Nettles by Ethel Cain: lyric annotations/analysis regarding our favourite doomed yuri
We were in a race to grow up
> The race wasnât really true, they werenât racing against each other, but both of them certainly grew up very fast (and were forced to) due to the war and Erestyal
Yesterday through today 'til tomorrow
> This doesnât symbolise actual days, but instead events. First war, Erestyal war, the future (tomorrow)
But when the plant blew up
> This is exclusive to Ethel Cainâs story, but the âplantâ in this case is mainly the war, or simply just Serrabi, who blew up with madness
A piece of shrapnel flew and slowed that part of you
> The shrapnel is Serrabiâs control and presence. The slowing was Halline becoming somehow even more mindful and calm with Evangeline after the war, knowing all that sheâs been through and how different they are.
The doctors gave you until the end of the night
But not 'til daylight (not 'til daylight)
Not 'til daylight (not 'til daylight)
> NONONO not till daylightđ. Perfectly describes Hallineâs death. The cold slowly took her during the night, and by day (when Evangeline found her) she was gone. âDoctorâ could also be Serrabi
Time passes slower in the flicker of the hospital light
> Correlates with The Frost, and how Evangelineâs whole world is gone, and she just feels numb. Things pass a lot slower, or not at all
I pray the race is worth the fight
> It wasnât. The fights she put up still managed to take Halline from her, just like Verratorin
Made a fool of myself down on Tennessee Street
> The street could be the podium, and all her mistakes when ruling, or it could be her impulsive decision with the blade.
It wasn't pretty like the movies
> Evaâs death was the worst it possibly could have been. It was peaceful, but it wasnât proper
It was ugly, like what they all did to me
> Her feelings and world post-The Frost was ugly and passed by quick. What they all did was constantly hurt Evangeline, just like how she kills herself. Could also mean different battles she fought in different wars, with blades and all that
And they did to me what I wouldn't do to anyone
You know that's for sure
> They talk about it all, Halline knows her Evangeline is truly kind and doesnât want to
Tell me all the time not to worry (worry)
> Halline calms down Evangeline constantly, offering solace and solutions. Always making sure to solve all of Evaâs worries
And think of all the time I'll, I'll have with you
> This is when Eva wants to kill herself. In her dull, numb world, she has pointless hope that she will meet Halline again. Somewhat like heaven, or some afterlife that she never believed in before
When I won't wake up on my own (wake up on my own), wake up on my own
> Thinking of the afterlife with Halline, so she wonât need to wake up alone without Halline just a door down anymore
Held close all the time, knowin' I'm half of you
> It feels like her world has closed in. She always used to hold Halline with her, and then when she held her after finding her in the snow
Lay me down where the trees bend low
> This is Halline now. Evangeline held her close and brought her into her arms after finding her in the snow. It was also because of Eva that Serrabi finally let her go so that she finally laid in the snow
Put me down where the greenery stings
> NO. Obviously, the greenery in this case is Serrabi. And his effects and actions cause a numb constant stinging to Eva
I can hear them singin' (singin')
> Eva wailing
"To love me is to suffer me," and I believe that
> This is exactly what Eva was afraid of. Loving someone romantically, just to be the reason theyâre dead. And now, as Halline is captured by Serrabi, out of spite and pain she believes that
When I lay with you in that auld lang room
> Days after the civil war were lazy and kind. It was just the two of them, and Halline is thinking about those moments as she dies
Wishin' I was the way you say that you are
> Correlates with MCPDC again, Halline wants to be like Eva, commanding and leading and independent. Even though Eva is hardly any of those
You'll go fight a war, I'll go missin'
> Eva fights in both wars occurring during her lifetime, and on the morning of discovery sheâs âmissingâ, as Eva canât find her when she first wakes up
I've warned you, for me, it's not that hard
> Itâs not hard for Halline to go missing. To slip away from the world and society, with no one noticing aside from Eva
That picture on the wall you're scared of looks just like you (you)
> The Crown family is obviously whatâs on the wall. Evangeline is terrified of treating her people the same way her family treated them, but eventually it could be all too similar (although I havenât quite developed how eva actually rules her people)
I wanna bleed, I wanna hurt the way that boys do (oh)
> âI want to be seen like a normal person, hurt and take up space like boysâ
And maybe you're right and we should stop watchin' the news
'Cause, baby, I've never seen brown eyes look so blue
> This refers to both Evaâs feelings after finding Halline, and also her worries and stresses while growing up and ruling over Erestyal. Sheâs a happy person in general, but when she gets sad itâs painful to see for Halline
Tell me all the time (tell me all the time) not to worry (not to worry)
And think of all the time I'll, I'll have with you
When I won't wake up on my own (wake up on my own), wake up on my own
Held close all the time, knowin' I'm half of you
> see previous chorus
Think of us inside (think of us inside) after the weddin' (after the weddin')
> Thinking of the possibilities for a different future, where nothing goes wrong and they can be in love forever
Sufferin' the while to lie a time or two
When we won't wake up on our own (wake up on our own)
Wake up on our own (wake up on our own)
> Where they can be together, and no longer separated because of Serrabiâs anger
Held close all the time, knowin' (knowin')
This was all for you
> Evangeline wanted to be a good ruler and prove herself to Halline. Erestyal itself wasnât necessarily solely for Halline, but all of Evangelineâs actions end up coming back to Hallline
Think of us inside
> An alternate future
Gardenias on the tile
> Gardenias? DAFFODILS
Where it makes no difference who held back from who
> Evangelineâs avoidance for a romantic relationship, and Hallineâs extreme introvertedness and professionalism
To love me is to suffer me
> Evangelineâs fears came true.
should i post more? obviously i love talking to myself! formatting each line is so annoying my GOODNESS... these annotations have been cooking in my notes page for a while, as well as MANY others...