Natalie Merchant: Doing

“I don’t want to overdo discussing my experience of motherhood, its too private and profound to parade around. I will say that carrying a child, giving birth to a child and raising that child up has made me feel more engaged and connected to others. I have a greater understanding of people (living past & present). We all begin so pure, so innocent and so hungry for physical and emotional comfort. It’s so important that every baby be generously cherished, fed and comforted. I can see now how withholding these essentials can do irreparable damage.”

Natalie Merchant

Quotes from NatalieMerchant.com
Context: I don’t want to overdo discussing my experience of motherhood, its too private and profound to parade around. I will say that carrying a child, giving birth to a child and raising that child up has made me feel more engaged and connected to others. I have a greater understanding of people (living past & present). We all begin so pure, so innocent and so hungry for physical and emotional comfort. It’s so important that every baby be generously cherished, fed and comforted. I can see now how withholding these essentials can do irreparable damage. Now (post-baby) when I encounter a sad or aggressive character, I wonder what the first three years of his or her life were like. Imaging them alone, crying in their cribs has given me much more compassion.

People , Feeling , Birth , Understanding

“There's no other piece of furniture in my home I'd stare at for three hours at a time, so I try not to do it to the TV.”

Natalie Merchant

Orlando Sentinel (6 November 1992)
Context: I grew up as a TV baby, with my TV babysitter, up until I was about 10. Then my mother just ripped the thing out of the wall and put it in a closet, and we didn't watch it. I have that sort of ability to become addicted to it. And I'm just so fascinated by it once I turn it on, I'm not even that aware what's there. I'm just watching it. So I don't ever turn it on. I get my news from the newspaper. I don't want to watch the Hollywood news product on TV... There's no other piece of furniture in my home I'd stare at for three hours at a time, so I try not to do it to the TV.

Home , Time

“these days you might feel a shaft of light
make its way across your face
and when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be
see the signs and know their meaning”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, Our Time In Eden (1992), These Are Days

Way , Feeling , Light

“I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses
he's their kid I stay out of it,
but who gave you the right to do this?”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, In My Tribe (1987), What's The Matter Here?

“once I could love, I could trust, I could not doubt
but that was just about the worst thing that I could do
it was just about the worst thing that I could do”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, Motherland (2001), The Worst Thing
Variant: once I came close to that most elusive fire
burning with hopeless love and desire
but it was just about the worst thing that I could do
it was just about the worst thing I could do

Love

“once I was open, could hope, I had no doubt
but that was the worst thing that I could do”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, Motherland (2001), The Worst Thing

Hope

“who do you believe?
who will you listen to
who will it be?
it's high time that you decide
in your own mind”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, Ophelia (1998), Life Is Sweet

Time

“people ruthless, people cruel
see the damage that some people do
full of hatred, full of pride
it's enough to make you lose your mind”

Natalie Merchant

Song lyrics, Ophelia (1998), Break Your Heart

People