Grow
The Oh Hellos Lyrics
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A vine of ivy's pushing her way through
And as she creeps along, she sinks her roots
Into the cracks, and pulls 'em back until the structure's coming loose
And the way the shadows on the wall are cast
Look like a twisted apparition from the past
And all the memories come flooding fast
But were taught you ought to cut it back
So you shut it out
You shout it down
Until you're all white-knuckled
You got a lot to learn, if you'd settle down
Let be what is, let be what isn't
It's a natural world in which we're living
And if you let it alone, it will surely grow
Just leave it alone, child, and let it go
And when all your ziggurats have crumbled down
And every stone is thrown like seeds across the ground
A new Arcadia will come around
And multiply until the binds of death have been unwound
So don't you shut it out
Don't you shout it down
And get your feathers ruffled
You got a lot to learn, if you'd just settle down
And let the river run its course
'Cause see, the ground all around
It was always holy
Leave the ruins where they fall
Leave them all
And let the wild take over
Let be what is, let be what isn't
It's a natural world in which we're living
And if you let it alone, it will surely grow
Just leave it alone, child, and let it go
Let be what is, let be what isn't
It's a natural world in which we're living
And if you let it alone, it will surely grow
Just leave it alone, child, and let it go
The Oh Hellos’s “Grow” is a song about accepting the natural world around us, and how we often try to subjugate and control it. The first verse is about the singer noticing a vine growing through the cracks in their living room, overpowering the structure. The vine symbolizes the natural world, which always finds a way to thrive and survive. The shadows on the wall cast twisted apparitions, presenting a haunting past, yet the memories come flooding fast, a sign of the singer’s longing for the wilderness they once knew. However, they were taught to cut it back and shut it out. In contrast, the chorus encourages the singer to let things be and let nature run its course. The natural world is ancient and will always exist, even if we try to control it. The song’s message rings with the idea that if we allow ourselves to let go of the control we arrogantly believe we have, nature will take over and create something new and beautiful.
The second verse begins with the image of ziggurats crumbling down, which could represent the singer’s belief system or their attempt to control nature. As a consequence of their hubris, every stone is thrown like seeds across the ground. However, after this destruction, a “new Arcadia” shall come around, a utopian paradise, free from human control. This image reminds us that nature has its cycles, and we should allow it to follow its path. We should let the wild take over and become once again attuned to a natural way of living. Chorus two is repeated twice, emphasizing the importance of leaving things be and letting nature grow.
Line by Line Meaning
Between the seams that line your living room
The cracks and seams in the walls of the living room have allowed a determined vine of ivy to creep and twist its way through, slowly disrupting the structure.
And as she creeps along, she sinks her roots
As the ivy weaves its way through the walls, it embeds its roots deeper into the structure, further weakening it.
Into the cracks, and pulls 'em back until the structure's coming loose
The roots of the ivy are so strong that they are able to pry open the cracks in the walls, causing them to become looser and more unstable.
And the way the shadows on the wall are cast
The way that the light and darkness across the walls creates a distorted and eerie appearance.
Look like a twisted apparition from the past
The shadows on the wall bear the shape of something old and unsettling, like a ghost from the past.
And all the memories come flooding fast
The unfamiliar sight brings up memories and emotions from the past.
A wilderness you kinda miss
The memories and feelings bring to mind a sense of nostalgia for something that was once wild and untamed.
But were taught you ought to cut it back
However, the artist has been taught that this longing for the wild should be suppressed and tamed.
So you shut it out
In response, the artist turns away from the wildness and pushes the feelings away.
You shout it down
The artist becomes reactive, using anger to try and shut out the resurfacing emotions.
Until you're all white-knuckled
The singer becomes so focused on suppressing the feelings that it makes them tense and physically drained.
You got a lot to learn, if you'd settle down
If the artist could calm down and reflect on their emotions, they might gain insight and better understand the source of these feelings.
Let be what is, let be what isn't
Accept the situation for what it is, rather than trying to force it into a different form.
It's a natural world in which we're living
The world naturally evolves and changes, and we should accept this instead of fighting it.
And if you let it alone, it will surely grow
If we allow things to develop and change, they will do so in their own way, without any interference from us.
Just leave it alone, child, and let it go
We should leave situations alone to develop naturally and organically, rather than trying to force them into a specific form.
And when all your ziggurats have crumbled down
Ziggurats are ancient Mesopotamian temples that were constructed in a set form, and this line implies that even the most rigid, unchanging structures can eventually break down.
And every stone is thrown like seeds across the ground
Even the most stable and enduring structures will eventually become unstable and disintegrate, scattering their remains far and wide.
A new Arcadia will come around
After things fall apart, there will be a new beginning, a new kind of paradise or utopia that will arise.
And multiply until the binds of death have been unwound
The new Eden that arises, while different from what came before, will still be a place of growth and will continue to flourish and multiply until the end of time.
And get your feathers ruffled
If you resist the natural growth and change of things, you will become anxious and agitated, like a bird with its feathers flustered.
You got a lot to learn, if you'd just settle down
If we let things run their course, we can learn important lessons about ourselves and the world that we might not have learned otherwise.
And let the river run its course
Just as a river flows naturally towards its destination, we should let things proceed naturally, without any undue influence.
Cause see, the ground all around
The world around us, the soil beneath our feet, is a sacred and essential part of existence.
It was always holy
There is a holy, divine quality to the world and our natural surroundings, and it is important that we recognize and respect this.
Leave the ruins where they fall
We shouldn't try to fix or rebuild everything that falls apart; sometimes it is better to let things be, and allow nature to take its course.
Leave them all
We should let go of our attachment to things and allow them to evolve and change, without clinging to them unnecessarily.
And let the wild take over
Ultimately, we should allow nature to take its course, and embrace the wildness of existence, without trying to control or dominate it.
Writer(s): HANNAH MARGARET HEATH, WILLIAM TYLER HEATH
Contributed by Julia B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.