Meath’s powerful voice is front and center, unjoined by fellow harmonizers as it is in her folk group, Mountain Man. Sanborn, who plays bass in the genre-destroying Megafaun, creates intricate, pulsing grooves for Meath’s voice to inhabit.
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Come Down
Sylvan Esso Lyrics
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Hey Mama won't you come down
To the river, to wait, to be
Hey Mama won't you come down
Hey Mama won't you come down
To the river, to wait, to be
Like you wash my hair
For years and years
I'm going to wait
Oh wash my hair
Like you wash my hair
For years and years
I'm going to wait
There's a man, that I know
And I think he loves me so
Finally, I'm going to wait
So, Mama won't you come down
Hey Mama won't you come down
To the river, to wait, to be
The song Come Down by Sylvan Esso is a soothing and introspective piece that delves into the themes of longing and waiting. The singer addresses her "Mama," requesting her to come down to the river and wait with her. The refrain of "Hey Mama won't you come down, to the river, to wait, to be" repeats throughout the song, creating a hypnotic effect that reflects the singer's state of waiting.
The singer reminisces about her mother washing her hair in the past, and she wants her to do it again. She imagines this ritual as a way to ground her in the present moment and to connect her to her roots. The repetition of this phrase highlights the powerful emotions that the singer is trying to articulate.
The final verse introduces the idea of a man that the singer knows and believes loves her. This implies that her waiting may be tied to her romantic life, and Mama's presence would help her in her pursuit of love. Overall, the song seems to express a sense of yearning for someone or something that feels out of reach, and the comfort and reassurance of a loved one to help alleviate those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mama won't you come down
The singer is asking their mother to visit them
To the river, to wait, to be
The singer is asking their mother to join them in a peaceful place by the river where they can relax and be themselves
Oh wash my hair
The singer is asking their mother to care for them just like she used to when they were younger
Like you wash my hair
The artist wants their mother to take care of them in a specific way that she always did when they were growing up
For years and years
The artist is emphasizing how long their mother has been taking care of them and how important that is to them
I'm going to wait
The singer is willing to wait for their mother to come and take care of them because it's important to them
There's a man, that I know
The singer is referring to a man they know, perhaps a romantic interest
And I think he loves me so
The artist believes that the man they know has strong feelings for them
Finally, I'm going to wait
The artist is excited to wait for this man because they think he has feelings for them
So, Mama won't you come down
The artist is still asking their mother to come and visit them, even if they have other things going on in their life
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: NICHOLAS CHRISTEN SANBORN, AMELIA MEATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind