The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter waits until anything—an idea, an emotion, a memory—gnaws at her, tearing at her fingers and throat until she releases it in song. Scott escaped the confines of her churning mind in order to find herself by recording Sprinter in the market town of Bridport in Dorset, England; and then at the Bristol studio of Portishead's Adrian Utley. With his guitar riffs and synthesizers lingering in the background like a lowland mist and PJ Harvey's Robert Ellis and Ian Olliver on rhythm—the two fortuitously reuniting 23 years after the release of Dry, and in Scott's 23rd year of living—she crafted a "space cowboy" record. "That's as simply as I can say it," says Scott, who cites inspirations as diverse as Funkadelic and Nirvana, Ray Bradbury and Joan Didion.
"I wanted something that very clearly stemmed from my Southern conservative roots but that sounded futuristic and space-y at the same time." It seems like an odd thing to look for in the picturesque seaside green, rolling hills in the south of England, but Scott had never been there before, and as a stranger in a strange land she found what she was looking for: a lost childhood. Sprinter was recorded in a room that had formerly been used as a children's nursery, which combined with the alien landscape fuels the self-searching that roils TORRES' music.
Following her self-titled debut in 2013, TORRES pushes herself to even noisier extremes on Sprinter, a punishing self-examination of epic spiritual and musical proportions.
Mother Earth Father God
Torres Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the metal men between two realms
The hungry eyes linger as she twirls
Got hands lifted to heaven
And her toes dipped in hell
Oh, Mother Earth, oh, Father God
The demons wager on my fall
Was them fooling us to think they were never here at all
Should I be held responsible
That it's come to this?
Was I blindsided? After all
I knew beforehand of the kiss
Oh, Mother Earth, oh, Father God
The demons wager on my fall
The greatest trick I ever saw
Was them fooling us to think they were never here at all
Should I be held responsible
That it's come to this?
Was I blindsided? After all
I knew beforehand of the kiss
You always warned me of the kiss
I have been betrayed
By the kiss
Oh, Mother Earth, oh, Father God
The demons wager on my fall
The greatest trick I ever saw
Was them fooling us to think they were never here at all
The song "Mother Earth Father God" by Torres appears to be a reflection on the struggles that come with being human. The opening verse sets a tone of conflict, as the singer describes being born in the midst of a "bloody battleground" and being caught between two opposing forces - "the metal men between two realms". The use of violent imagery and the focus on the singer's physical body ("her toes dipped in hell") suggest a feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness.
The chorus of the song brings in the theme of religion or spirituality, with the singer addressing "Mother Earth" and "Father God". These figures are presented not as comforters or saviors, but rather as entities that the "demons" - perhaps representing the darker parts of humanity - are betting on to see the singer's downfall. There is a sense of helplessness here, as if the singer knows that they are at the mercy of forces beyond their control.
In the verses that follow, the singer questions their own responsibility for their situation: "Should I be held responsible / That it's come to this?". They also reference a "kiss", which could be interpreted as a betrayal or a moment of decision that has led them down this path. There is a sense of regret and resignation in the repetition of the phrase "I knew beforehand of the kiss" - as if the singer recognizes that they had a chance to make a different choice, but ultimately ended up where they are now.
Overall, "Mother Earth Father God" is a complex and melancholy song that explores the themes of conflict, powerlessness, and spiritual doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born on bloody battleground
I was born into a world conflict where violence is an ever-present reality.
To the metal men between two realms
Amidst the battle, I am surrounded by soldiers whose very humanity has been replaced by their weapons and armor.
The hungry eyes linger as she twirls
As I move through this world, I am constantly being watched and judged by those who seek to exploit me for their own gain.
Got hands lifted to heaven
I reach out for help from a higher power beyond myself.
And her toes dipped in hell
Yet despite my efforts, I am constantly beset by the evils of this world.
Oh, Mother Earth, oh, Father God
I call out to the divine powers that govern our world.
The demons wager on my fall
Evil forces seek to bring about my downfall and damnation.
The greatest trick I ever saw
I have witnessed an incredible deception perpetrated by these malevolent entities.
Was them fooling us to think they were never here at all
These demons have managed to remain hidden from us, deceiving us into thinking they were never present in our lives.
Should I be held responsible
Am I to blame for the situation I find myself in?
That it's come to this?
Is it my fault that the world has become so corrupt and wicked?
Was I blindsided? After all
Did I fail to see the warning signs of danger and misfortune?
I knew beforehand of the kiss
I may have been forewarned of the betrayal that ultimately led to my downfall.
You always warned me of the kiss
Someone in my life may have tried to prepare me for the inevitable betrayal.
I have been betrayed
Despite my efforts to avoid it, I have been harmed and let down by those closest to me.
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: MACKENZIE RUTH SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yankee 🌹 Rose
Smooth jam 🎶❤
j22D
she means fucking business!
OurVinyl
+j22D She sure does