Control
MotherFolk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Words in my mouth are still unsaid
And I'm not sure if I can get them out
'Cause I've spent enough time in my head
I've spent enough time sleepin'
All of the days, they blur together now
And all of the words are still trapped in my mouth
I don't want anything at all
I don't have the words to bring that light back home
That's a season of my life that's gone
Where was I going? I almost lost control
And your eyes they showed it, but I had nowhere else to go
So just keep breathing
You walked me right up to that cliff
Did all you could to make me jump off of it
And I'll give in, you know I always do
I'll do anything I can to never disappoint you
Disappoint you
Where was I going? I almost lost control
And your eyes they showed it, but I had nowhere else to go
So just keep breathing, that's where you wanna be
'Cause it never occurred to me to just move through
And I could never suggest it as calmly as you do
I could put up a fight, but I don't think it'd come out quite like it used to
Like it used to
In this poignant song, Motherfolk explores the themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and the search for meaning. The opening line "God, are you sleeping? Are you dead?" is a powerful cry for help, expressing the frustration of feeling unheard and abandoned. The next lines, "Words in my mouth are still unsaid / And I'm not sure if I can get them out," further emphasize the sense of isolation and inability to communicate.
The singer of the song is struggling with a deep internal conflict, as evidenced by the lines "I don't want you, I don't want God / I don't want anything at all." This sense of disillusionment is mirrored in the refrain "Where was I going? I almost lost control," underscoring the feeling of being adrift and directionless.
The tension in the song builds in the second half with the introduction of an antagonist figure. The lines "You walked me right up to that cliff / Did all you could to make me jump off of it" suggest the presence of someone who is trying to push the singer over the edge. The singer's willingness to "do anything I can to never disappoint you" further emphasizes the power dynamic at play.
Line by Line Meaning
God, are you sleeping? Are you dead?
I feel so alone and abandoned that I wonder if there's even a higher power looking over me.
Words in my mouth are still unsaid
I have so many thoughts and feelings bottled up inside of me that I can't put into words.
And I'm not sure if I can get them out
I'm afraid to express myself because I don't know if I'm capable of doing so.
'Cause I've spent enough time in my head
I've been trapped in my own thoughts for too long and I need to break free.
I've spent enough time sleepin'
I've been ignoring my problems and pretending they don't exist for too long.
All of the days, they blur together now
My life feels stagnant and monotonous, with no clear distinction between the days.
And all of the words are still trapped in my mouth
I still can't find a way to express myself and convey what I'm feeling.
I don't want you, I don't want God
I don't want anyone or anything to have control over me or my life.
I don't want anything at all
I feel so lost and hopeless that I don't even know what I want anymore.
I don't have the words to bring that light back home
I don't have the ability to find my way out of my dark thoughts and feelings.
That's a season of my life that's gone
I've moved on from a previous chapter of my life and now I'm struggling to figure out what comes next.
Where was I going? I almost lost control
I feel like I've lost all direction and I'm on the brink of spiraling out of control.
And your eyes they showed it, but I had nowhere else to go
I see the concern in your eyes, but I don't know how to ask for help or where to turn for it.
So just keep breathing
Even though I don't know what to do, I know that all I can do is keep going and survive one moment at a time.
You walked me right up to that cliff
You pushed me to my breaking point and forced me to confront my demons head on.
Did all you could to make me jump off of it
You wanted me to hit rock bottom so that I could rebuild myself, even though it was painful and scary.
And I'll give in, you know I always do
I'll do whatever it takes to please you and avoid disappointing you, even if it means sacrificing my own wellbeing.
I'll do anything I can to never disappoint you
My fear of letting others down controls me and influences my decisions, even when it's not in my best interest.
Where was I going? I almost lost control
I'm struggling to find my way and keep my head above water, and I feel like I'm close to giving up.
And your eyes they showed it, but I had nowhere else to go
Even though I see that you care about me, I don't know how to reach out to you or ask for help.
So just keep breathing, that's where you wanna be
You don't have all the answers either, but together we can keep pushing forward and trying to survive.
'Cause it never occurred to me to just move through
I've been so preoccupied with avoiding pain and discomfort that I never considered the possibility of healing and moving on from it.
And I could never suggest it as calmly as you do
I envy your ability to approach situations rationally and find solutions calmly, because I'm too consumed by my emotions to do the same.
I could put up a fight, but I don't think it'd come out quite like it used to
I'm too tired and defeated to continue fighting against my circumstances like I used to.
Contributed by Avery J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.