An Exploration of Poliça's 'Blood' and Its Connection to the Concept of Motherhood in the U.S. Lyrical Analysis

Introduction & Poliça’s Background:

Poliça is an American electronic synth-pop band hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally formed sometime in 2011. The band’s current lineup consists of the amazing vocalist and lead writer Channy Leaneagh, talented bassist Chris Bierden, Ryan Olson who acts as the bands producer, and two sets of fantastic drummers named Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu. All members of Poliça had backgrounds in music and other bands before its formation. Their sound is characterized by ethereal synths and layered electronic vocals, driving basslines, and complex rhythm sets created by the two drummers.

Poliça’s debut album, Give You The Ghost, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim, and they have since released several albums over the years, including Shulamith (2013), United Crushers (2016), and When We Stay Alive (2020). They have collaborated with a number of notable musicians, including Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and have toured extensively both in the United States and internationally. Some of my favorite songs by them include, “Lately”, “Blood Moon”, “I Need $” “Torre” “Someway”, “Wandering Star” most of their discography to be honest.

Analyzing “Blood”:

Today I’ll be discussing and trying to understand one of their songs from their most recent album, Madness (2022). The song I’ll be analyzing is called “Blood”. “Blood” has a distinct and intricate beat that blends electronic and acoustic elements. The song’s foundation is built on a pulsing electronic drumbeat, which is layered with syncopated handclaps, shakers, and hi-hats. The beat also features live drums that add a human touch to the overall rhythm. The beat itself is in a 4/4 time signature with a moderate tempo that creates a steady groove throughout the song. The use of syncopation, particularly in the handclaps, adds a sense of tension and anticipation to the beat, which complements the emotive vocal performance of the lead singer, Channy. Let’s start by looking at the lyrics:

“Blood” by Poliça lyrics:

Stone is laid, the corners tied

All the feelings cut to side

I think my work is done

I think I’ve had my fun

I don’t want freedom

And I have none of it

Once the blood is drawn

It feeds the mother and the heaven sent

Blood and milk

Come out myself

I’ll die a pair

One who carried on the thread and one who tread it bare

I-I-I

I don’t have freedom

And I want none of it

I-I-I-I-I

I don’t have freedom

And I want none of it

Blood and milk

Come out myself

I’ll die a pair

One who carried on the thread and one who faded there

I don’t have freedom

And I want none of it

Once the blood is drawn

It feeds the mother and the heaven sent

I-I-I-I, I-I-I

I-I-I, I-I-I

POLIÇA – Blood

Interpreting the Lyrics:

First, “Blood” is such an intricate and thought-provoking piece that relies heavily and indirectly on themes of sacrifice, motherhood, freedom, and the search for meaning in life. There are also clear references to many religious traditions that I will be exploring in this analysis. And through analysis of the lyrics and instrumental and their references to sacrifice, motherhood, and religious traditions, this paper will explore the many ways in which “Blood” engages with these themes, and what Channy is aiming to say about motherhood and life through this song. So let’s start with the opening lines:

Stone is laid, the corners tied,

All the feelings to cut side

Then, immediately the lyrics of “Blood” take us on a trip through time and early human history. The powerful imagery of “stone is laid” paints a picture from prehistoric times when the usage of stones in construction by humans was first known and recorded. Stones have represented many things to people from all cultures like grounding, protection, and stability. So here the literal foundation of the song is laid in stone acting as a metaphor for establishing a firm foundation or structure for the rest of the song to follow. It also suggests the idea of being bound or constrained in some way, as if tied to a cornerstone. This is where the connection to motherhood and many religious traditions is first made as well.

“The corners tied” line preceded by “Stone is laid” could be interpreted through a Christian lens in two ways. The first is the religious symbolism of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone or a reference to the biblical concept of the cornerstone, which is a foundational stone placed at the corner of a building that helps to determine the alignment of the walls. In the Bible, the cornerstone is also used metaphorically to refer to Christ as the foundation of the Christian faith. To reference a couple of bible verses that show this we see it in Psalm 118:22-23:

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the LORD’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

and

1 Corinthians 3:11:

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”

Furthermore, in Judaism, the cornerstone is referred to as the “Even Shetiyah” and is called the foundation stone in rabbinic literature. The foundation stone according to Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis, “is the capstone of Creation. Under this stone God trapped the floodwaters of the abyss, the source of all the world’s water. All the world’s winds also originate from there.”

Also, according to the Islamic faith there is a structure in Mecca, Saudi Arabia called the Kaaba. It is a sacred building located in the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque and is considered the most sacred site in Islam. The Kaaba is a stone cuboid-shaped building made of granite and is covered with a black silk and gold curtain. It is believed to have been built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in Judeo-Christian tradition) and his son Ismail (Ishmael in Judeo-Christian tradition) as a house of worship for the One God of Abraham, and Muslims around the world face towards the Kaaba during their daily prayers. The Kaaba is also the focal point of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, known as the Hajj, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Additionally, these first lines of lyrics are paired with an atmospheric and haunting introduction of a sparse and muted instrumental arrangement. The intro-instrumental is built around a cyclical sounding, atmospheric synth chord progression that provides a sense of tension and unease. It sounds like an alien broken record or some kind of futuristic bicycle. The beat drops as Channy sings, “All the feelings cut to side” and this combined with the opening lyrics evoke a sense of finality and closure, suggesting that she has reached a point of no return in her journey. That journey could be and most likely is in the context of this song, pregnancy. This is continued on in the lines:

I think my work is done

I think I’ve had my fun

Exploring Motherhood and Sacrifice:

Further, the lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, but the most clear interpretation is that Channy is expressing a sense of completion or accomplishment. Or perhaps a lack of motivation to continue working or pursuing these goals. There’s a feeling of sarcasm in the way she sings these lyrics with a heaviness and breathy sound that almost sounds like she has achieved what she set out to do (not easily by the breathiness of the vocalizations).

However, the phrase “I think I’ve had my fun” implies that this sense of accomplishment or completion is not accompanied by a deeper sense of fulfillment or purpose. The way the word “fun” is connected to work suggests that Channy’s sense of achievement is superficial, and that she’s not deeply invested in the work she’s done. Overall, the lyrics in the first verse convey a sense of ambivalence or uncertainty, with Channy expressing conflicting emotions about her work and her sense of satisfaction with it. This takes us to the songs chorus:

I don’t want freedom

And I have none of it

Once the blood is drawn

It feeds the mother and the heaven sent

Similarly, the chorus makes many connections between motherhood and sacrifice. The line “I don’t want freedom, and I have none of it” acknowledges the sacrifices that come with motherhood. Parents, especially mothers, are tied to their children in a literal and metaphorical sense. We’ve all heard the phrase no bond like the bond between mother and child. It’s the hallmark of Mary and Jesus in the Christian faith. The lyrics “Once the blood is drawn, it feeds the mother and the heaven sent” is a reference to childbirth, or the process of bringing new life into the world, and involves blood, sacrifice, and nourishment.

The “heaven sent” represents the idea that children are from higher dimensions sent to earth and that motherhood is seen as a divine calling. The lyrics “feeds the mother” act as a metaphor for the physical and emotional toll that motherhood takes on a woman’s body and spirit but also the feeling of true love tied to mothers and children. Overall, the chorus acknowledges the challenges and limitations that come with motherhood, while also highlighting its potential for growth, transformation, and divine purpose.

These ideas are carried on furthermore in the following lines;

Blood and milk

Come out of myself

I’ll die a pair

With “blood” representing the pain and sacrifice of childbirth and “milk” representing the nurturing and nourishment of a newborn baby. Both of these “come out of” women who become mothers. The “I’ll die a pair” line is complicated for many reasons.

Rejecting Personal Freedom for Motherhood:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the maternal mortality rate in the United States was 20.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018. This means that roughly 0.02% of women in the US die during or within one year of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.

The maternal mortality rate in the United States is relatively high compared to other developed countries. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States ranks 55th in the world in terms of maternal mortality, with a rate of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2017. This is higher than many other developed countries, such as Canada, Japan, and most countries in Western Europe. It’s equally as important to note that there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality rates in the US. Black, Native American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women.

Additionally, there are significant disparities based on income, education, and geography. These disparities highlight the need for better access to quality healthcare and targeted interventions to address these inequalities. I think Channy is aware of this disparity and makes note of it with the lines that follow, “One who carried on the thread and one who tread it bare”

The lyrics “I’ll die a pair, one who carried on the thread and one who tread it bare” suggests the idea of sacrifice and the interconnectedness of generations, where one generation passes on a legacy to the next. However, the disparities in maternal mortality rates between white women and people of color in the US highlight the harsh reality that this sacrifice and legacy is not equally distributed.

As stated previously, Black, Native American Indian, and Alaska Native women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality, with significantly higher rates of pregnancy-related deaths compared to white women. This disparity is linked to systemic racism and inequality in healthcare access and quality, as well as a lack of attention to social determinants of health.

Conclusion:

The idea of “dying as a pair” takes on a more poignant meaning when considering the stark contrast in maternal mortality rates for women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. While all mothers are making sacrifices to continue the thread of life, some are forced to do so under much more difficult circumstances due to systemic inequalities. Thus, the line highlights the need to address and rectify these disparities, so that all mothers can carry on the thread of life without having to tread it bare.

And finally the lyrics “I don’t have freedom, and I want none of it” seem to be rejecting the idea of personal freedom, possibly in favor of something considered more important. This is very contradictory to the notions of American capitalist individualist society. This sentiment can be connected to the concept of motherhood, which often requires women to make sacrifices for the sake of their children.

In many ways, motherhood can be seen as a choice to give up some of one’s personal freedom in order to care for and raise a child. This includes sacrificing time, energy, and sometimes even career opportunities. However, for many mothers, this sacrifice is a source of pride and fulfillment, as they recognize the importance of their role in nurturing the next generation.