Dear Wormwood
The Oh Hellos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't hear a single word you said
Things I was afraid of they were all confined beneath my bed
The years have been long
You have taught me well to hide away
The things that I believe in well you have taught me well to call them all escapes
I know who you are now
I know who you are
There before the flesh I saw a brighter world beyond myself
In my hour of weakness you were there to see my courage fail
The years have been long and you have taught me well to sit and wait
Planning without acting
Steadily becoming what I hate
I know who you are now
I know who you are
I know who you are now
I have always known you
You have always been there in my mind
But now I understand you and I will not be part of your designs
I know who I am now
and all that you've made of me
I know who you are now
I named you my enemy
I know who I am now
I know who I want to be
I want to be whole again
This devil inside of me
whoa
The Oh Hellos' song "Dear Wormwood" is a powerful exploration of the innermost thoughts and struggles of the human mind. The lyrics delve deep into the complex relationship between the self and one's own fears, doubts, and insecurities. The opening lines of the song, "When I was a child, I didn't hear a single word you said, things I was afraid of, they were all confined beneath my bed" speak to the overwhelming power that fear can hold over us, especially in our formative years. The song then goes on to describe how this fear has been internalized and how the singer has been taught to hide away their beliefs and dreams, referring to them as "escapes".
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that "you" refers not only to the singer's fears but also to an outside force that has been holding them back. The years of waiting and planning without acting have led to a sense of stagnation and a realization that the singer has become the very thing they loathe. However, the final verse of the song marks a turning point as the singer recognizes the true nature of "you", the enemy within. By naming this enemy and refusing to be part of its designs, the singer takes back control and rediscovers their sense of self. The final line, "whoa", feels like a cathartic release of emotion as the singer begins the journey towards wholeness.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a child
During my childhood
I didn't hear a single word you said
I ignored your teachings
Things I was afraid of they were all confined beneath my bed
My fears were limited
The years have been long
Time has passed
You have taught me well to hide away
You have taught me to conceal my true self
The things that I believe in well you have taught me well to call them all escapes
You have convinced me that my beliefs are worthless
I know who you are now
I have discovered your true identity
There before the flesh I saw a brighter world beyond myself
I saw a better world beyond earthly existence
In my hour of weakness you were there to see my courage fail
You witnessed my moments of weakness and fear
The years have been long and you have taught me well to sit and wait
You have taught me to be passive
Planning without acting
Thinking without doing
Steadily becoming what I hate
Becoming the thing I despise
I have always known you
I have been aware of your presence
You have always been there in my mind
You have been present in my thoughts
But now I understand you and I will not be part of your designs
I now comprehend your motives and will not succumb to them
I know who I am now and all that you've made of me
I know my true self and how you have influenced me
I named you my enemy
I consider you my adversary
I know who I want to be
I know who I aspire to become
I want to be whole again
I desire to be complete
This devil inside of me whoa
This malevolent force within me
Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@_.yoshi_z.
Dear Wormwood has to be one of the best albums for hiking and or driving in the forest.
I love how they incorporate Christianity, but it's so subtle that it's just a small part of their album.
Plus, this album just makes me so more happier during the day, and I can always find myself humming a song from here! These songs are magnificent and beautiful.
@kaelthunderhoof5619
Feels like traveling to Iceland or something.
@_.yoshi_z.
@@kaelthunderhoof5619 lol Ikr
@baconsoup1864
This may be the best telling of biblical stories through song. It feels like a beautiful old tale and really captures the magnificence of the Bible's stories and gives a special kind of life to the heavenly author's craftsmanship. I don't care who you are music that has this sort of message is the best kind to listen too, nothing is more soothing than christian music. I don't even say that because I'm a christian, even if I wasn't I'd listen to it anyway. The message of unconditional love and telling of wonderful stories is like no other. I wish that more people would make christian music like the oh hellos. These songs are truly wonderful.
@vonnie0_0
I love every single song in this album, I just figured out it had to do with Christianity, makes me appreciate how well they incorporated their theology.
It’s also so full of emotion and... a feeling of longing. I don’t usually enjoy a lot of religious songs, but these songs are beautiful beyond belief, it makes me cry.
Well done.
@annaLee-uh1xz
I'm pretty sure it connects to Christian theology through the C. S. Lewis book "The Screwtape Letters" just judging from the title.
@vonnie0_0
@@annaLee-uh1xz I don’t read Christian literature that much, so didn’t get it at first. But I want to read it now, seems interesting.
@danyyilbun6736
@@vonnie0_0 broooooooo. Screwtape letters especially is just outlandish. Also every other Lewis's book.But screwtape letters has special place in my heart, just fair warning it burns
@danyyilbun6736
quick addon, outlandish as in awesome, amazing, beyond))
@ZeekerssRBLX
This feels like the perfect album to listen to while just driving alone through the forest for 40 minutes.