“Savage Daughter” is a powerful and evocative song by Sarah Hester Ross that has gained significant popularity, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok. The song celebrates feminine strength, independence, and connection to nature and ancestral wisdom.
The lyrics of “Savage Daughter” are structured with a recurring chorus, verses, and a bridge. The chorus emphasizes the speaker’s identity as a “savage daughter,” highlighting her refusal to conform to societal expectations. The verses explore themes of connection to nature, ancient wisdom, and mystical experiences. The bridge speaks to the universal experience of birth and the connection to ancestral knowledge.
The song’s message resonates with many listeners, particularly women, as it encourages embracing one’s wild nature and rejecting societal constraints. It has become popular for covers and performances, with various versions available including ukulele tabs and violin sheet music.
“Savage Daughter” is typically performed with a folk-inspired sound, using instruments like guitar or ukulele. The tempo is variable but generally around 60 BPM, creating a rhythmic and powerful musical backdrop for the empowering lyrics.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
“Savage Daughter” Lyrics Meaning
[Chorus]
I am my mother’s savage daughter
The one who runs barefoot
Cursing sharp stones
I am my mother’s savage daughter
I will not cut my hair
I will not lower my voice
The chorus emphasizes the speaker’s identity as a “savage daughter,” embracing her wild nature and refusing to conform to societal expectations. She runs barefoot, showing her connection to the earth, and refuses to cut her hair or lower her voice, symbolizing her refusal to diminish herself for others’ comfort.
[Verse 1]
My mother’s child is a savage
She looks for her omens in the colors of stones
In the faces of cats, in the fall of feathers
In the dancing of fire
In the curve of old bones
This verse highlights the speaker’s connection to nature and ancient wisdom. She finds meaning in natural elements like stones, cats, feathers, fire, and bones, suggesting a deep spiritual connection to the world around her and possibly pagan or indigenous beliefs.
[Verse 2]
My mother’s child dancеs in darkness
She sings heathеn songs
By the light of the moon
And watches the stars and renames the planets
And dreams she can reach them
With a song and a broom
The second verse further emphasizes the speaker’s unconventional and mystical nature. She dances in darkness and sings “heathen songs,” indicating a rejection of mainstream religious practices. Her connection to celestial bodies and desire to reach them “with a song and a broom” suggests a blend of magical thinking and ambition.
[Bridge]
We are all brought forth out of darkness
Into this world, through blood and through pain
And deep in our bones, the old songs are waking
So sing them with voices of thunder and rain
This section speaks to the universal experience of birth and the connection to ancestral wisdom. It acknowledges the pain of coming into the world but also the strength and knowledge inherited from previous generations. The “old songs” waking in our bones represent this inherited wisdom and power.
[Chorus]
We are our mother’s savage daughters
The ones who run barefoot
Cursing sharp stones
We are our mother’s savage daughters
We will not cut our hair
We will not lower our voice
We are our mother’s savage daughters
The ones who run barefoot
Cursing sharp stones
We are our mother’s savage daughters
We will not cut our hair
We will not lower our voice
We are our mother’s savage daughters
The ones who run barefoot
Cursing sharp stones
We are our mother’s savage daughters
We will not cut our hair
We will not lower our voice
The shift from “I am” to “We are” in the final chorus expands the message to include all women. It’s a call to collective empowerment, encouraging all women to embrace their strength, reject societal constraints, and honor their connection to nature and ancestral wisdom.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Savage Daughter”
The song “Savage Daughter,” performed by Sarah Hester Ross, is a cover of “I Am My Mother’s Savage Daughter,” written by Karen L Unrein/Wyndreth Berginsdottir in 1990. The lyrics speak to a deep connection to the Earth, the Divine Feminine, and the reclaiming of one’s voice and power. The song is an anthem for those who embrace their wild spirit and refuse to conform to societal expectations.
The lyrics “I am my mother’s savage daughter, the one who runs barefoot, cursing sharp stones. I am my mother’s savage daughter, I will not cut my hair, I will not lower my voice” embody a rejection of societal norms and an embrace of individuality. The “savage daughter” seeks omens in nature, finding meaning in the colors of stones, the faces of cats, the fall of feathers, the dancing of fire, and the curve of old bones. This connection to nature signifies a return to primal instincts and a rejection of the artificial constraints of modern society.
The song also touches on themes of healing and self-discovery. It suggests clearing out self-destructive behaviors and listening to the world, reducing negativity to find peace and connection. The “savage daughter” embraces her inner darkness, dances in the moonlight, sings heathen songs, renames the planets, and dreams of reaching them with a song and a broom. This imagery symbolizes the power of creativity, intuition, and the ability to transform the world through one’s unique perspective. The song is a call to honor the connection to Mother Earth, the Divine Feminine, and the power within.
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