Had a northern lad
Not exactly had
He moved like the sunset god who painted that
First he loved my accent
How his knees could bent
I thought we'd be okay
Me and my molasses
But I feel something is wrong
But I feel this cake just isn't done
And don't say that you don't
You don't show much these days
It get's so fuckin cold
I loved his secret places
But I can't go anymore
"You change like sugar cane", sayes my northern lad
Well I guess you go too far when pianos try to be guitars
I feel the west in you
But I, I feel it falling apart too
And don't say that you don't
And if you could see me now
Said if you could see me now
Girls you've got to know
When it's time to turn the page
When your only wet, because of the rain
Because of the rain (x2)
Because of the rain


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Northern Lad Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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Northern Lad song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    "My heart goes out to where that song comes from. It's very much about thinking you were loved for who you were, and realizing you weren't and realizing maybe you don't love yourself. The line, 'I guess you go too far/when pianos try to be guitars' is just about never being enough. I felt that with my instrument sometimes, wanting to be Jimmy Page. You can only be you. A lot of times it's never enough for people."

    merchantpierceon May 04, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think "when you're only wet because of the rain" refers t a different sort of wet. I think that makes the line even sadder.

    you know what's interesting? I feel this way about my husband sometimes. I made no mistake in marrying him, but sometimes I catch myself in my own lie. The way I try to be something esle for him, so that he'll be more in love with me. Then I realize- he's not exactly perfect himself, so what am I doing?

    I think women do this more than men. I know the more I fake it, the weaker we become.

    and that's probably the truest thing I've ever written on this site.

    itsALLprogramMUSICon May 16, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Tori said there was one thing that has been kept out of the media, and she can only thank her girlfriends (and some boyfriends) that have been loyal to her. In between her Sylvia Plath and heavy classics and non-fiction, she used to have books like The Flames of Love, etc. Trashy romance novels. She felt ashamed, but was so hooked on them. But one day she was talking to Beenie and was reminded how she used to always read them but not anymore, and why was that? "Because I met this guy, he's no white knight, but I wrote this for him." and went into Northern Lad. After she finished, she told us, "I'm really not supposed to talk about him, see we made a deal; I married him."

    At this point, there was a problem with one of the lights, so everything stopped while Kevyn gave Tori a "Lip Gloss Boost" and then asked if the person with the last question wanted to ask it now during the break. Chris stood up and told her back in '96, he was one of about 8 people at this radio station and she had played a new song, that is now Never Seen Blue. He wanted to know where it had come from. Tori was a bit surprised; "I did? I sang that? Oh shit. See, it's about the same guy that I'm not supposed to talk about about and I lied about Northern Lad and I don't have another lie." And she played it. So beautiful. -- an account of VH1 Storytellers on October 24, 1998 by Beth Coulter via

    BlackDahliaon December 12, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    not to blow you all out of the water, but the song is actually about eric ross, tori's love affair for much of the 90s. trent rezner was just a good friend. she did not seek anything more than a friendship with him. much of boys for pele was about the loss of a relationship between her and ross, and now this song is a sort of closing of that chapter. this is proven with the lines: And if you could see me now, said if you could see me now. Girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page. Or when you're only wet because of all the rain. Because of... because of... all the rain, because of. to prove my point, she actually talks about it in a concert. she doesn't specifically mention eric's name, but she says it was a crewman which eric was. here is the link: youtube.com/watch

    hurley1818on May 26, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    beautiful, very easy to relate to if youve ever been on the downside of an ending relationship.

    "girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page, when you're only wait because of the rain"

    I think that line is about how when you are in a relationship, you build your whole world around that one person, and everything happens because of them and for them because they are the center of your universe. The cold water falling on your skin isn't him, it's just the rain. That is so hard to realize. I want to give everyone a hug now.

    ProudestMonkey1on March 14, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    she uses 'molasses' in 2 songs. does anyone have any idea what it means to her?

    amphitriteon August 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the way she plays the piano especially in this song.

    EvaLunaon July 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song's just beautiful... and..i take it..in a personal manner..like..how sometimes..we choose to do certain things just to please others..and in the proccess..u just see how unhappy u are with urself...yet u still wanna remain as urself..it gets complicaded..cuz we're never satisfied...and when..it comes..about..a romantic manner...wow=/..i gets me all wrapped up..with..sadness...and i just have to say.. u just know it...when its fading...and theres nothing u can do.. just let go..

    peace

    isobelon April 27, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really love this song, the line "He don't show much these days, it's gets so fucking cold." is amazing... I can relate with personal cough incidents I have had (or maybe just one) and the song just expresses the feeling so well.

    Katyon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    didn't Tori once refer to this song as "part 2 of Baker Baker"?

    keyyoooon May 16, 2004   Link

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