A band from St. Paul, Minnesota took their name from the title of this track.
07 Communist Daughter
Neutral Milk Hotel Lyrics
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The communist daughter
Standing on the sea-weed water
Semen stains the mountain tops
Semen stains the mountain tops
With cocoa leaves along the border
Sweetness sings from every corner
Cars careening from the clouds
And wanting something warm and moving
Bends towards herself the soothing
Proves that she must still exist
She moves herself about her fist
Sweet communist
The communist daughter
Standing on the sea-weed water
Semen stains the mountain tops
Semen stains the mountain tops
The lyrics of Neutral Milk Hotel's song "Communist Daughter" are abstract and open to interpretation. The song begins with the line "Sweet communist, the communist daughter," which could refer to the corruption of communism by a single individual or the desire for a more utopian version of communism. The idea of standing on "sea-weed water" is surreal and adds to the strange dream-like atmosphere of the song.
The lines "Semen stains the mountain tops" are jarring, but could be a reference to pollution or the destruction of nature caused by human beings. The next few lines about cocoa leaves and sweetness singing from every corner create a sense of comfort and beauty, but the following lines about cars careening from the clouds and bridges bursting suggest chaos and destruction.
The final lines about wanting something warm and moving and bending towards herself the soothing could potentially be alluding to the human desire for emotional connection and comfort. Overall, the lyrics of "Communist Daughter" are a mixture of vivid imagery, surrealism, and social commentary.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet communist
This person might admire or appreciate communism
The communist daughter
This is the subject of the song, who may be the offspring of a communist
Standing on the sea-weed water
She is located at a beach or ocean edge, possibly reflecting her ambiguous position in society
Semen stains the mountain tops
This could be a representation of corruption, secrecy, dirtiness or masculinity staining a natural, pure or feminine environment. It's a stark and vivid contrast
Semen stains the mountain tops
This is repeated to emphasize the previous stanza's message
With cocoa leaves along the border
There is some form of vegetation or natural growth marking a boundary or edge
Sweetness sings from every corner
There is a pervasive sweetness, comfort or happiness even in difficult situations or places
Cars careening from the clouds
This could be a symbol of chaos, speed or acceleration, happening unexpectedly or from an unnatural source
The bridges burst and twist around
There is a sense of fragility or instability in the structures connecting different spaces or ideas, which might break or morph suddenly
And wanting something warm and moving
The artist may crave a human connection or a sense of belonging, which contrasts with her current situation or surroundings
Bends towards herself the soothing
She may seek comfort or relief from herself or her own resources, possibly indicating self-sufficiency or isolation
Proves that she must still exist
This could reflect a struggle for survival or recognition, with the character asserting her own worth or identity
She moves herself about her fist
This is a cryptic phrase that may suggest either self-control or self-domination, with the woman using her own body as a means to achieve her objectives
Sweet communist
This refrain is repeated to express the same idea as before, but with a different tone or emphasis
The communist daughter
This is repeated to reinforce the singer's identity and role in the song
Standing on the sea-weed water
This is repeated to maintain the imagery and setting of the previous stanzas
Semen stains the mountain tops
This is repeated to end the song with the same message that started it, but with a sense of closure or finality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jeff Mangum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind