Mother Earth

**"Weaker Girl"** is a song by American singer and songwriter Banks. It is the 8th track off her second major-label album *The Altar*.

## Background

Banks said she wrote “Mother Earth” after her sister gave birth to a baby girl. At the time, Banks was also coming out of a depression, which she has struggled with since her youth.

## Theme

The song is the embodiment of Banks' idea of a "wounded healer" herself, she said in an interview for TIME: "'Mother Earth' came from feeling sickened by the way society, the world, and this business make women feel. Make me feel, sometimes. Just powerless. Fractured up body parts. I gave that song to myself because I needed that song. It’s not a song shitting on anything—it’s a song of healing and wanting. Follow me, and when you fall, follow me. Coming together. Me being the healer, almost. I wanted to give my energy and hold the hand of another woman who has felt how I feel."

The song also stems from feeling powerless in the eyes of the world and, more specifically, in the music business: "This song is for women. [...] I needed to write it and I want women to hear it because I want us to support each other. People are always trying to compare women; I get compared to other female musicians all the time. But if you're gonna compare me to someone, why can't you compare me to a man too? Why doesn't that happen? I think in general there's a fear of femininity. For years and years and years, people have been conditioned to want women to be pretty, very polite, very nurturing, and not take up too much space. I am a nurturing person, but you can be nurturing and powerful and fierce and big too – and you can take up so much space. This song for me is about taking up space and not being afraid to be big."

For Amuse, Banks briefly said about the song: "'Mother Earth' was a turning point for me in the album. It’s like breaking out of this mould that you don’t fit in any more."

## Lyrics

Underwater

Consuming all my kind, destined for alterations

And my mind ain't aligned for her daughter

I know I'm Mother Earth, I see the weather

So I'm not gonna cover up the freckles on my faces

I covered all the bases

Follow me to my bed

'Cause every time you fall, I'll be holdin' your head up

And when will you get tired of feeling bad?

And every time you fall, follow me

Follow me to my bed

'Cause every time you fall, I'll be holdin' your head up

And when will you get tired of feeling bad?

And every time you fall, follow me

He's so hollow

My baby mated blind until he wasted fate

And so I'm left behind until he cursed my sorrow

But I know I'm Mother Earth, I see the weather

So I won't let you pull up in all my safest places

I covered all the bases

Follow me to my bed

'Cause every time you fall, I'll be holdin' your head up

And when will you get tired of feeling bad?

And every time you fall, follow me

Follow me to my bed

'Cause every time you fall, I'll be holdin' your head up

And when will you get tired of feeling bad?

And every time you fall, follow me

## Trivia

* The track seamlessly follows "Weaker Girl", serving as a testament to empowerment, giving the themes of the two songs.

## References

<references>

1. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2016/09/124787/banks-track-by-track
2. ↑ https://time.com/4513366/banks-the-altar-album-interview/
3. ↑ https://time.com/4513366/banks-the-altar-album-interview/
4. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2016/09/124787/banks-track-by-track
5. ↑ https://amuse.vice.com/banks-on-the-weeknd-and-being-a-weird-little-alien