We deliberately picked a song with rather vague lyrics to give ourselves more room to creatively interpret it and not be limited to perhaps a very specific topic—after all, Goodwin did say that the links between a music video and its song are not always literal/do not always embody the notions of “amplification” or “illustration.”
Importantly, at this point, Esha and I already had a vague idea that we wanted to portray women as a social group along with certain issues that plague their lives—my interpretation of the song was heavily shaped by the aim to find ways our representation of gender-specific issues and the song lyrics could compliment each other.
Keeping all of that in mind, here’s my interpretation of the song's lyrics and the potential ways we could link our music video with them.
Muddy Waters’ lyrics:
[Verse 1]
We are kneeling at the rivers edge and tempting
All the steps to follow closer right behind
Is it only when you feel a part is empty
That it’s gnawing at the corners of your mind
[Pre-Chorus]
I will ask you for mercy
I will come to you blind
What you’ll see is the worst me
Not the last of my kind
[Chorus]
In the muddy water we’re falling
In the muddy water we’re crawling
Hold me down
Hold me now
Sold me out
In the muddy waters we’re falling
[Verse 2]
It is not clear why we choose the fire pathway
Where we end is not the way that we had planned
All the spirits gather 'round like its our last day
To get across you know we’ll have to raise the sand
[Pre-Chorus]
I will ask you for mercy
I will come to you blind
What you’ll see is the worst me
I'm not the last of my kind
[Chorus]
In the muddy water we’re falling
In the muddy water we’re crawling
Holds me down
Hold me now
Sold me out
In the muddy water we’re falling (falling, falling, falling...)
[Bridge]
Don’t fail me now
Put your arms around me and pull me out
I know I’m found
With your arms around me, oh save me now
[Chorus]
In the muddy water we’re falling
In the muddy water we’re crawling
Holds me down
Hold me now
Sold me out
In the muddy water we’re falling
Analysing the parts that I find the most fascinating/relevant:
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