Reunion
Mercury Rev Lyrics


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Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh
Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh

I heard this mornin' they dropped the Tallahatchie
(Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh)
And found poor Billie gone
(Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh)
I heard this mornin' they dropped the Tallahatchie
(I told you my mama didn't raise no fool
I can do anything if I got the right tools)
And found poor Billie gone

I heard this mornin' they dropped the Tallahatchie
And found poor Billie gone
I heard this mornin' they dropped the Tallahatchie




And found poor Billie gone
(Found poor Billie gone, found poor Billie gone)

Overall Meaning

"Reunion" by Mercury Rev is a haunting, cryptic song that evokes a sense of loss, regret, and sadness. The lyrics speak of a woman asking her mother for permission and reassurance before setting out to do something unknown. The repetition of the phrase "Mama, can I huh?" emphasizes the singer's sense of uncertainty and hesitation, as if she is seeking approval and guidance in the face of an uncertain future.


The song takes a dark turn with the mention of the Tallahatchie, a river in Mississippi that was the site of an infamous incident in which a young black man named Emmett Till was brutally murdered by white supremacists. The singer notes that they "dropped the Tallahatchie" and "found poor Billie gone," suggesting a similarity to Till's murder.


The song is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the listener to fill in the gaps and make sense of what the lyrics mean. It could be interpreted as a commentary on racism, violence, and oppression, or as a more personal meditation on loss and grief. Whatever the true meaning may be, "Reunion" is a haunting and powerful song that lingers in the mind long after it ends.


Line by Line Meaning

Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh
Asking for mother's permission to achieve something.


I heard this mornin' they dropped the Tallahatchie
The news about the event that took place this morning where the Tallahatchie was dropped.


(Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh)
Reiterating the request made to the mother earlier in the song.


And found poor Billie gone
The result of dropping Tallahatchie was that Billie was found to be gone.


(I told you my mama didn't raise no fool
Confidently expressing their capability to accomplish anything.


I can do anything if I got the right tools)
Asserting that they are equipped with the necessary tools to accomplish anything.


Found poor Billie gone, found poor Billie gone
Reiterating the tragic discovery of Billie being gone.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jonathan Donahue, Sean Mackowiak

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

the sodium lights

seriously good production/arrangements on this entire album.

David McGough

Excellent - should have made it longer because great elements all around

Dan L

How about a Rachel Goswell and Victoria Legrand collab.

grisha yampolsky

personally prefer the original funky version (momma can I uh momma momma can I uh), this lush sound doesn't fit to my ears. still an amazing production and a big surprise!

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