The Blower's Daughter

Question

Hi,I love this song by Damien Rice and I am convinced I understand it, however, I am not 100% sure - I understand the words, I feel the emotion but as I find it almost impossible to translate it (into my language) I use the only way around it - I explain... and so I would like to know if my explanation is correct. Could someone help me, please?Here is the whole song (I am interested in the second verse)And so it isJust like you said it would beLife goes easy on meMost of the timeAnd so it isThe shorter storyNo love, no gloryNo hero in her skiesI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes...And so it isJust like you said it should beWe'll both forget the breezeMost of the timeAnd so it isThe colder waterThe blower's daughterThe pupil in denialI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes off youI can't take my eyes...Did I say that I loathe you?Did I say that I want toLeave it all behind?I can't take my mind off youI can't take my mind off you...I can't take my mind off youI can't take my mind off youI can't take my mind off youI can't take my mind...My mind...my mind...'Till I find somebody new Thanks a million! Kelly

Fleder_m@u_S · Accepted Answer

This is the kind of song really hard to analysis by each word. Its lyric is just like a poem

Anyway, this is how I feel about it ...A story about the feeling of ones who have to move on after a break up.
They usually talk about the pain of the guy, but I think you can also see that the girl was hurt as he was, though she was the one who ended up with him. I have no idea how much tired people can feel somehow, when they are in a relationship. But that maybe the reason why she left.
"Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?"
I think all these words was just to make both of them feel easier to pass. When I heard her voice, I couldnt help feel that she was just deceiving herself, trying to not get hurt. Its also like above verses when Damien sang:
"And so it is
Just like you said it would be....
...We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time"
When the girl said goodbye to him, she might say something like" Ok, we had a good time together, but it's over. Now we should move on, and everything will be just fine". Then I think he was mocking at her and himself when he told her "we'll both forget the breeze". They were both deceiving themselve, pretending to be okay. Finally, he admitted that "I cant take my eyes off you... I cant take my mind off you... till I find somebody new".Watching the video clip, you can see not a time did the girl turn back and look at the guy. I think she was afraid.
"And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial"
It's said that the blower's daughter was the daughter of Damien's clarinet teacher.So the word "blower" in the song might refer to "one who blows a clarinet". It also explains why he called himself "the pupil of denial".
Till now, I cant make sure why he talked about "the colder water", it may relate to his other song "cold water"?!? It just create a gloomy feeling on me when I heard it.
This is such a great song, I recommend for anyone didnt know it. Maybe you would like to share your feeling after listenning to it.
Enjoy

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for explaining what the blower's daughter refered to !!! I spent sooooo much time trying to get the meaning from anywhere but it seemed impossible.. I don´t know if you are 100 % right but I like your version of the story...

It´s a beatiful song... I´ve discovered it a few days ago and I can´t stop listening it... It´s extremely honest, it sounds so true ... It´s very touching..

It may had been written by three producers in a small room without any sort of feeling, or history involved, but it's amazing the kind of interpreation that each and every single person gives to the song...

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks to you, I now know who's song it is. Rice? what a funny name! Email Removed">Email Removed

Anonymous · Answer

Yeah...the way she sings the lines "Did I say that I loathed you/ Did I say that I want to/ leave it all behind" makes me think that she's sad and wonders too. She didn't say "Didn't I say that I loathed you..." implying that she doesn't hate him and doesn't want to forget. I'd argue that yes, things didn't pan out, perhaps they never even began for a multitude of reasons, but she wonders. Her voice is tender, not angry nor spiteful.

But the only one who can really answer this is Mr. Rice.

Anonymous · Answer

he has answered, it's about the daughter of his childhood clarinet teacher. no joke.

Anonymous · Answer

thanks , i understood the meaning NOW....

(missing image)
Fleder_m@u_S

Anonymous · Answer

It is a beautiful and touching song. I have a friend who cries everytime she hears it.

Anyhow, for those who have read the speculation about this song being about his clarinet teacher's daughter ...it's a myth.

He has admitted that it is actually about his infatuation with a girl who's voice was so enchanting that he fell for her as soon as she answered the phone when he called as a telemarketer. He spoke with her on the phone for hours, risking losing his job. One day she stopped answering the phone so he tracked down her address and spied on her house. He found out that she was only a school girl who had been playing a game. He was heartbroken.

There was a link to his message boards where he confirms this but the link is since broken. Here is another link that give more detail: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080817153547AAC8atL

Anonymous · Answer

Makes sense as UK slang for a telephone is "The Blower" as in "Who's on the Blower"

Anonymous · Answer

The song was written for the movie The Closer.  If you read what the movie is about, you'll get the song.  Messed up movie but terrific song.

The Blower's Daughter

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions