Timshel Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance


[Chorus]
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand


[Verse 2]
And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars


[Chorus]
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand
[Outro]
And I will tell the night
Whisper, "Lose your sight"
But I can't move the mountains
For you

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About

Genius Annotation

The title of the song, “Timshel,” is a Hebrew word meaning “thou mayest.” John Steinbeck references this word in “East of Eden,” Marcus Mumford’s favorite book, to describe man’s choice between good and evil, sin and righteousness. The song itself is a reference to this passage in the book, in which the character Lee describes that greatness and glory lie in man’s free will and ability to choose.

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