"Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory" is a collaborative effort between Nobody… Read Full Bio ↴"Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory" is a collaborative effort between Nobody (Elvin Estella) and Mystic Chords of Memory (Chris Gunst and Jen Cohen). Building off of successful guest appearances on each other's past releases, the trio began collaborating on the project in the spring of 2004. After a year-plus of road trips and mail-order production efforts, the result is a perfectly crafted blend of psychedelic hip-hop and sunshine folk-rock. Nobody proves himself a producer/arranger in the classical sense, using his sample-based tool set to create the foundations for the album. Chris Gunst continues to mature as a songwriter and along with partner Jen Cohen, adds wistful vocals and accomplished musicianship to each song. For those who have followed any of these artists throughout the courses of their respective careers, this album proves to bring out the best in each of the participants.

The Seed
Nobody & Mystic Chords Of Memory Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The seed doesn't fall far from the tree.
Landing on ground and finding a home.
It owes it to the sun. it owes it to the dirt.
It owes it to my arms for digging a hole.
Thrives on the air, everything's there.
Knows what to do without you.
You're just a piece, a shift in the breeze
Planting yourself in your shoes...

Going underground, you'll hear different sound
Not the whirring around of finding a home.

Grows to the sun. it grows through the dirt.
It grows into my arms for digging a hole...

Overall Meaning

The opening line, “The seed doesn't fall far from the tree”, implies that there is a connection between the past and future generations. The seed is a metaphor for a person who carries the traits and characteristics of their parents and ancestors. The next few lines suggest that the seed has found a home, but it owes its growth to the sun, the dirt and the person who dug the hole, highlighting how our lives are influenced by those around us. The lyrics then continue to emphasize the independence of the seed as it “thrives on the air” and “knows what to do without you”.

The subsequent lines “you’re just a piece, a shift in the breeze” suggest that the individual’s impact on the seed is temporary and fleeting, and that it will continue to grow and evolve on its own. The lyrics highlight the idea that the seed, and by extension the individual, has to adapt to different environments and situations to flourish. The closing lines bring the focus back to the person as they will reap the benefits of the seed’s growth, but only after a long process of digging and nurturing.

Line by Line Meaning

The seed doesn't fall far from the tree.
Offspring shares characteristics with the parent

Landing on ground and finding a home.
The seed settles into the ground to take root and start growing

It owes it to the sun. it owes it to the dirt.
The seed relies on sunlight and nutrients from the soil to survive and grow

It owes it to my arms for digging a hole.
The person planting the seed takes responsibility for helping it grow

Thrives on the air, everything's there.
The seed obtains everything it needs to grow from its environment

Knows what to do without you.
The seed instinctively knows how to grow without needing intervention from humans

You're just a piece, a shift in the breeze. Planting yourself in your shoes...
Human influence on the seed is minimal and fleeting, like a passing breeze

Going underground, you'll hear different sound. Not the whirring around of finding a home.
The underground environment is different from above ground, where the seed had to settle into a new home

Grows to the sun. it grows through the dirt.
The seed grows towards the sun while pushing through the soil

It grows into my arms for digging a hole...
The person who planted the seed takes pride in watching it grow and flourish

Contributed by Carson L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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