“Who Is She?” by I Monster, released in 2003 on the album Neveroddoreven, is known for its exploration of longing and lost love. The song centers on the singer’s fascination with an elusive woman, who may be a vague memory or a figment of his imagination.
The lyrics delve into the nature of love, questioning the boundary between reality and illusion, and express a desire for an eternal connection. The song samples Mario Nascimbene’s film score for The Vengeance of She (1968), with vocals by Bob Fields.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“Who Is She?” Lyrics Meaning
[Chorus: Bob Fields]
Oh, who is she?
A misty memory
A haunting face
Is she a lost embrace?
The opening lines introduce the central theme of the song, highlighting the singer’s intrigue with a woman who captivates him. She appears as a vague memory or figment of imagination, evoking longing and desire. The “lost embrace” suggests a lost love or missed connection.
[Verse 1: Bob Fields]
Am I in love with just a theme?
Or is Ayesha
just a dream?
A mystery
Oh, who is she?
The singer questions whether he is in love with an idea or if “Ayesha” is simply a dream. The name “Ayesha,” meaning ‘alive,’ may symbolize a desired vitality in the protagonist’s life. This verse emphasizes the mystery surrounding the woman.
[Verse 2: Bob Fields]
I call her name
Across an endless plain
She’ll answer me
Where ever she may be
The singer calls out her name across an endless plain, confident she will answer, reinforcing a hopeful and enduring outlook on love.
[Verse 3: Bob Fields]
Somewhere across the sea of time
A love immortal such as mine
Will come to me
Eternally
The concept of the “sea of time” signifies the vastness between them, yet the singer believes their love is immortal and will eventually return, highlighting a hopeful perspective on love. This verse speaks to a longing for something everlasting in contrast with the transient nature of reality.
[Outro: Bob Fields]
Immortal she
Return to me
The song concludes with a desperate plea for Ayesha to return, solidifying the theme of longing and the idea of a lost, unattainable love that remains strong despite time.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Who Is She?”
I Monster’s song “Who Is She?” delves into themes of longing, lost love, and the haunting nature of memory. The lyrics explore the singer’s fascination with a mysterious woman, possibly a figure from the past or a figment of his imagination. The song encapsulates the heartache and yearning associated with a love that is lost or unattainable.
The opening lines of the song introduce the central theme, which revolves around the singer’s curiosity and intrigue concerning a captivating woman. The mystery woman appears to be a vague memory, possibly a figment of his imagination, hinting at longing and desire. The “lost embrace” evokes a sense of lost love or a missed connection. The singer questions whether his feelings are real or if he is in love with an idea or fantasy. “Ayesha” could be a specific person from his past or simply a symbol representing an elusive and idealized love.
Despite Ayesha’s physical absence, the singer still feels a deep connection with her, conveying a profound longing and hope that she is aware of his feelings. The concept of “the sea of time” signifies an infinite amount of time and space between them. However, the singer believes that their love is immortal and will eventually return to him, reinforcing his hopeful and enduring outlook on love. The song concludes with the singer’s plea for Ayesha to return to him, solidifying the theme of longing and the idea of a lost or unattainable love that remains strong over time.
The song may be based on an old movie, “The Vengeance of She”. Listeners familiar with the film might recognize that “Ayesha” is a character from the film. However, to others, it may simply sound like a man missing his estranged lover. The poetic lyrics make it difficult to determine the exact nature of the singer’s relationship with “she”. The use of the word “immortal” may be more literal, as the film is science fiction.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.