“Mary” by Sarah McLachlan

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Nettwerk
1994

The point of this song is Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) humility and recognition of herself as a servant.

Mary walks

Down to the water's edge

And there she hangs her head

To find herself faded

A shadow of what she once was

She said

How long have I been sleeping

And why do I feel so old

Why do I feel so cold?

My heart is saying one thing

But my body won't let go

With trembling hands she reaches up

A stranger's flesh is offered

And I would be the last to know

I would be the last the let it show

I would be the last to go

Take her hand

She will lead you through the fire

Give you back hope

And hope that you won't take too much

Respecting what is left

She cradled us

She held us in her arms

Unselfish in her suffering

She could not understand

That no one seemed to have the time

To cherish what was given

And I would be the last to know

And I would be the last to let it show

I would be the last to go

Mary walks

Interpretation:

Mary walks

Down to the water's edge

And there she hangs her head

To find herself faded

A shadow of what she once was

This song depicts Mary’s numbness and sorrow in the days following Jesus’ execution. The now childless mother feels “faded” and like “a shadow”. Mary faces not only emotional anguish at losing someone she loves, but also social judgment. In the Jewish culture, women derived much of their value from bearing children since the nation and family was seen as contiguous in offspring. Mary is not just grieving over Jesus’ death but also her own diminished social value.

She said

How long have I been sleeping

And why do I feel so old

Why do I feel so cold?

My heart is saying one thing

But my body won't let go

Being Jesus’ mother was a wonderful dream that Mary is awaking from to discover she has aged significantly. She was a young woman when she was pregnant with Jesus, but the horror of the past few days has taken its toll. During her grieving, Mary must have heard people saying Jesus had risen. Her heart wants to believe her son is alive but she saw him dead and buried. To lose Jesus once is awful; to rekindle hope and be disappointed would be like seeing him die again.

With trembling hands she reaches up

A stranger's flesh is offered

Mary recalls the event that initiated this storyline when an angel tells her God chose her to bear Messiah. Mary’s “trembling hands” reveal her fear and yet she “reaches up” to accept the task. The “stranger’s flesh” could mean three things. The foreign influence (God) of the Immaculate Conception, the new life (Jesus) beginning in Mary, and the transformed person Mary herself is becoming.

And I would be the last to know

I would be the last the let it show

I would be the last to go

Mary describes herself as lowly and unworthy (“the last to know”) and yet she is humble (“the last to let it show”) and loyal (“the last to go”).

Take her hand

She will lead you through the fire

Give you back hope

And hope that you won't take too much

In Eden God says mankind will be saved through woman, meaning Messiah will be born of a woman. Mary fulfills that promise leading mankind through the fire of sin and giving us back hope through Jesus’ life. Mary’s fear that we might “take too much” is realized when we executed Jesus for his redemptive actions.

Respecting what is left

She cradled us

She held us in her arms

Unselfish in her suffering

She could not understand

Mary accepts the situation in front of her and is content not to fully grasp the importance of her child or the events about to take place. She holds and cares for her baby knowing that Messiah is the world’s hope. In this way, as she cradles Jesus, she also cradles us. She submits to the stress, strain, and “suffering” that results from mothering Jesus.

That no one seemed to have the time

To cherish what was given

Mary was horrified to see Jesus rejected by his people and executed as an enemy of the state. After this all took place, Mary struggled with the fact that people turned on Jesus and hated him. He was Messiah, a priceless gift and people couldn’t see that.

And I would be the last to know

And I would be the last to let it show

I would be the last to go

Again the chorus depicts Mary’s self-deprecation, humility, and loyalty even after the loss of her son.

Mary walks

The final phrase mirrors the first two words of the song where Mary is grieving but here Mary is walking behind Jesus as a true follower. Her ignorance of the reality of Messiah is gone but her willingness to obey is not.