Emma
Teressa Mahoney Lyrics
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And all her colors turned to grey
She was too young to understand
And she loved him anyway
She said his guilt had never shown
Singing hymns or saying grace
She kept his secret like it was her own
And he kept a smile on his face
Yeah, it’s all part of the show
Something inside her is fighting
Is this not love?
She said, they wounded me with words
The glass was stained, the light was scattered
They said love forgives all hurts
As if the hurting never mattered
The smoke and the mirrors are blinding
Yeah, it’s all part of the show
Something inside her is finding
This is not love
This is not this is not not love
She says I can’t stay here & decay
Walk around mostly dead all day
I see now that this was never ok
And now I can see that their power
Is waning by the hour
I can’t stay this kind of crazy
Whoah
The smoke and the mirrors are blinding
But the cracks have started to show
She says, I don’t know what I do believe
But I know what I don’t
Whoah
"Emma" by Teressa Mahoney is a powerful and introspective song that delves into the theme of an abusive relationship. The lyrics give voice to Emma, a young woman who endures both physical and emotional pain yet struggles to recognize the toxic nature of her relationship.
The opening lines, "She said he hurt me with his hands, and all her colors turned to grey," conveys the physical abuse Emma experiences, which has deeply impacted her emotional well-being. Despite her young age and lack of understanding, she continues to love him, highlighting the complexity of abusive relationships. Emma shields her partner's guilt and secrets, as depicted in the line, "She kept his secret like it was her own, and he kept a smile on his face." This suggests the manipulation and control her partner exercises, further blinding Emma to the reality of the situation.
The chorus, with its repetition of the lines "The smoke and the mirrors are blinding, yeah, it's all part of the show," alludes to the facade of a happy relationship that hides the underlying abuse. Emma begins to question the nature of their love, wondering if the pain and suffering she endures should be considered true love. As the song progresses, she starts realizing the truth and acknowledges that what she's been experiencing is not love at all. The final lines demonstrate Emma's newfound strength and determination to break free from the cycle of abuse and reclaim her own life.
Line by Line Meaning
She said he hurt me with his hands
She expressed that he physically harmed her
And all her colors turned to grey
Her vibrant emotions faded away
She was too young to understand
She lacked the comprehension due to her age
And she loved him anyway
Despite everything, she still had affection for him
She said his guilt had never shown
She mentioned that he never displayed remorse
Singing hymns or saying grace
Engaging in religious practices without sincerity
She kept his secret like it was her own
She held onto his secret as if it were her own burden
And he kept a smile on his face
He maintained a cheerful facade
The smoke and the mirrors are blinding
The deception and illusions are obscuring the truth
Yeah, it’s all part of the show
It's all a part of an act or performance
Something inside her is fighting
An internal struggle is taking place
Is this not love?
Questioning whether this is indeed love
She said, they wounded me with words
She mentioned that they emotionally hurt her through their words
The glass was stained, the light was scattered
The clarity and brightness were distorted
They said love forgives all hurts
They claimed that love erases all pain
As if the hurting never mattered
As though the pain had no significance
Something inside her is finding
Something within her is discovering
This is not love
She realizes that this is not love
This is not this is not not love
Emphasizing that this is definitely not love
She says I can’t stay here & decay
She declares that she cannot remain and deteriorate
Walk around mostly dead all day
Moving through life with little vitality
I see now that this was never ok
She understands that this was never acceptable
And now I can see that their power
She now realizes the influence they hold
Is waning by the hour
Their power is diminishing over time
I can’t stay this kind of crazy
She cannot endure this type of madness any longer
Whoah
An expression of strong emotion or realization
But the cracks have started to show
However, the flaws and weaknesses are becoming visible
She says, I don’t know what I do believe
She confesses uncertainty about her beliefs
But I know what I don’t
She is certain about what she doesn't believe
Whoah
An expression of strong emotion or realization
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Don Chaffer, Karis Daugherty, Lori Chaffer, Teressa Mahoney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind