Niña
Meg Christian Lyrics
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To play with Negra, Rose and Maria
I sadly recall the friends of my childhood
You my love, bear the fruit of my pain
Do you ride wild horses in Amazon battles
I rode like a lady except when alone
I wept for dead soldiers then burned all my journals
Your muscles are shining as you dance with each other
I wore shiny stockings and was led to the floor
I learned how to follow but then never got married
Nina my daughter, sometimes I resent you
Your laughter, your lovers, your courage to feel
I was never allowed to love Eloisa
Yet you sleep so warm in the arms of your friends
But as I lie awake and hear your soft pleasure
My resentment fades and I shelter your love
For the outside world makes you cry all too often
And because of you, I too hold a woman tonight
Nina, where does your heart take you today
To play with Negra, Rose and Maria
You will sadly recall your pages of childhood
And women unborn will bear the fruit of your pain
The song "Nina" by Meg Christian is a touching tribute from a mother to her daughter, Nina. The lyrics capture the mother's nostalgia for her own childhood friends, and her envy and admiration for her daughter's freedom and fearlessness in love and life. The song begins with a question from the mother to Nina, asking where her heart takes her today, perhaps wondering where her daughter is and who she is with. Nina's response is imagined by the mother, who pictures her daughter playing with her friends Negra, Rose, and Maria.
The mother then contrasts her own life experiences with that of her daughter. She mentions riding horses, but not in wild Amazon battles like she imagines Nina does. The mother wept for dead soldiers and burned her journals, perhaps to forget the horrors of war or to forget those she had lost. She reflects on her own shiny stockings and learning how to follow on the dance floor, but never getting married. Meanwhile, Nina's muscles are shining as she dances with her friends, showing her strength and confidence.
The mother's jealousy and resentment is palpable. She resents Nina's laughter, lovers, and courage to feel, because she herself was never allowed to love Eloisa. However, as she reflects on this, her resentment fades and she realizes that she wants to shelter her daughter's love. She recognizes that the outside world can be cruel and hurtful, and she wants to protect Nina from that pain. The final lines of the song remind us that pain can be passed down through generations of women, but also the love and strength that helps them endure it.
Line by Line Meaning
Nina, where does your heart take you today
Asking where Nina’s emotions are pulling her today.
To play with Negra, Rose and Maria
Wondering if Nina is with her friends Negra, Rose, and Maria.
I sadly recall the friends of my childhood
Author remembers her own childhood friends with sadness.
You my love, bear the fruit of my pain
The pain that author endured has been passed on to her daughter, Nina.
Do you ride wild horses in Amazon battles
Author questions if Nina is experiencing adventurous things in her life.
I rode like a lady except when alone
The author rode horses like a lady except when she was alone.
I wept for dead soldiers then burned all my journals
Author burned all her journals after the tragedy of the soldiers dying.
Your muscles are shining as you dance with each other
Nina and her friends seem strong and confident while dancing together.
I wore shiny stockings and was led to the floor
The author wore fancy stockings and was asked to dance.
I learned how to follow but then never got married
The author learned to follow while dancing, but never got married.
Nina my daughter, sometimes I resent you
Author admits to having feelings of resentment towards her daughter at times.
Your laughter, your lovers, your courage to feel
Nina’s ability to express herself is admired by the author.
I was never allowed to love Eloisa
The author was not allowed to express her love for someone named Eloisa.
Yet you sleep so warm in the arms of your friends
Nina seems comfortable and safe while sleeping in the arms of her friends.
But as I lie awake and hear your soft pleasure
The author listens to her daughter’s joy while lying awake.
My resentment fades and I shelter your love
Author’s negative feelings towards her daughter fade and she wants to protect her love.
For the outside world makes you cry all too often
The author wants to protect her daughter from the harsh world outside, which causes her to cry often.
And because of you, I too hold a woman tonight
Nina’s influence led the author to hold another woman tonight.
You will sadly recall your pages of childhood
Nina will also have nostalgic memories of her childhood.
And women unborn will bear the fruit of your pain
Future generations of women may inherit the pain passed down by the author and her daughter.
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Donna J Healy
My Dear Precious Meg, did you realize how many women's lives were changed because of your music and the words that had been unspoken for so long? I am also 75 now and had it not been for you, Chris and Olivia, I know I would never have lived the full life I have now......thank you. Will always love you.
Beverly Schultz
❤❤❤
Susie Pittman
Such an inspiration to me when I was young. So unbelievably talented.
Elizabeth Manley
Meg's music was/is transformational. so affirming and speaking to women's experiences that had not been heard before.
Jennifer
if anyone had any idea that she would leave the music scene completely we would've recorded every single coffee house concert we'd ever gone to.
Sun Fellow
@Brown Girl It's a yoga tradition, so not Buddhist. More like Vedic philosophy, often called Hinduism.
ParArdua
Beautiful times when we could still celebrate who we are.
Bobbi Miller
Does my soul well to hear this music again.
iamsoaringeagle
Oh I so agree .... again and always and evermore ... Meg and Cris may have created their music from and for different circumstances than those in my life, but since I discovered them in the late 1970's, they have been such constant companions and such sources of comfort in all my journies and crises and losses and healing .....
Oh Justice!
S U C H a gorgeous voice and lovely, lovely woman. Oh how I miss her!