go-chay."
The Foundling
Mary Gauthier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A FOUNDLING
Unwanted
LOOKING
Unloved and unblessed
FOR
Left on a doorstep
HOME
WANDERS
A shivering shadow
THROUGH
A child with no name
DARKNESS
Severed
AND
Surrendered
TRAVELS
Sinking in pain
ALONE
Conceived in the gale of a ruinous storm
Partially killed, partially born
Abandoned, abandoned, falling through space
With nobody's eyes and nobody's face
A foundling
A child disconnected who no longer dries
With a prisoners stare and an orphans eyes
A free floating phantom held together by skin
A small helpless stranger, a sign in the wind
Washed into this work in fever and flood
Tears remorse, sorry and blood
Abandoned, abandoned left at the gate
Cut loose un-tethered tattooed by fate
A Foundling.
Mary Gauthier's song "The Foundling" tells the story of a baby who was left on a doorstep and abandoned. The lyrics describe the baby as unwanted, unloved, and unblessed, wandering through darkness as a shivering shadow. The child is also described as a "foundling," which is an old-fashioned term for an infant who was found abandoned but not orphaned.
Throughout the song, Gauthier portrays the child's journey as one of pain and isolation. The child is severed from their birth mother, surrendered to the world, and travels alone, sinking in pain. The child is disconnected from others and held together only by their own skin. The lyrics also suggest that the child's fate was predetermined, tattooed onto their very being by the forces of the world.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Foundling" are haunting and deeply emotional. They serve as a reminder of the many children who have been abandoned or left to navigate the world alone. The song is a testament to the human spirit and the resilience of children, even in the face of dire circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
A baby
A newborn child
A FOUNDLING
A child who is abandoned or left by their parents
Unwanted
Not desired or welcomed
LOOKING
Searching for acceptance and love
Unloved and unblessed
Without love, care or support
FOR
In search of a home and family
Left on a doorstep
Abandoned by their parents
HOME
A place to belong and be loved
An unbidden guest
An unwelcome visitor or intruder
WANDERS
Traveling aimlessly without direction
A shivering shadow
A cold, helpless and vulnerable child
THROUGH
Moving through life's struggles and hardships
A child with no name
A child without identity or recognition
DARKNESS
Living in a world of pain, suffering and despair
Severed
Separated from their family and roots
AND
In addition to previous experiences
Surrendered
Giving up hope and losing faith
TRAVELS
Enduring life's journey and obstacles
Sinking in pain
Drowning in sadness, grief and trauma
ALONE
Without companionship or support
Conceived in the gale of a ruinous storm
Born into a chaotic and unstable environment
Partially killed, partially born
Survived but suffered from trauma and neglect
Abandoned, abandoned, falling through space
Forgotten and left to fend for themselves
With nobody's eyes and nobody's face
Without anyone to care for or recognize them
A child disconnected who no longer dries
A detached and emotionally numb child
With a prisoners stare and an orphans eyes
Looking lost, sad and hopeless
A free floating phantom held together by skin
Living without any real identity or purpose
A small helpless stranger, a sign in the wind
A vulnerable and unknown child, invisible to the world
Washed into this work in fever and flood
Thrown into life's turmoil and chaos
Tears remorse, sorry and blood
Experiencing pain, regret and sorrow
Abandoned, abandoned left at the gate
Left alone and forgotten by those who should care
Cut loose un-tethered tattooed by fate
Freed from attachments, but marked with a destiny of hardship
A Foundling.
A reminder of the many children who grow up without love or support.
Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ParArdua
All my journeys lead back to this song. Pain and embrace all in one.
bowie said
What a piece of work. That much pain described.
Stephanie Benton
I am a foundling, and this speaks to me. Beautiful.
Catherine S. Todd
Me, too, even though I had miserable parents. Being left alone would have been better than almost being beaten to death.
Itzhar Vardi
she is my hero of wisdom and pain
bowie said
"With no body's eyes and no body's face"
Jo Popowick
I am a new York foundling searching for my siblings, schenk/ sideratos adoptees
male schenk 1953, male schenk 1954, female schenk 1956, male sideratos adopted by my aunt Helen schenk 1957, male or female sideratos 1965-1966
I am your baby sister