Wagner has been writing songs since the age of 16. Her self-titled debut album was released in February 2011 by the Finnish indie label Kioski. It was later released in United Kingdom and Europe by Bone Voyage Recordings and in North America by Friendly Fire Recordings. In August 2012 Time Magazine listed Wagner as one of the ″11 Great Bands You Don’t Know (But Should)″. Although her debut album was not a big success, it caused a lot of attention and in February 2014 Wagner was signed by the American record label Sub Pop.
Wagner's second album When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day was released in August 2014. The album peaked number one at the Finnish Album Chart. It was a nominee for the 2014 Nordic Music Prize which is an annual award for the Best Nordic Album Of The Year. She won the prize.
On 21 April 2015, Wagner performed on the music television show Later... with Jools Holland.
She also did the trailer song for Gore Verbinski's 2017 film A Cure for Wellness, which was a cover of The Ramones song "I Wanna Be Sedated".
To the Bone
Mirel Wagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this is how it's done
you'll play your part
and I'll play mine
but your love drags me down
like the clothes
when you swim
down deeper down
my heart has no home
you've bruised me to the bone
O my little one
you'll be just fine
your bruise will fade
and your bones didn't brake
but your love drags me down
like the clothes
when you swim
down deeper down
like the roots of old trees
I shiver 'cause I'm cold
but you don't want to know
Mirel Wagner’s “To the Bone” is a poignant yet somber song that speaks about the turmoil of love and enduring pain. The lyrics, “O my little one, this is how it’s done, you’ll play your part and I’ll play mine, but your love drags me down like the clothes when you swim” depict a love that is burdensome, and the “clothes” signify the emotional baggage that the singer carries. The lyrics also allude to the fact that love involves giving your all, but it can also leave you feeling lost and hopeless.
The phrase, “down deeper down like the roots of old trees,” draws a comparison between the agony felt by the singer to that of a tree’s roots that have been deeply entrenched into the ground, from where they draw their sustenance. The reference to roots also suggests that the singer’s pain runs deep, and they have no place to call home. The following lines, “my heart has no home, you’ve bruised me to the bone, O my little one, you’ll be just fine, your bruise will fade and your bones didn’t break” indicate that the singer bears the scars from the love they once shared, but it was not enough to break them.
The final lines, “I shiver ‘cause I’m cold, but you don’t want to know,” suggest that the singer is still affected by the trauma, and it has left them feeling cold and distant towards their loved one. The song's overall mood is melancholic and stripped down to express the pain the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
O my little one
The singer is directly addressing the person who is young or vulnerable.
this is how it's done
The singer is explaining how something is typically done or expected to be done.
you'll play your part
The singer is telling the person to fulfill their role or responsibility in a situation.
and I'll play mine
The artist is acknowledging their own role and responsibility in the situation.
but your love drags me down
The artist is saying that the love of the other person is overwhelming and burdensome.
like the clothes when you swim
The singer is making a comparison to heavy clothing that restricts movement, like when swimming.
down deeper down
The singer is emphasizing how deep the feeling or situation is.
like the roots of old trees
The artist is emphasizing resilience or longevity of something, like the roots of old trees.
my heart has no home
The artist is expressing a feeling of displacement or lack of belonging.
you've bruised me to the bone
The artist is communicating that the other person's actions have caused emotional pain that is as deep as physical injury to the bone.
O my little one
The singer is reiterating their direct address to the person and re-establishing their nurturing tone.
you'll be just fine
The artist is trying to reassure the person that they will be okay or recover from something.
your bruise will fade
The singer is specifically referring to the physical bruise and stating that it will heal.
and your bones didn't brake
The singer is emphasizing that the physical harm wasn't as bad as it could have been since the bones didn't break.
but your love drags me down
The singer is reiterating that the other person's love has a negative impact on them.
like the clothes when you swim
The artist is repeating the metaphor they used earlier to drive home their point.
down deeper down
The artist is repeating their emphasis on the intensity of the feeling or situation.
like the roots of old trees
The singer is again emphasizing resilience or longevity of something, like the roots of old trees.
I shiver 'cause I'm cold
The singer is making a literal statement about their physical state of being.
but you don't want to know
The artist is expressing that the other person doesn't care to know or understand their plight, adding to the emotional pain they are feeling.
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@benten825
O my little one
This is how it's done
You'll play your part
And I'll play mine
But your love drags me down
Like the clothes
When you swim
Down deeper down
Like the roots of old trees
My heart has no home
You've bruised me to the bone
O my little one
You'll be just fine
Your bruise will fade
And your bones didn't brake
But your love drags me down
Like the clothes
When you swim
Down deeper down
Like the roots of old trees
I shiver 'cause I'm cold
But you don't want to know
@ZAKKWYLDE434
Thanks to Telltale's The Walking Dead: Michonne for introducing me to Mirel Wagner. All of her music fits very well with TWD. I love it!
@ZAKKWYLDE434
Goodbye buddy :)
@r2deepthroat215
You're the man zakk
@sillychimera943
This song fits perfectly with The Walking Dead Michonne VG series and i must say nice job to get this song hooked up with Telltale they are into songs like this for their games, keep making song for them so you can be supported for your style of music! I love this song!
@sillychimera943
Infamous Loonatic Why are you mad? i though i posted a nice comment. (btw its you who should shut up not me :p)
@sillychimera943
Infamous Loonatic Since when did i say that i am a girl crying, i didn't say that i am crying. And a timeout for what? i am literally laughing about your reply, haha.
@piccalele
Did he delete his comments?
@sillychimera943
4L3KS no, i reported him and his messages were deleted...
@benten825
O my little one
This is how it's done
You'll play your part
And I'll play mine
But your love drags me down
Like the clothes
When you swim
Down deeper down
Like the roots of old trees
My heart has no home
You've bruised me to the bone
O my little one
You'll be just fine
Your bruise will fade
And your bones didn't brake
But your love drags me down
Like the clothes
When you swim
Down deeper down
Like the roots of old trees
I shiver 'cause I'm cold
But you don't want to know
@MINE_GAMER_PT
I just finished playing The Walking Dead: Michonne, heard this song in the end and I absolutely love it