![](https://img.radioparadise.com/covers/m/B00005R1Q5.jpg)
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Your rating:
Total ratings: 2732
Length: 4:38
Plays (last 30 days): 3
far from the things that you know
far from the sprawl of concrete
that keeps crawling it's way about
1,000 miles a day
Take one last look behind
commit this to memory and mind
Don't miss this wasteland,
this terrible place
When you leave keep your heart off of your sleeve
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes
lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe, lie with me
Stay beside me don't go
Don't you go
Oh my five & dime queen tell me what have you seen
The lust and avarice
The bottomless, the cavernous greed
Is that what you see
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes
lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe, lie with me
Stay beside me don't go
It's your happiness I want most of all
and for that I'd do anything at all
Oh mercy me
If you want the best of it
or the most of it all
if there's anything I can do at all
Now come on shot gun bride
what makes me envy your life
Faceless, nameless, innocent
blameless and free
what's it like to be
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes
lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe, lie with me
Stay beside me don't go
Don't go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
I don't know how they do it, but that studio sounds amazing.
![whistle](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_whistle.gif)
Just love this song and Merchant's voice is majestic. I'd love to hear a duet with Eddie Vedder, would complement each other perfectly.
Call their agents. It's a good idea.
Is Natalie still performing or active?
Saw her a few years ago in Brighton (England) and she was so so good. Get to see her if you can.
So it's fashionable to hate Natalie Merchant? Is there a good reason for it?
Tell you what I see. People complain about "girl bands" and "girlie" pop stars (and rightly so) but when a woman comes along who plays real music, she has to work ten times as hard to gain acceptance from listeners and the media and in the meantime she has to endure the rocks and spears of everyone over ~everything~ she writes and plays. Why?
Honestly, I get fed up with it.
Look into her activism. You probably know how some people love to hate musicians, actors, and athletes who use their fame to promote politics that those folks don't like.
![](https://chicago.gopride.com/c/I/37954-113867.jpg)
As of today, it gets a 6.9. Solid enough for most listeners.
You ok hun?
Hey, I am a big fan of deliberately thumbing your nose at the great unwashed believe me however if I owned and operated an internet radio station that at least partially required listener donations to assist in operating costs, I would have more than a passing interest in whether my listeners liked what they are hearing. Just a thought.
What's the name of your radio station?
How long has it been broadcasting?
What's her best album?
"My husband's a dork"
Evolution, is it called?
Anyway, welcome to the club.
Oh, you Poor Suffering, Tortured, Distressed Soul. It's only music and I'm guessing you enjoy most of what you hear on RP. Some folks out there have it really bad. Relax.
Judging by the overall ratings scores for most of her songs (including this one at 6.8) , one could assume that most listeners here like her music. The carping in the comments sections, for most "polarizing" artists (e,g, U2, Talking Heads, Dylan, Foo Fighters, etc.) usually doesn't reflect the opinions of majority of the listeners.
This is not good, though.
Yup
![{#Grumpy} {#Grumpy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/grumpy.gif)
blah
ODAD wrote:
PSTD? — Post Strumming Tinnitus Disorder ?
Potato Sexually Transmitted Disease ?
Partially Staged Tamale Dyam ?
![{#Roflol} {#Roflol}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_roflol.gif)
Potentially subject to delirium?
![{#Drunk} {#Drunk}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_drunk.gif)
PSTD? — Post Strumming Tinnitus Disorder ?
Potato Sexually Transmitted Disease ?
Partially Staged Tamale Dyam ?
Yup
![{#Grumpy} {#Grumpy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/grumpy.gif)
People confuse their taste with good taste.
NM's voice is no worse than many others', but her efforts are more demeaned than many played here.
When I use the term good taste, it means someone who has been exposed to a decent amount, of a certain breadth, of music. They need to have some sort of thought process of evaluating going on inside.
Have a grand day world.
People confuse their taste with good taste.
People confuse their taste with good taste.
NM's voice is no worse than many others', but her efforts are more demeaned than many played here.
Hey, I am a big fan of deliberately thumbing your nose at the great unwashed believe me however if I owned and operated an internet radio station that at least partially required listener donations to assist in operating costs, I would have more than a passing interest in whether my listeners liked what they are hearing. Just a thought.
I can't - she sounds like a sheep singing into a fan and all I can focus on are her unnaturally large breasts. . .
Strangely there are a few singers like that, but to me Eddie Vedder is the preeminent example. However if you want to get chronological I suppose Belinda Carlisle would be the earliest example I can think of off the top of my head.
BillG replies:
Actually 69% of the 2,100+ of you who rated this song gave it 7 or higher. I pay a lot more attention to data like that than the opinions (especially negative ones) posted here.
My favorite kind of posts: interesting facts or stories about the artist or song -- particularly those that involve the poster's personal experiences.
A big 1 from me
![{#Biggrin} {#Biggrin}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_biggrin.gif)
joeydalts wrote:
I know it's totally irrelevant but i'd like to share this very annoying "looks like" opinion with you all. To me she totally looks like a female version of Mark Wahlberg.
Sorry for the spam, but doesn't she?!
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
tipper, good expressed!
And, I never heard "a sheep singing into a fan" What happened with the ears of these guys - blocked of her own drivel?!
![{#Lol} {#Lol}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_lol.gif)
I can't - she sounds like a sheep singing into a fan and all I can focus on are her unnaturally large breasts. . .
Look pretty natural to me or do you mean for an american?
sing over her...the song itself is wonderful. I just spent it slow waltzing with myself in the house
![](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_biggrin.gif)
Motherland cradle me
Close my eyes
Lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe
Lie with me
Stay beside me
Don't go, don't you go
I can't - she sounds like a sheep singing into a fan and all I can focus on are her unnaturally large breasts. . .
Probably the funniest song comment I have ever read.
![{#Yes} {#Yes}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_yes.gif)
![{#No} {#No}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_no.gif)
I think they are naturally wonderful. But you are right about the sheep singing into a fan.
Hahahahah. That's the funniest thing I ever heard!
![{#Hug} {#Hug}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_hug.gif)
*Let the bashing begin.*
Nope, no bashing here. Absolutely right, and thanks for everything.
I can't - she sounds like a sheep singing into a fan and all I can focus on are her unnaturally large breasts. . .
I think they are naturally wonderful. But you are right about the sheep singing into a fan.
gjr wrote:
marky-mark can sing a LOT better........her voice has all of the soothing qualities of sandpaper on a sunburn
Bill? Rebecca??? Why are you doing this to us?
![{#Wall} {#Wall}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_wall.gif)
marky-mark can sing a LOT better........her voice has all of the soothing qualities of sandpaper on a sunburn
So did Dylan and Rod Stewart and it didn't hurt their careers. I love Natalie, she has things to say that I want to hear, in whatever voice she uses.
I know it's totally irrelevant but i'd like to share this very annoying "looks like" opinion with you all. To me she totally looks like a female version of Mark Wahlberg.
Sorry for the spam, but doesn't she?!
marky-mark can sing a LOT better........her voice has all of the soothing qualities of sandpaper on a sunburn
I know it's totally irrelevant but i'd like to share this very annoying "looks like" opinion with you all. To me she totally looks like a female version of Mark Wahlberg.
Sorry for the spam, but doesn't she?!
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
You are right. I need to get another look at Mark Knopfler's breasts.
Enjoy the song.
Not nearly one of her best but still.. that voice and that spirit.
And those boobs!
Not nearly one of her best but still.. that voice and that spirit.
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
The overwhelming majority of comments about Natalie Merchant on RP concern her voice - especially from those who vehemently dislike it. The comments about songs from this album may refer to her bosom more than those from other albums, since that part of her anatomy is somewhat noticable on the cover photo.
While "tits don't sing" or "write", they have certainly inspired a great deal of songwriting...among other things.
Mark doesn't actually seem to be sporting any...
Singing tits on the other hand probably would do really well...
*Let the bashing begin.*
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
The overwhelming majority of comments about Natalie Merchant on RP concern her voice - especially from those who vehemently dislike it. The comments about songs from this album may refer to her bosom more than those from other albums, since that part of her anatomy is somewhat noticable on the cover photo.
While "tits don't sing" or "write", they have certainly inspired a great deal of songwriting...among other things.
She has really big boobs.
OMG, you really crazy guys!!
That is what you call a self answering question.
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
She has really big boobs.
For me, this has always been the lack of entry point for her music - I can't understand what she's singing! She has a perfectly fine speaking voice but, as soon as she adds a melody, Natalie begins to sound as if she's hearing impaired.
She has a very peculiar singing voice, but I've never had trouble parsing her lyrics, and I tend to have that problem with a lot of singers. I do think that her voice was clearer back in the Maniacs days, though. I think it's a common thing with singers, that they accentuate the distinctive parts of their sound as time goes by.
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
Hey, I'm a big fan of her tits (and I wish we could see more of them), but I like her voice and songwriting more.
I don’t understand RP listeners. Happy to soak up hours of pretentious, same style, I’m a poor working lad, drivel from the likes of Mark Knofler but all the comments about Natalie Merchant seem to concentrate on her tits.
Bad news people; tits don’t sing, don’t write and the milk don’t taste that good.
Natalie Merchant on the other hand can write excellent music, produce innovative and interesting albums.
https://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/300953
She will be here in a few days.
I like her music very much but a little more enunciation would help me actually hear the words. As it is even the tunes I've listened to a lot fall into the category of "Well, it sure seems the lyrics would be profoundly meaningful if I knew what they were."
For me, this has always been the lack of entry point for her music - I can't understand what she's singing! She has a perfectly fine speaking voice but, as soon as she adds a melody, Natalie begins to sound as if she's hearing impaired.
And yes, she does have a nice rack.
I think "decent breasts" might be a bit too polite to sound sardonic. Perhaps next time you should try: "She has nice tits, but a flat voice." And see how that goes over.
Wouldn't "She has a big chest but a flat voice" be a better juxtaposition?
I like her music very much but a little more enunciation would help me actually hear the words. As it is even the tunes I've listened to a lot fall into the category of "Well, it sure seems the lyrics would be profoundly meaningful if I knew what they were."
![{#Frustrated} {#Frustrated}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_frustrated.gif)
(earphones out)
"Natalie Merchant is such a beautiful gifted person, her music and voice touches me deeply. This video is and example of how deep and feeling she is. I am in Boston, in the last few years her charitable work in the Boston area has been amazing. It's one thing to have talent but to feel and care so much to is true beauty."
"Ah, the archangel of sonic art. Her voice enters the brain, fills it with the sweet beautiful ecstasy of vocal and lyrical perfection, then buries itself so deep that it can't be dismissed before permanently entwining itself round every synapse, just slightly out of reach til you hear her once again. You can stumble round for years without her, but only the slightest and shortest exposure to that voice and your mind is flooded with the beauty this angel was born to create." Martel1946
Where in hell can you go
Far from the things that you know
Far from the sprawl of concrete
That keeps crawling its way
About 1,000 miles a day?
Take one last look behind
Commit this to memory and mind
Don't miss this wasteland, this terrible place
When you leave
Keep your heart off your sleeve
Motherland cradle me
Close my eyes
Lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe
Lie with me
Stay beside me
Don't go, don't you go
O, my five & dime queen
Tell me what have you seen?
The lust and the avarice
The bottomless, the cavernous greed
Is that what you see?
Motherland cradle me
Close my eyes
Lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe
Lie with me
Stay beside me
Don't go
It's your happiness I want most of all
And for that I'd do anything at all, o mercy me!
If you want the best of it or the most of all
If there's anything I can do at all
Now come on shot gun bride
What makes me envy your life?
Faceless, nameless, innocent, blameless and free,
What's that like to be?
Motherland cradle me
Close my eyes
Lullaby me to sleep
Keep me safe
Lie with me
Stay beside me
Don't go, don't you go