I Believe in Magic
[Verse 1]
My son is almost three
Marks her son's age, symbolizing the passage of time and her journey as a mother.
He used to look just like his dad
Notes a resemblance to his father, suggesting shared traits or a connection to her past.
But right now he looks just like me
Shows a shift, as her son now resembles her, perhaps a bond or legacy being carried forward.
And as far as I can see, the fruit I bear is sweet
Expresses pride in her child, seeing her son as a rewarding part of her life.
But the apple's rolling real far from the tree
Suggests that her child is developing his own identity, separate from hers.
And falling down the hill so full of love and so carefree
Describes her son's innocence and joy, portraying him as unaffected by life's hardships.
I wonder if the world will treat him any better than it treated me
Hopes for a better life for her son, free from the struggles she has endured.
But papa, don't you preach
Implies a need to navigate parenting on her own terms, despite outside advice.
I tried to teach him every day that nothing good is free, but always should be
Expresses her values, teaching her son about the worth of things while wishing for an ideal where goodness is freely given.
[Pre-Chorus]
And with my roots above and all my branches down below
Uses tree imagery to represent herself, rooted but also growing in different directions.
Please tell my boy I love him so
Wants her son to know her deep love for him, a central part of her legacy.
Please tell the world I have to grow before I go
Hopes to continue her own growth and journey, for herself and her son, before she departs.
I just wanted you to know
Expresses a wish to communicate her intentions and feelings openly.
[Chorus]
That I believe in magic and I believe in sin
Admits to believing in both wonder and flaws, embracing the duality of life.
I still believe in Heaven, if they'll never let me in
Holds on to hope in an ideal or higher place, despite feeling unworthy.
I started to believe in love the day I met my little twin
Sees her son as a mirror of herself, reigniting her belief in love and purpose.
I think I might start tryin' because I haven't been
Motivated by her son, she feels a new desire to make more effort in life.
[Verse 2]
My Momma's getting old
Observes her mother aging, highlighting the natural yet poignant passage of time.
Well, it's contagious and you'll catch it like a cold
Refers to aging as inevitable, something that everyone faces eventually.
She won't admit it, but it's something that I know
Mentions her mother’s denial of aging, a common reluctance to face mortality.
'Cause every year that passes for me passes her a hundredfold
Suggests that her mother feels the weight of time more intensely than she does.
Back in the day, my dad and I would share a laugh at all of her mistakes
Reminisces on light-hearted moments with her father, hinting at family dynamics and affection.
But that alliance didn't save me from her fate
Realizes she is still bound to the same aging process as her mother, despite past lightheartedness.
No, it didn't, I'm still twenty-eight
Reiterates her youth, contrasting it with the inevitability of aging she now contemplates.
Became a single mom, just crushed under a rake
Describes the burdens of single motherhood, feeling overwhelmed by responsibility.
Of a child growing faster than I think that I can take
Feels both joy and pressure as her child matures, underscoring the intensity of motherhood.
I love him anyway
Affirms her unconditional love, despite the challenges she faces.
And I remind myself a time will come when he sees me turn grey
Imagines her son witnessing her own aging, as she does with her mother now.
And realize it's too late, like I did with my mother
Fears that her son will understand her fully only when it’s too late, as she feels about her mother.
So now I tell her to her face
Expresses her intention to show love openly to her mother while there’s still time.
[Pre-Chorus]
With my roots above and all my branches down below
Please tell my mom I love her so
Please tell the world I have to grow before I go
I just wanted you to know
[Chorus]
That I believe in magic and I still believe in sin
Repeats her dual belief in innocence and human flaws, accepting life’s complexities.
I still believe in Heaven, if they'll never let me in
I started to believe in love the day I met my little twin
And I might start tryin' because I haven't been
[Outro]
I haven't been, da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-la-la
Da-da-da-da-la-la
Da-da-da-da-la-la
The soft, repetitive sounds in the outro convey a meditative, almost lullaby-like tone, as if contemplating her journey with love, growth, and family.
I love him so
Ends with a simple, heartfelt declaration of love for her son, the song's emotional core.
