Timshel
Mumford & Sons Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance

But you are not alone in this

And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand

And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars

But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand

But I will tell the night

And whisper, "Lose your sight"
But I can't move the mountains for you

Overall Meaning

The song Timshel by Mumford & Sons is a powerful anthem about the struggles of life and the importance of human connection. The opening lines paint a bleak picture of the human condition, comparing the mind to frozen water and death lurking nearby. Despite this darkness, the lyrics offer a glimmer of hope in the idea that although innocence may be lost, one's inner strength and spirit can never truly be taken away.

The song then takes a turn, bringing in the idea of community and brotherhood. The lyrics suggest that no one has to face their struggles alone, as there will always be others there to offer support and hold their hand. The verse about the mother and her child emphasizes the importance of personal choice and agency in defining one's life. The ladder to the stars represents the idea that each person has the potential to achieve great things, but it takes the support of others to reach that level of success.

The final verse serves as a reminder that although others may offer guidance and support, each person ultimately has to face their own challenges and obstacles on their own. The lyrics suggest that even if the night is dark and the path seems impossible, one can still find the strength to persevere and rise above their struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Cold is the water
The environment around you is harsh and unpleasant

It freezes your already cold mind
The harsh environment makes it tough for you to think positively

Already cold, cold mind
Your mind has already been battling with a negative state of mind

And death is at your doorstep
Death and misery are very close to you

And it will steal your innocence
Misery has the power to make you feel helpless

But it will not steal your substance
It will not take away your core values and personality

But you are not alone in this
You are not the only one going through a tough time

And you are not alone in this
The person listening to the song, the singer and anyone else going through this is supporting you

As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Everyone who can help, will help you and support you through this difficult time

Hold your hand
Support you physically, emotionally and be there for you

And you are the mother
You have a responsibility to take care of a life you brought into this world

The mother of your baby child
You are the sole caregiver of a life that is just beginning

The one to whom you gave life
You are the only source of life for that child

And you have your choices
You have the opportunity to make decisions for your life and your child's

And these are what make man great
The decisions you make can change everything around for a better future

His ladder to the stars
The opportunity you make for your child become the reason for success ahead in the future

But I will tell the night
The narrator is letting the night know

And whisper, 'Lose your sight'
He is hinting that one day, you may not be able to see the dark side anymore

But I can't move the mountains for you
The singer wants to help but he can only do so much

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN WALTER DAVID LOVETT, EDWARD JAMES MILTON DWANE, MARCUS OLIVER JOHNSTONE MUMFORD, WINSTON AUBREY ALADAR MARSHALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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The Timshel Songfacts explains: The song was directly inspired by John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, which parallels the Cain and Abel story in Genesis. The title is a Hebrew word which translates as "thou mayest" and the discovery in the book by a group of Chinese scholars of Timshel's proper meaning in connection with the Cain and Abel account is an important symbol in East Of Eden's storyline. Steinbeck points out this free will to make choices Read Full BioThe Timshel Songfacts explains: The song was directly inspired by John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, which parallels the Cain and Abel story in Genesis. The title is a Hebrew word which translates as "thou mayest" and the discovery in the book by a group of Chinese scholars of Timshel's proper meaning in connection with the Cain and Abel account is an important symbol in East Of Eden's storyline. Steinbeck points out this free will to make choices, which God has given mankind means that though we will not be able to overcome original sin, we may decide to ask for forgiveness for our sins.