The group takes its name from Shakespeare. In particular Hamlet's soliloquy To be, or not to be, where it refers to dying; "coil" is used in its archaic sense of "disturbance, trouble":
"What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause."
Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1, line 67.
Help Me lift You Up
This Mortal Coil Lyrics
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28
Hear what you will, you're not gone
25
You'll have to be with your kind
I'll have to stay with my own kind
2d
Help me lift you up, help me lift you up
5
28
So sorry if I can't stop pretending
23
So sorry if I don't let you go
2b
Like this, but not like this is ending
27
I think you know, I think you know
2d
Help me lift you up, help me lift you up
5
24
I have a dream, it's very clear
26
You're all around, but never near
2d
Help me lift you up, help me lift you up
The lyrics to This Mortal Coil's Help Me Lift You Up depict loneliness and the desire for connection. The first verse acknowledges that the listener is alone, but the second line comforts them by stating that they have not disappeared or been forgotten. The next two lines express the difficulty of finding people who are similar, which can lead to being segregated from others. The chorus, "Help me lift you up," is a plea for assistance in bringing the listener out of their solitude and into a place of belonging.
The second verse expresses apologies for not being able to fully understand what the listener is going through and for not releasing them from their loneliness. But ultimately, the lyrics state that something needs to change, and the listener must trust that it will. The final verse presents a dream of being surrounded by the listener yet still feeling distant. The chorus is repeated again, perhaps signifying a continued effort to lift the listener out of their isolation.
Overall, the song's lyrics address the universal human experience of loneliness and the desire for connection with others. The chorus, "Help me lift you up," is a metaphor for the idea that we can all do our part to lift each other out of feelings of isolation and into places of community and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't have to tell you that you're all alone
I know you feel lonely and isolated, but it's something that you already realize.
Hear what you will, you're not gone
You're still here despite what others may say or think.
You'll have to be with your kind
You need to be around people who understand you and who you can relate to.
I'll have to stay with my own kind
I also need to be around my own kind, people who I relate to and who understand me.
Help me lift you up, help me lift you up
Let me help you feel better and supported, I want to lift you up.
So sorry if I can't stop pretending
I apologize if sometimes I have to put up a facade or act like everything is okay when it's not.
So sorry if I don't let you go
I apologize if I hold onto you too tightly, but I don't want to lose you.
Like this, but not like this is ending
Things may be changing or coming to an end, but it won't be like this forever.
I think you know, I think you know
I believe you're aware of what's going on and how things are changing.
I have a dream, it's very clear
I have a vision or hope for the future that's vivid and strong.
You're all around, but never near
Even though you're physically present, sometimes it feels like you're emotionally distant or unreachable.
Help me lift you up, help me lift you up
Again, let me be there for you and support you when you need it most.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARY MARGARET O'HARA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind