I Am Here
Q Smith Lyrics
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I let the pants out for one of the pilots who's been enjoyin' our cookin'
Make a balloon animal for a cryin' toddler
And then, I check on Hannah, leavin' messages for anyone she can reach
I am here, I am here on an island
Hello? Hello? It's me again
Yeah, my son, he's with Rescue 2, any news?
I'm trying to find out if-fine, I'll hold again
I should be down there and check in the hospitals
Putting up signs, doing something, instead
I am here, I am here in Canada
I am telling you, listen, my son, he takes risks
He's not missing, he's helping or hurt, he'll get out of this
Yes, I keep trying and yes, here's the number
And yes, at the Legion in Gander, I'll be right here
I should be there when it's over and done
When he comes through the door and says, "I'm home, mum"
I should be there for my son, but instead
I am here, I am here
She leaves message after message for her son
Until there's no more room on his answerin' machine
All I know is you are there
You are there, and I am here
The lyrics above are from the song "I Am Here" by Q Smith that talks about the experiences of a mother whose son is missing in the aftermath of a tragic event. The first stanza illustrates the mother's daily routine, as she tries to distract herself by doing household chores, cooking, and making balloon animals for a crying toddler to cope with the pain of not knowing her son's fate. She is constantly trying to reach her son and find out information about him, leaving messages and making calls to different authorities, hoping for good news.
As the song progresses, the mother's emotions become more intense, as she expresses her frustration, helplessness, and guilt for not being able to be with her son during his time of need. She worries about his safety, knowing he takes risks, and imagines what it would be like to finally see him again. She longs to be with him, to hold him close, and to make things right again, but all she can do is wait and hope for his safe return. The song ends with the mother acknowledging that, despite the distance between them, she knows her son is out there somewhere and that she is here, waiting for him.
Overall, the song "I Am Here" is a poignant and powerful expression of a mother's love, fear, and determination in the face of tragedy. It highlights the emotional toll that disasters and emergencies can have on individuals and families and reminds us of the importance of hope, resilience, and support from our loved ones during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Anyway, I get lunch set up, labelin' anything that'll go bad with the date and time
I prepare lunch while making sure that all the food items that will spoil soon are labeled with the date and time so that they get consumed before going bad.
I let the pants out for one of the pilots who's been enjoyin' our cookin'
I assist the pilots by taking out their pants as they enjoy our food.
Make a balloon animal for a cryin' toddler
I make a balloon animal to entertain a crying toddler.
And then, I check on Hannah, leavin' messages for anyone she can reach
I check on Hannah while also leaving messages for anyone who can reach her.
I am here, I am here on an island
Despite being far away on an island, I'm still present and alive.
Hello? Hello? It's me again
I make repeated calls to seek updates on my son.
Yeah, my son, he's with Rescue 2, any news?
I inquire about any updates regarding my son who's with Rescue 2.
I am his mother, I'm far away, stuck here
As his mother, I'm worried and stressed about being far away and being unable to help him.
I'm trying to find out if-fine, I'll hold again
I persistently try to get updates and decide to hold again when needed.
I should be down there and check in the hospitals
I want to be present there to check and ensure his well-being by visiting hospitals if needed.
Putting up signs, doing something, instead
I regret not being able to do anything and wish to put up signs or take some action.
I am here, I am here in Canada
Despite being in another country, I'm still concerned and worried about my son's well-being.
I am telling you, listen, my son, he takes risks
I'm concerned about his well-being as he takes risks being a rescue worker.
He's not missing, he's helping or hurt, he'll get out of this
I have faith that he's not missing and would be either helping or injured and would recover from this situation.
Yes, I keep trying and yes, here's the number
I constantly persevere and provide the necessary details to seek updates.
And yes, at the Legion in Gander, I'll be right here
I assure to be present at the Legion in Gander to convey the information in case of any updates.
I should be there when it's over and done
I regret not being able to be present there and help him when everything is resolved.
When he comes through the door and says, "I'm home, mum"
I eagerly anticipate his arrival through the door and heartily welcome him when he returns home safely.
I should be there for my son, but instead
I wish to be there for my son in this situation, but unfortunately, I'm unable to do so.
She leaves message after message for her son
She keeps leaving messages for her son to stay updated about his well-being.
Until there's no more room on his answerin' machine
She continues leaving so many messages that soon there's no space left on her son's answering machine.
All I know is you are there
Despite not having any details, she's content and satisfied knowing that her son is there.
You are there, and I am here
She's sad that she can't be with her son and is far away from him.
Writer(s): Irene Sankoff, David Carl Hein
Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.