Mother Tongue
White Lies Lyrics

The city stays high, all night
The city is active and alive, with bright lights shining through the night.

Lit up and shivering
The lights of the city are vibrant and flickering, like a person shivering with excitement.

Like a pinball table of fireflies
The brightness of the city makes it look like thousands of fireflies scattered on a pinball table.

An echo of home, on the edge of life
The city reminds the artist of their home, but also gives a sense of being on the edge of life or something new.

Shot through the veins of an angel
The energy of the city runs through the artist's veins, making them feel powerful like an angel.

I'm a devil in exile
Despite feeling powerful, the singer also feels like they are being held apart or exiled from something.

But if you have forgotten
The singer is shifting the focus to someone else, asking them a question.

Your precious mother tongue
The language that someone grew up speaking and identifies with.

What do you think your mother
The artist is asking what the person's mother would think of their situation.

Would say of what you've done?
The artist is asking how the person would feel if their mother knew about their actions or choices.

And if you can't remember the place
The singer is adding another layer of complexity to the situation, asking if the person has even forgotten where they consider their home.

You call a home, or having trouble placing
The person may not feel like they have a home, or they have trouble identifying where that home is.

Who's calling on the phone
The singer is asking who is trying to get a hold of the person, further emphasizing their disconnectedness from others and feeling of being lost.

Dip the nose of the car to the sugar lines
The singer is describing a specific action, driving along a road that looks like it's made out of sugar.

Out to the desert
The destination of the drive is the desert, symbolizing a barren and unpopulated area.

Under cinnamon hills and moonshine
The artist is painting a picture of the environment they are driving in, where the hills remind them of cinnamon and the moon is shining bright.

He said 'what can I do to make you mine?'
The artist is recounting a conversation they had with someone, where the other person was interested in making them theirs.

Kiss out the twang from my lips
The singer is describing an intimate physical act, where someone is kissing them and making them lose a certain regional way of talking.

On the way to big-time
The singer is in transition to something bigger or grander, maybe chasing fame or success.

Forgot your mother tongue
The artist is repeating the same question from earlier, emphasizing its importance.

But if you have forgotten
The song ends the same way it began, with the artist questioning someone else.

Your precious mother tongue
The language and culture that someone grew up with and identifies with.

What do you think your mother
The singer is asking the person what their mother would think of them forgetting their roots.

Would say of what you've done?
The artist is questioning the person's actions and choices, and how it reflects on their identity and culture.

And if you can't remember the place
The singer is adding another layer to the question, asking if the person can even remember where they are from.

You call a home, or having trouble placing
The person may be struggling to find their sense of belonging.

Who's calling on the phone
The person may feel disconnected or lost, and they don't know who is trying to reach them.