Nettles Lyrics – Ethel Cain (with meaning)

Nettles Lyrics

[Verse 1]
We were in a race to grow up
Yesterday, through today, ’til tomorrow
But when the plant blew up
A piece of shrapnel flew and slowed that part of you
The doctors gave you until the end of the night
But not ’til daylight (Not ’til daylight), not ’til daylight (Not ’til daylight)
Time passes slower in the flicker of the hospital light
I pray the race is worth the fight
Made a fool of myself down on Tennessee Street
It wasn’t pretty like the movies
It was ugly, like what they all did to me
And they did to me what I wouldn’t do to anyone
You know that’s for sure

[Chorus]
Tell me all the time 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, knowing I’m half of you

[Post-Chorus]
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)

[Verse 2]
Lay me down where the trees bend low
Put me down where the greenery stings
I can hear them singin’
“To love me is to suffer me”, and I believe it
When I lay with you in that auld lang room
Wishin’ I was the way you say that you are
You’ll go fight a war, I’ll go missing
I warned you, for me, it’s not that hard

[Pre-Chorus]
That picture on the wall you’re scared of looks just like you
I wanna bleed, I wanna hurt the way that boys do
Maybe you’re right and we should stop watchin’ the news
‘Cause, baby, I’ve never seen brown eyes look so blue

[Chorus]
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
Think of us inside (Think of us inside), after the wedding (After the wedding)
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)
Held close all the time, knowin’ (Knowin’)
This was all for you

[Post-Chorus]
Think of us inside
Gardenias on the tile, where it makes no difference who held back from who

[Outro]
To love me is to suffer me

---

Nettles Song Meaning
__________________________________
The song “Nettles” by Ethel Cain, explores the painful process of growing up amidst trauma, loss, and love. The lyrics begin with a reflection on how quickly people try to grow up—pushed by time and life events. This urgency is suddenly interrupted by a traumatic event: a literal or metaphorical explosion that leaves a lasting scar on someone close to her. The line about shrapnel slowing “that part of you” suggests both physical and emotional damage. Doctors’ dire predictions contrast with the quiet suspense of waiting through the night, with hospital lights stretching time painfully. She questions whether surviving all of this is worth it. Her vulnerability deepens as she recalls a personal breakdown on Tennessee Street—raw and unfiltered, nothing like the romanticized struggles shown in movies. Instead, her pain is real, and the harm done to her was something she believes she’d never inflict on anyone else.

The chorus is a tender, conflicted plea for reassurance. She’s told not to worry, and to focus on a hopeful future with the one she loves, but there’s a heavy awareness of loss. Waking up alone symbolizes abandonment or grief, and the idea of being “half of you” underscores a deep emotional bond. This part of the song portrays both comfort and despair—being held close while knowing that part of her is broken or gone.

The post-chorus doesn’t use words but hums, offering a moment to breathe and absorb the emotions. It feels like the sound of remembering or grieving, something more emotional than literal.

In verse two, she speaks of a burial place, asking to be laid where nature is raw and painful—where “the greenery stings.” Nature becomes both a source of beauty and discomfort, matching the complexity of her emotional life. She hears the message “to love me is to suffer me,” and accepts it. She wants to be the version of herself her partner sees, but she doesn’t feel worthy. There’s a contrast between them—one of them will go fight a literal or metaphorical war, while she says she’ll just disappear. Her warning reveals a painful truth: abandoning things is easy for her because she’s used to loss.

The pre-chorus shifts focus to identity and emotional pain. A picture that scares her partner looks like them—a sign that they’re more alike than they want to admit. She wants to feel pain like “the boys do,” possibly pointing to gender expectations or emotional repression. Watching the news is too much—it adds to their grief. Even though her partner has brown eyes, they look sad and lost, as if turned blue from sorrow.

The second chorus builds on the first with more emotional depth. She imagines a future together after marriage, with lies, suffering, and the quiet hope of shared mornings. There’s no idealized happiness—just survival, love, and deep sadness. She’s constantly held close, physically or emotionally, and everything she’s enduring is for that love.

The final post-chorus and outro bring the song full circle. She imagines gardenias (flowers often associated with grief) scattered on the floor, symbolizing the beauty and pain of love. In the end, she repeats the haunting idea: to love her is to suffer her—an acceptance of her complicated identity and the cost of caring for her.

[Note: This is the possible meaning of this song, based on lyrics, words & tone. Every song Meaning and Summary we share or publish in this website only depend on lyrics analysis, not from Artist own perspective.]

---

FAQ

---

Nettles (MV)

---

For my lovely readers: Thank you for reading the lyrics of “Nettles” by Ethel Cain. If you enjoyed the song, share it with your friends and family. If you notice any errors or discrepancies, please feel free to submit corrections via the Contact Us section. We value accurate lyrics and aim to provide the best content for fans. These lyrics are provided for educational purposes only, respecting the artists and their work. Please share and help others enjoy this track!