[Verse 1]
I’m burning wick to fingertip with sage
From my shaky-shakin’ hands
Millie, what have you done to me
My friend?
I’m tossin’ turnin’ in an open grave
Coined-tongued with whatever I can save
Carrying hauntings of a brand-new age—
Millie, can’t you see I slide
Planchettes with my wake?
[Chorus]
Catch me walking with the ghosts again
Must be on that double dose, depends
Roman chamomile all down the throat, lift hands
In Michigan, the lakes all darken
Blackbirds flocking to and fro, sevens
Roots drag marsh/harsh over the floor, levelin’
Millie, can’t you stop them? You slow no omens
Likе exhaling, it never еnds
[Verse 2]
I’m coughing up elderberry on the stage
Like your sacrificial lamb
Millie, hypnotize pain away, I beg
I’m whisper-hissing notes on every slate
That I scribe and toss into the hungry waves
Carrying itchings for a familiar ache
Millie, can’t you see I made a walking stick out of my stake?
[Chorus]
Catch me walking with the ghosts again
Must be on that double dose, depends
Roman chamomile all down the throat, lift hands
In Michigan, the lakes all darken
Blackbirds flocking to and fro, sevens
Roots drag marsh/harsh over the floor, levelin’
Millie, can’t you stop them? You slow no omens
Like exhaling, it never ends
[Bridge]
Three redwing blackbirds outside my window
Two fish heads at my door
What be this omen, I’ll never know
Millie, warm the kettle once more
Three redwing blackbirds outside my window
Two fish heads at my door
One kettle bubbling atop rusted stove but
Millie, warm the kettle once
Millie, warm the kettle once
Millie, could you so please be
A kind old dearie just for me
And warm the kettle’s tea once more?
[Chorus]
Catch me walking with the ghosts again
Must be on that double dose, depends
Roman chamomile all down the throat, lift hands
In Michigan, the lakes all darken
Blackbirds flocking to and fro, sevens
Roots drag marsh/harsh over the floor, levelin’
Millie, can’t you stop them? You slow no omens
Like exhaling, it never ends
Copyright: Rabbitology
To give a good start to the month of November and this column, the song being analyzed this week is “Millie, Warm the Kettle” by Rabbitology.
What initially stuck out to me about this song were the lyrics “Catch me walking with the ghosts again | Must be on that double dose, depends.” This led me to dive deeper into the meaning of the song, which in turn let me discover the meaning behind each special lyric.
First up, the song name itself. “Millie, Warm the Kettle” contains the phrase “warm the kettle,” which signifies that an important event is about to take place. Another possible meaning is that someone could be preparing for a long night by making a cup of tea with the water in the kettle. “Millie” could also symbolize an external source of help, as the full phrase is the speaker telling “Millie” to warm the kettle, which, if taken metaphorically , means that the speaker is either preparing “Millie” for the bad thing that is to come, or it can mean that the speaker is asking for help against the bad thing.
Continuing with the actual song, the previously mentioned lyrics “Catch me walking with the ghosts again | Must be on that double dose, depends” indirectly depict a panic attack. When a person is experiencing a panic attack, there is an overwhelming feeling of terror exhibited by a fear of dying, even when there is no real danger. These are not all of the symptoms of the response, just the ones I find to relate to the mentioned lyrics. Relating to the “double dose” section of the lyrics, some side effects of medications meant to resolve panic attacks can actually make the symptoms worse instead of better.
The next lyric of notice is the phrase “Roman chamomile all down the throat, lift hands.” Roman chamomile is a type of herb that — when made into tea and drunk — can reduce symptoms of anxiety; this in turn lessens symptoms of panic attacks. It also can provide emotional stability after a panic attack has taken place.
Furthermore, on the topic of herbs, the lyrics “I’m coughing up elderberry on the stage” are featured in the second verse. Elderberries, plus their leaves and stems, — when eaten raw or uncooked — are poisonous and can cause nausea. The reaction depicted in the lyrics can also be because of the stress of being up on stage, one thing that could lead to the development of a panic attack.
Third to last is the line “Three redwing blackbirds outside my window.” In this line are the words “Three redwing blackbirds,” which can individually symbolize vitality, energy, and courage. Something else of note regarding this line is that blackbirds are mentioned in all three choruses with the line “Blackbirds flocking to and fro, sevens,” but this explicit line is spoken during the bridge of the song, which takes place right before the ending of the song. Blackbirds, in general, also symbolize good fortune and — most importantly — resilience. This relates to the overall meaning of the song because going through a panic attack and emerging okay takes a difficult learning curve, one which requires resilience and perseverance.
Similarly, right after the redwing blackbird line is the lyric “Two fish heads at my door.” In a broader sense, two fish heads at your door could signify transformation, fortune, and determination — among other things as well. As stated in the previous paragraph, when someone experiences panic attacks, there is a learning curve to managing the anxiety, one that requires determination as well as the other traits previously listed.
Finally, the phrase “One kettle bubbling atop rusted stove.” This phrase represents the stark differences between life and decay; similarly, it also highlights the differences between warmth and neglect. A kettle on top of a rusted stovetop also frequently symbolizes hope or resilience in the face of abandonment or hardship. One other important detail to take notice of is this lyric’s placement in the song. In the previous choruses, the other two symbols of the blackbird and the fish heads are mentioned, but this final symbol, a kettle on a rusted stovetop, is only mentioned once at the end of the song.
Once you put all of these lyrics together, the song “Millie, Warm the Kettle” depicts the reoccurring journey of an individual with anxiety issues and frequent panic attacks. The endless cycle only being broken by the person’s hope for a better tomorrow and the perseverance and determination they exhibit to reach that better tomorrow.
