Poor Mum
Molly Drake Lyrics


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Poor mum, poor mum
After a lifetime of dreaming
Poor mum, poor mum
Whatever became of your scheming

Nothing worked out
In the way that you planned
Nothing was quite as you thought
Try very hard not to misunderstand
Joy as it flies
Cannot be caught

Poor mum, Poor mum
Where did you take a wrong turning?
Poor mum, poor mum
Pack up that last little yearning

Pack it away with the books and the toys
Silent and dumb
Silent and mend

Go out and grab at your life
And forget




You are poor, poor...
"Mum"

Overall Meaning

The song "Poor Mum" by Molly Drake is a poignant reflection on the disappointments and unfulfilled dreams of a mother. The lyrics are simple but powerful, with a message that is both sad and hopeful. The song speaks to the struggles that many people face in trying to make their dreams a reality, and the pain that comes when those dreams remain unattainable.


The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the repeated refrain of "Poor mum, poor mum / After a lifetime of dreaming." It's clear that the mother in question has spent her life dreaming of something more, something better, but that those dreams have never come to fruition. The second verse continues this theme, with the lines "Nothing worked out / In the way that you planned / Nothing was quite as you thought." Here, the song highlights the sense of disappointment and disillusionment that can come when our expectations don't match up with reality.


Towards the end of the song, however, there is a glimmer of hope. The lines "Go out and grab at your life / And forget / You are poor, poor... / 'Mum'" are a call to action, a reminder that it's never too late to start pursuing our dreams. Despite the setbacks and disappointments of the past, the song encourages the mother to keep striving for a better life, to let go of the past and embrace the future.


Overall, "Poor Mum" is a moving and insightful song that speaks to the universal experiences of disappointment, hope, and resilience.


Line by Line Meaning

Poor mum, poor mum
Molly is addressing her mother, empathizing with her struggles


After a lifetime of dreaming
Molly acknowledges her mother’s aspirations and desires throughout her life


Whatever became of your scheming
Molly questions why none of her mother's plans came to fruition


Nothing worked out
Her mother’s plans and efforts did not yield the desired results


In the way that you planned
The specific details of her mother's plans fell apart


Nothing was quite as you thought
The execution of her mother’s schemes didn’t match her original expectations


Try very hard not to misunderstand
Molly is advising her mother not to worry excessively about why things went wrong


Joy as it flies
Molly uses a metaphor to express how fleeting and elusive happiness can be


Cannot be caught
It is impossible to grasp onto moments of joy permanently


Where did you take a wrong turning?
Molly is wondering if her mother made decisions that led to the failure of her plans


Pack up that last little yearning
Molly is encouraging her mother to move on from her past desires and aspirations


Pack it away with the books and the toys
Molly suggests that these yearnings should be left behind like childhood belongings


Silent and dumb
With an implication of finality, Molly suggests that it is time to abandon these yearnings


Silent and mend
A usage of 'mend' which suggests endings lead to new beginnings


Go out and grab at your life
Molly is urging her mother to pursue life actively


And forget
She is insisting that her mother should leave regrets truly behind


You are poor, poor...
Molly concludes her song with the sad acknowledgement of her mother’s state


"Mum"
The last word in the song is an intimate, personal address to her mother




Writer(s): Molly Drake

Contributed by Amelia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Francine Roch

Poor Mum, poor Mum, after a lifetime of dreaming,
Poor Mum, poor Mum, whatever became of your scheming?
Nothing worked out in the way that you planned
Nothing was quite as you thought
Try very hard not to misunderstand
Joy as it flies can not be caught
Poor Mum, poor Mum, where did you take a wrong turning?
Poor Mum, poor Mum, pack up that last little yearning
pack it away with the books and the toys
Silent and dumb, sillent and mum
Go out and grab at your life and forget
You are poor poor ....
Mum?



All comments from YouTube:

redfrogrodeo

I haven’t seen or spoken to my mother in 7 years. She’s a very mental Ill woman with a traumatic past. She caused me a lot of pain and I can’t be around her. I hold no grudge and feel bad for her suffering. When I feel sad about our relationship I listen to this beautiful haunting song.

mikalovfydorzebrowski

Wiw... She uses exactly the same phrasing and melodic soundscape Nick Drake explored. Shows you that sometimes talent of genius doesn't appear out of the blue

Randall Throckmorton

It’s amazing how those similarities can be heard across different genres, instruments and eras. I wonder if she had a family influence herself or did her genius emerge out of the blue.

Jessica Haines

@Randall Throckmorton and isn't it incredible how if Nick Drake is a musical influence, it's also his mother who is your influence! Even if you've never heard her.

Ivory Khan

Molly was NIck's primary influence.

Erik Thorsen

@Randall Throckmorton No. The whole family was remarkably musical. That extends to aunts, uncles, grandparents. They seem to have played nearly constantly.

Oronzo Persano

One of the most brilliant and sublime song that I ever heard here. Thanks you Mum, thank you Molly, Thanks you Nick

Molly Potter - Emotions!

Oh my. How poignant and fatalistic. Mesmerising. Love it.

gloomandglow

This is her best one, by far.

Rich P

Almost impossibly poignant in the light of subsequent events. Lovely even on its own.

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