Nathaniel Rateliff (born Nathaniel David Rateliff on 7 October 1978 in St. … Read Full Bio ↴Nathaniel Rateliff (born Nathaniel David Rateliff on 7 October 1978 in St. Louis, MI) is an American singer and songwriter based in Denver, whose influences are described as folk, Americana and vintage rhythm & blues. Rateliff has garnered attention with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, the soulful R&B combo he formed in 2013. He has also released solo albums and under the name Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel.

http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/

Members:
Nathaniel Rateliff
Patrick Meese
Julie Davis
Joseph Pope III
James Han

Shroud
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm looking more like my mother
I was so stagger'n waiting for you
I was so sure in my barely bended knees
That nobody cared for more

It does no good to talk about anything
It does no good to tell you I'm a wounded fiend

It's up to things we discover
It's in the way we try to cover with ground
I'm not a flat-fingered dullard
I was so sure and never right

I was the tongue
That's telling you that some
Body else is trying

And I've got no feelings about it at all
In this old season of doubt and love
And I've got no reasons to bury it here

I could go backwards forever
I could be boxed inside and living without
Well don't blow my cover
It's taken years to make a beautiful shroud

I got no use in talking about anything

And I can tell you it seems to be haunting me
It does no good to talk about anything

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nathaniel Rateliff's song "Shroud" are cryptic and introspective, with deep emotional undertones. The opening line "I'm looking more like my mother" could be interpreted as the artist acknowledging the resemblance he bears to his mother, both physically and in terms of personality. The following lines "I was so staggered waiting for you / I was so sure in my barely bended knees / That nobody cared for more" may suggest a sense of disappointment or disillusionment, possibly related to a failed relationship or unfulfilled expectations. The repetition of "it does no good" in the chorus reinforces the idea that there is no point in trying to make sense of certain things or explain oneself to others.

As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more abstract, with metaphors like "I'm not a flat-fingered dullard" and "I was the tongue / That's telling you that somebody else is trying." The tone is confessional yet guarded, conveying a sense of vulnerability and mixed emotions. The lines "And I've got no feelings about it at all / In this old season of doubt and love / And I've got no reasons to bury it here" suggest a reluctance to confront or express one's true feelings, perhaps due to fear of rejection or pain.

The final stanza hints at a desire to move on or escape from the past, but with a sense of resignation and acceptance of the self. The lines "I could go backwards forever / I could be boxed inside and living without / Well don't blow my cover / It's taken years to make a beautiful shroud" evoke a feeling of inertia or being trapped, yet also a sense of pride or accomplishment in having created something that represents one's identity or history.

Overall, "Shroud" is a melancholy and introspective song that explores themes of identity, self-expression, and acceptance of the past.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm looking more like my mother
I am resembling my mother more and more as I grow older.

I was so stagger'n waiting for you
I was in a state of shock while I was eagerly waiting for you.

I was so sure in my barely bended knees
Despite my knees being weak and unsteady, I had complete conviction in my beliefs.

That nobody cared for more
I believed that nobody cared for me anymore.

It does no good to talk about anything
Speaking about anything is pointless and does not yield any productive outcomes.

It does no good to tell you I'm a wounded fiend
Telling you that I am a tormented creature will not be beneficial in any way.

It's up to things we discover
The things we come across have an impact on us.

It's in the way we try to cover with ground
Our approach of trying to deal with issues and move forward is crucial.

I'm not a flat-fingered dullard
I am not a slow-witted person who is incapable of learning.

I was so sure and never right
In the past, I was very confident although my actions and decisions were wrong.

I was the tongue
My voice was the vehicle through which I conveyed my message and made myself heard.

That's telling you that some
That's informing you that certain things are happening.

Body else is trying
Someone else is making an effort to achieve their goals.

And I've got no feelings about it at all
I do not have any emotions regarding the situation.

In this old season of doubt and love
During this time of uncertainty and affection.

And I've got no reasons to bury it here
I do not have any motivation to conceal anything in this place.

I could go backwards forever
I could continue to move backwards without making any progress.

I could be boxed inside and living without
I could feel constricted and trapped while still appearing to be alive.

Well don't blow my cover
Please do not reveal my secrets and violate my privacy.

It's taken years to make a beautiful shroud
It took a long time to intentionally craft a good impression and hide the truth.

I got no use in talking about anything
There is no purpose in discussing anything.

And I can tell you it seems to be haunting me
I am being tormented by something and I can sense it.

It does no good to talk about anything
Speaking about anything is pointless and does not yield any productive outcomes.

Writer(s): Nathaniel David Rateliff Copyright: Chrysalis Music, Born In The Flood LLC

Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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