The Embers
Vagabon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel so small
My feet can barely touch the floor
On the bus, where everybody is tall

I surrender myself to the demons that carry them
I'm sorry I lost your cat
It's just that I was so damn mad
Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody that Lætitia is
Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody that Lætitia is

A small fish
A small fish
I'm just a small fish

And you're a shark that hates everything
You're a shark that eats every fish
You're a shark that hates everything
You're a shark that eats every fish

Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody
Run and tell everybody that Lætitia is
That I'm just a small fish




A small fish
I'm just a small fish

Overall Meaning

The Embers by Vagabon is a song that has been interpreted in many ways by listeners due to its ambiguous and poetic nature. The song starts with the singer feeling small and insignificant, unable to even touch the floor, while everyone around her seems tall and imposing. She feels overwhelmed and is willing to surrender herself to the demons that she believes the people around her possess. She then apologizes for losing someone's cat in a fit of anger.


The chorus of the song repeatedly urges someone to run and tell everybody that Lætitia is either a small fish or just a small fish. This can be interpreted in various ways, but it seems to suggest that the singer is aware of her own insignificance but wants others to know and accept it. In contrast, the last verse describes someone else as a shark that hates and eats every fish, which could be a warning to the listeners to beware of people like that.


Overall, The Embers is a powerful yet cryptic song that touches upon themes of identity, insignificance, and vulnerability. It encourages listeners to embrace who they are, no matter how small and insignificant they might feel, and to be wary of those who seek to prey on others' weaknesses.


Line by Line Meaning

I feel so small
The singer feels insignificant and powerless.


My feet can barely touch the floor
The singer is physically small and feels inferior to others around them.


On the bus, where everybody is tall
The singer is surrounded by people who seem more important or successful.


I surrender myself to the demons that carry them
The artist lets negative thoughts and feelings take over and control them.


I'm sorry I lost your cat
The artist apologizes for something they did that caused someone else harm.


It's just that I was so damn mad
The singer explains that they acted out of intense anger, not malice towards the other person or the cat.


Run and tell everybody
The singer urges someone to spread a message or piece of information widely.


That Lætitia is
The intended message to be spread is about the artist or someone else named Lætitia.


A small fish
The artist compares themselves or Lætitia to a small and insignificant thing compared to others, like a fish in the ocean.


And you're a shark that hates everything
The artist addresses someone who appears powerful or threatening, calling them a shark who dislikes everything and everyone.


You're a shark that eats every fish
The singer emphasizes the destructive power of the shark, consuming all other living things around them without regard.


That I'm just a small fish
The artist reiterates their or Lætitia's small and vulnerable status in relation to others, especially the shark.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

bontle mogodi

i would like to thank trinkets for leading me to her. i love the indie/alternative genre & it feels soooo good seeing a black girl in such spaces!!! 😭💗

Ernesto Flores

Same

Nba Slush

Same

fka twigs is the queen of england

you don't know how happy i am to see a black woman in indie. a genre mostly dominated by white males. this inspires me to move forwards in this genre and keep trying to write & learn music

Me Too

@chunkyricesushi what a bad take, dude.

Me Too

@JSR It does matter because representation matters.

William Kunga

Psychedelic Starless ofc it is but that’s easier said than done when a majority of the people succeeding look like you. In an ideal world, that shouldn’t hold anyone back but that simply isn’t the world we live in.

fossilfighters101

unused channel She wrote her most recent album while on tour without access to instruments, just electronic sound. She wasn't be cliché, she was being resourceful

inphanta

chunkyricesushi nobody said anything about black artists being “held back”. Next time, make sure you actually understand what’s being said before replying.

13 More Replies...

Just Browsingtheweb

this is refreshing.also it's noble. because there's this plight of wanting to do something creative and not being acoused of acting white. More diverse music like this is what we need. Lot of love and encouragement from me!!! Keep it up hope u got good ppl around u!!!

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