Wasner and Stack have been playing music together and apart in Baltimore, MD, and chose their name from the honorary state tree of Maryland. If Children is the culmination of many months of recording, polishing and perfecting to achieve what Any Given Tuesday best described as, “. .. . mingling in a room full of shoegaze, alt-country, folk, and noise, shaking hands, kissing cheeks, and making friends with everyone.” If Children is an exuberant debut – noisy and restrained in turn, Wye Oak describe their philosophy: "We'd like to think that if a song is good enough, it'll stand on its own regardless of how much noise you pile on top. On the other hand, we do like noise." Listen, and we think you will have to agree!
The droll tone and fleeting sweetness of a Yo La Tengo are cut into the more deeply textural concerns of shoegaze in the Baltimore group's work. It's an interesting alignment, given the contrast in senses of humor. But Wye Oak successfully shed tonnage from the latter without losing potency.
My Creator
Wye Oak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Afraid of everyone I meet
Lie forever, afterthought
Some are men
And some are not
And love ?
What could I stand
Was there your land
Lie forever future ?
But here I stay and here I am
And who but you?
What could I know?
To follow with me far below.
My protect and servitude
And crippling dependency
What kind of woman would I be
If I refuse what's asked of me?
Some lines can turn you ?
Some names will never be forgot.
My body can, but I cannot
I'm sorry, mommy
I cannot.
The lyrics to Wye Oak's song My Creator delve into themes of identity, fear, love, dependence, and refusal. The first verse begins with a poignant question, "What kind of man, what could I be?" This line immediately establishes a sense of existential crisis that is further heightened by the next line, "Afraid of everyone I meet." The singer seems to struggle with fitting into the typical masculine mold and instead expresses hesitation, fear, and uncertainty. "Lie forever, afterthought" could be a reference to the idea of living a life that isn't truly authentic and meaningful, just going through the motions. The line "Some are men and some are not" can be interpreted in a variety of ways but could be referring to the fluidity and variability of gender and perhaps the singer's own gender identity struggles.
The chorus of the song seems to be grappling with the idea of love and whether it's worth pursuing. The line "What could I stand if there's my?" is difficult to interpret without the full context but could be a reference to the potential risks of embracing love and opening oneself up to vulnerability. The next line "Was there your land" is equally cryptic and could suggest a lack of clarity or understanding about the nature of relationships. The line "Lie forever future?" is possibly referring to the idea that it's easy to get caught up in the future possibilities of a relationship rather than the present moment. The repetition of the phrase "But here I stay and here I am" perhaps indicates that the singer has resigned themselves to staying where they are, unable or unwilling to take a chance on love.
The final verse changes focus from the singer's struggles with their own identity to their relationship with another person, likely a mother figure. "What kind of woman would I be if I refuse what's asked of me?" illustrates the pressure placed on women to be obedient and fulfill expectations placed upon them. "Some lines can turn you ?" is an unclear line but could be a reference to the power of words to shape our identities and actions. "Some names will never be forgot" suggests that some experiences or people leave an indelible mark on us. The following line "My body can, but I cannot" could be interpreted as a commentary on the disconnect between our physical and emotional selves. The final line "I'm sorry, mommy, I cannot" emphasizes the idea that sometimes it's impossible or difficult to meet other people's expectations, despite our best efforts.
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of man, what could I be?
I am unsure of my capabilities as a man and what I can achieve.
Afraid of everyone I meet
I am scared of meeting people and being vulnerable around them.
Lie forever, afterthought
I tell lies and they are quickly forgotten and considered unimportant.
Some are men
Some people are strong and confident in who they are.
And some are not
While others struggle with their identity and confidence.
And love ?
I question what love truly is.
What could I stand
I wonder what extent I can withstand love and its challenges.
If there's my ?
If there is a limit or boundary to love.
Was there your land
Maybe there was a time where your love was territory I could own.
Lie forever future ?
I worry that my lies will impact my future and I will never be able to come clean.
But here I stay and here I am
Despite my worries and inner struggles, I am still here trying to navigate life.
And who but you?
You are the only one I can turn to.
What could I know?
I am clueless and need guidance from you.
To follow with me far below.
I need you to lead and guide me through this journey, as I am lost.
My protect and servitude
I need your protection and am willing to serve you in return.
And crippling dependency
I am dependent on you to function, which can be difficult for me and our relationship.
What kind of woman would I be
I question my abilities to be a strong woman who can say no and set boundaries.
If I refuse what's asked of me?
I fear the consequences of refusing to comply with someone's requests.
Some lines can turn you ?
Certain phrases or actions can manipulate or deceive people.
Some names will never be forgot.
Certain people or events will be memorialized and remembered forever.
My body can, but I cannot
Physically, I am capable of doing things, but mentally I am limited by my fears and anxieties.
I'm sorry, mommy
I apologize to my mother for my inadequacies and shortcomings.
I cannot.
I am unable to do something, despite my desire to.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jennifer Lynn Wasner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind