We Share Our Mother's Health

We came down from the north Blue hands and a torch Red wine and food for free A possibility We share our mothers' health It is what we've been dealt What's in it for me Fine Then I'll agree Trees there will be Apples, fruits maybe You know what I fear The end is always near Trees there will be Apples, fruits maybe You know what I feel The end is always near Say you like it Say you need it When you don't Looking better Shining brighter Than you do Say you like it Say you need it When you don't Looking better Shining brighter Than you do Say you like it (Trees there will be) Say you need it (Apples, fruits maybe) When you don't (You know what I fear) The end is always near Looking better (Trees there will be) Shining brighter (Apples, fruits maybe) Than you do (You know what I see) The end is always near Say you like it (We came down from the north) Say you need it (Blue hands and a torch) When you don't (Red wine and food for free) (A possibility) Looking better (We share our mothers' health) Shining brighter (It is what we've been dealt) Than you do (What's in it for me) (Fine, then I'll agree) Say you like it (Trees there will be) Say you need it (Apples, fruits maybe) When you don't (You know what I fear) The end is always near Looking better (Trees there will be) Shining brighter (Apples, fruits maybe) Than you do (You know what I feel) The end is always near

In "We Share Our Mothers' Health," The Knife explores the unavoidable truths that shape our lives. The song begins with images of "coming down from the north," which evoke a sense of origin or lineage. The lines "We share our mothers' health, It is what we've been dealt" directly address the inheritance of physical and perhaps emotional traits, emphasizing that much of our path is set from the outset by factors beyond our control. The chorus, "Trees there will be, Apples, fruits maybe; You know what I fear, The end is always near," is particularly evocative. The "trees" and "fruits" can be interpreted as symbols for life's possibilities, whereas the fear of the end always being "near" serves as a reminder of our mortality. The lyrics navigate the tension between the finite nature of life and the infinite possibilities it holds. "Say you like it, Say you need it, When you don't" might indicate societal pressures to conform, to appear better or "shinier" than we feel. It captures the discord between internal reality and external expectations, hinting at the masks people wear. Overall, the song creates a sonic landscape for exploring complex human emotions and realities. It grapples with existential questions about what we inherit, what we pretend to be, and how we deal with the knowledge that our time is finite. The Knife doesn't offer solutions, but instead provides a haunting, rhythmically entrancing space to ponder these eternal dilemmas.

About

"We Share Our Mothers' Health" is a captivating track from The Knife's acclaimed 2006 album "Silent Shout." The Swedish electronic duo, comprising siblings Karin Dreijer and Olof Dreijer, masterfully combines pulsating beats, electronic flourishes, and haunting vocals to create a song that delves into themes of existentialism, inheritance, and the human condition. With its vivid imagery, the song is an aural journey through contrasting landscapes, perhaps symbolic of the internal conflicts we experience. Known for its cryptic lyrics and unique soundscapes, the song remains one of the standout tracks in The Knife's discography, continuing to intrigue listeners more than a decade after its release.

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