4th Day Prayer
Rising from Shadows: Allison Russell's 4th Day Prayer
Lyrics
I was the Queen of Westmount Park
The singer describes herself as the Queen of Westmount Park.
It was all mine after dark
Westmount Park belongs to her during the night.
Old willow tree, it was my throne
An old willow tree serves as her throne in the park.
'Til I, 'til I went home
Her reign ends when she goes home.
Father used me like a wife
The singer's father treated her as a wife.
Mother turned the blindest eye
Her mother ignored the abuse.
Stole my body, spirit, pride
She feels violated, as her father stole her body, spirit, and pride.
He did, he did each night
These actions occurred every night.
It's one for the hate that loops and loops
First mention of hate looping endlessly.
Two for the poison at the roots
Poison at the roots signifies a harmful influence.
Three for the children breaking through
Reference to children breaking through, possibly overcoming adversity.
Four for the day we're standing in the sun
A positive outlook on the day they stand in the sun.
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Repetition of vocalizations expressing emotion.
Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
-"These are the best years of your life"
Sarcastic mention of "best years of your life."
If I'd believed it, I'd have died
If believed, it could lead to death.
Something told me that they lied
The singer senses a lie and survives.
Oh I, oh I survived
Survival despite a difficult childhood.
Left home, I was just a child
The singer left home as a child.
Slept in the graveyard, end of the Mile
Slept in a graveyard at the end of the Mile.
When the sun came up and found my skin
The sun found her skin when it came up.
I rose, I rose again
Rising again, symbolizing resilience.
It's one for the hate that loops and loops
Repetition of the cycle of hate, poison, children breaking through, and standing in the sun.
Two for the poison at the roots
-Three for the children breaking through
-Four for the day we're standing in the sun
-Ooh, ooh-ooh
Repetition of vocalizations expressing emotion.
Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
-Slip streams and fever dreams
Mentions of slip streams and fever dreams, asking if the listener sees what she can't.
Do you see what I can't see?
A plea for understanding.
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Repetition of the desire to understand.
I want to understand
Continuation of the desire to understand.
From the coast of Africa
References to locations and the continuing impact of a whip.
To the hills of Grenada
-To the cold of Montreal
-That whip, that whip still falls
-It's one for the hate that loops and loops
Repetition of the cycle of hate, poison, children breaking through, and standing in the sun.
Two for the poison at the roots
-Three for the children breaking through
-Four for the day we're standing in the sun
-(It's one for the hate that loops and loops) ooh, ooh-ooh
Repetition of vocalizations expressing emotion.
(Two for the poison at the roots) ooh, ooh-ooh
-(Three for the children breaking through) ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
-(Four for the day-)
-(One for the hate that loops and loops) ooh, yeah
Continued vocalizations expressing emotion.
(Two for the poison at the roots) Yeah
-(Three for the children breaking through) ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
-(Four for the day-)
-Ye-e-eah
-Ye-e-eah
-Ooh, ooh
-Ooh, ooh
-Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh-ooh
-Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh
-Ooh, ooh
-Ooh, ooh
-Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh, ooh-ooh
-Ooh-ooh
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