1. Mother Tongue is an Al… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists using this name:
1. Mother Tongue is an Alternative-Rockband from California. www.mothertonguelives.de
2. Mother Tongue was the name of the short living project of industrial underground legends: Andrew McKenzie (usually recording as The Hafler Trio), Stefan Weisser (better known as Z'EV) and Doro Franck.
3. Mother Tongue, located in New Orleans, is composed of a trio of women: Dorise G. Blackmon (Guitarist), Michaela A. Harrison (Vocalist), and Tanya C. S. Huang (Violinist). www.mothertonguemusic.net/
4. from providence, rhode island - https://mothert0ngue.bandcamp.com
Tides
Mother Tongue Lyrics
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What is it that you fear us seeing
When did you become statues of flesh and bone
What is it that you fear us hearing
What is it that you fear us fearing
How dare you think our lives and hearts you own
No you won't
No, you can't stop the tide
Yeah
You can't stop the tide
No
Cause we're carashin' in
Come on
You threaten us with flames below
When hell's on earth man made you know
You can't stop the tide cause our eyes are open wide
You try to bribe with bliss above
But heaven's on earth and it's name is love
You can't stop the tide cause our eyes are open wide
You can't stop the tide
No you won't
No, you can't stop the tide
No No
Said, you can't stop the tide
Yeah, No
Cause we're carashin' in
Come on
The more you try to shut our eyes
The more they gonna open wide
Cause you can't stop the tide
We're crashin' in, we're crashin' in, we're crashin' in
You can't stop the tide
No you won't
No, you can't stop the tide
No No
Said, you can't stop the tide
Yeah, No
Cause we're carashin' in
Come on
The opening lines of the song, "What is it that you fear us being? What is it that you fear us seeing? When did you become statues of flesh and bone?" serve as a call-out to the individuals or powers that be who try to control or subjugate others by limiting their beliefs, experiences, and expressions. The band is questioning what these oppressors are afraid of when people start thinking, feeling, and acting outside their narrow definition of acceptable behavior. The next lines, "What is it that you fear us hearing? What is it that you fear us fearing? How dare you think our lives and hearts you own?" reveal the extent of control that the oppressors try to exert, even on individual thoughts and emotions. The band is questioning the authority these oppressors assume in deciding what people can and cannot hear, feel, and fear. The subsequent chorus, "You can't stop the tide, no you won't, no you can't stop the tide," emphasizes the inevitability and irrepressibility of change, progress, and human aspiration. The crashing of the waves in the background emphasizes that the tide keeps moving forward, despite attempts to stop it.
The second verse, "You threaten us with flames below when hell's on earth man-made, you know. You can't stop the tide cause our eyes are open wide. You try to bribe with bliss above, but heaven's on earth, and its name is love," highlights how the oppressors resort to scare tactics and enticements to maintain their control over others. The band deplores how they use the fear of eternal damnation or the promise of eternal reward to keep people in line. The band asserts that love, which is available on earth, is more powerful and enduring than anything the oppressors can offer. The chorus is repeated twice more, with the final lines, "We're crashing in, we're crashing in, we're crashing in," indicating that despite the fear and intimidation tactics employed by the oppressors, change, progress, and human aspiration continue to surge forward, unstoppable and undeniable like the tides.
Line by Line Meaning
What is it that you fear us being
What is it exactly that you're afraid of us becoming as individuals?
What is it that you fear us seeing
What is it exactly that you don't want us to see?
When did you become statues of flesh and bone
You used to move and change, what made you just stand still and be lifeless now?
What is it that you fear us hearing
What is it exactly that you don't want us to hear?
What is it that you fear us fearing
What is it exactly that you're afraid we will become afraid of?
How dare you think our lives and hearts you own
How could you even entertain the idea of having power over our lives and our hearts?
You can't stop the tide
You cannot prevent the natural flow of what's to come.
No you won't
Your attempts to resist are futile.
No, you can't stop the tide
It's against the laws of nature and beyond your control.
Yeah
Indeed, you can't stop the tide.
No
You cannot prevent what's coming.
Cause we're carashin' in
We're coming in with force, unstoppable.
You threaten us with flames below
You use the threat of punishment and pain to coerce us.
When hell's on earth man made you know
You create a living hell for others here on earth.
You can't stop the tide cause our eyes are open wide
Our awareness cannot be limited or contained.
You try to bribe with bliss above
You offer the promise of a better future to manipulate us.
But heaven's on earth and it's name is love
The true source of joy and fulfillment lies here in our lives, in the form of love.
The more you try to shut our eyes
The harder you try to control us, the more we will push back.
The more they gonna open wide
Our awareness will expand and grow with every effort to constrain us.
We're crashin' in, we're crashin' in, we're crashin' in
We are moving forward and nothing can stop us.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JORDAN NUDD, JESSICA GOULD, PETER BENTLEY, LIAM MAXWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind