Throughout her 20s, Paulusma flirted with a number of occupations, from scholar (she embarked on a PhD after graduation from Cambridge University) to novelist (she was talented enough to bag a literary agent). But raised on a diet of Joni Mitchell and Carole King, music was always Paulusma’s first love. She wrote her first song aged ten, but it took 18 years of denial before she finally listened to her heart and recorded her debut album.
“Music had always been part of my life,” she says. “I’d been in bands, writing songs all along, but I’d just been doing it for the hell of it. It never crossed my mind to try and do it properly.”
It wasn’t until she recorded backing vocals for friends Ben & Jason’s last album that the penny finally dropped. “I had one of these earth shattering moments when I suddenly realised that everything I was doing was wrong and that I should be doing this instead,” she says. “It was like I got hit with an electric current – maybe I did – it was a pretty lo-fi studio so there was always that possibility! I just started crying. I thought, oh buggery fuck, here we go again.”
Something to Remember Me By
Polly Paulusma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My tune-cut will last generations long
And it will be one to remember me by
When I am dead and gone
empires may fall
And the maps might change
The oceans may boil in a fit of rage!
When I am dead and gone
let me plant my pillars in the sand
I won't be here when they crumble out of the sky;
Trunkless, legs that sneer of cold command
Don't you need something to remember me by?
darkness creeps quickly and strikes too hard
These songs tumble from me
With their swords drawn fast
And fuelled by love, round the world they'll fly
When I am dead and gone
let me build my castles in the sand
I won't be here when they crumble into the tide
Flag and fortress, moulded by my hands;
Don't you need something to remember me by?
I'll carve a song out of notes of stone
My tune-cut will last generations long
And it will be the one to remember me by
When I am dead and gone
In Polly Paulusma's song "Something to Remember Me By," she contemplates her legacy and what will be left of her after she dies. She begins the song by declaring that she will carve a song out of notes of stone, creating something enduring that will last generations. The image of carving notes out of stone implies a sense of permanence - stone is a lasting material that does not change easily. She then goes on to predict that people will be whistling her tune even if empires fall or maps change. This suggests that her legacy will outlast any political changes or historical events.
The song becomes more personal as Paulusma turns her attention to the pillars and castles she wants to plant and build in the sand. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the relationships and achievements she hopes to create in her life. She wants something that will endure and be remembered after she is gone - something that will stand the test of time. By the end of the song, she repeats the opening lines, emphasizing her determination to leave something tangible behind - something that will be remembered long after she is gone.
Overall, "Something to Remember Me By" is a contemplation of mortality and legacy. Paulusma is expressing her desire to create something lasting that will be remembered even after she dies. The song is both personal and universal - it speaks to the desire we all have to make a mark on the world and leave a lasting impact.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll carve a song out of notes of stone
I will create a beautiful, lasting work of art that will be made to endure the elements of time.
My tune-cut will last generations long
This work will outlive me and be remembered through time by those who come after me.
And it will be one to remember me by
I want to create something that will leave a lasting impression, so people will remember my legacy after I am gone.
When I am dead and gone
I recognize that death is inevitable but want to leave something behind that will make an impact even after I am no longer living.
empires may fall
Even the greatest powers in the world are not invincible to time and change.
And the maps might change
The world is always evolving, and what is true today may not be true tomorrow.
The oceans may boil in a fit of rage!
The world is full of unpredictable events, some of which may be catastrophic.
But folks will be whistling a tune of mine
Despite all the turbulence in life, I want to create something that will provide comfort and familiarity for those who encounter it.
let me plant my pillars in the sand
I want to establish something that will outlast me and have a solid foundation that will endure even as the sands of time shift.
I won't be here when they crumble out of the sky;
I understand that I will not be around forever and that all is ephemeral.
Trunkless, legs that sneer of cold command
Even when I am gone, I want my influence to be felt everywhere.
Don't you need something to remember me by?
I want to make sure that my contributions and memories will not fade away with time and that people will keep a part of me with them even after I am gone.
darkness creeps quickly and strikes too hard
Life is unpredictable, and tragedy can strike at any moment.
These songs tumble from me
I am compelled to create, and my art comes from within me naturally.
With their swords drawn fast
My work comes from my heart, and I put my all into it.
And fuelled by love, round the world they'll fly
My art comes from a place of love, and I hope it will reach people worldwide.
let me build my castles in the sand
I want to create something grand and impressive, but I understand that it may not last forever.
I won't be here when they crumble into the tide
I acknowledge that all things come to an end, and nothing lasts forever.
Flag and fortress, moulded by my hands;
My work will have a lasting impact and remain a symbol of me and my legacy long after I am gone.
Don't you need something to remember me by?
I want my work to leave a lasting impression, something that will remind people of me and my significance after I am gone.
I'll carve a song out of notes of stone
I want to create something permanent and unchanging, something that will last forever and be a fixture in the world long after I'm gone.
My tune-cut will last generations long
I want to create something that will transcend age and time and be celebrated and appreciated by future generations.
And it will be the one to remember me by
I want to create something that will remain a part of me and keep my memory alive, even after I'm gone.
When I am dead and gone
I am aware that my time on earth is limited, and I want to make the most of it by creating something meaningful that will have a lasting impact.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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