"The Seed" (originally titled "Eat Money"[1]) is the sixteenth single released by AURORA and the second single from A Different Kind of Human - Step 2. On April 5, 2019, the song was officially released worldwide.[2][3]
A live version featuring Anna Lapwood on organ (recorded 10/2/2024 at Royal Albert Hall, cover photo shot 9/30/2024 at L'Olympia[4]) was released on October 31, 2024.[5]
Background[]
Aurora wrote the song in 2014.[6] It was announced for her second album, but was later released on her third album, she has noted that she knew there would be a better time for "The Seed".[7][8] The song's first live performance was on February 27, 2018 in London, and it was also performed at music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza before its release.[9][10]
About the song[]
Upon releasing the song she stated:
"I'm missing anger in the youth. Not the blind rage, pointed towards all and nothing. But the kind of rage that wakes you up in the morning, the kind of rage that inspires you to do something with the power you have in you. So I made a song. Filled with fire. And power. It's time for us to really fight for her. This is a cry for Mother Earth."[11]
Aurora was asked in an interview why the song was chosen as the final track which rounds up the two albums (Infections of a Different Kind - Step 1 and A Different Kind of Human - Step 2), she stated:
"There is one more song afterwards, which is a hint for way, way, way more forward in the future, but 'The Seed' I felt it was a good way to tie things together because it's representing a lot of things. It's representing my personal fire inside of me because I'm very passionate about saving the planet. It's about human history, about how we've co-existed in the world and how we've forgotten how to live with nature and the power we have. It's a very sad story, a very sad side of the story of humankind. It was a good way to end the album, to fuel the fire in people and to speak louder, about how we have to learn to exist with everything again. That's why I figured out it's a good way to end it all. Or this chapter, at least. The next one is already in the making!"[12]
Lyrics[]
Just like the seed
I don't know where to go
Through dirt and shadow I grow
I'm reaching light through the struggle
Just like the seed, I'm chasing the wonder*
I unravel myself, all in slow motion
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Oh no*
Suffocate me, so my tears can be rain
I will water the ground where I stand
So the flowers can grow back again*
Cause just like the seed, everything wants to live*
We are burning our fingers
But we learn and forgive
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Oh no*
Feed me sunlight, feed me air
(In a place where nothing matters)*
Feed me truth and feed me prayers
(Dancing around a shooting star)*
(While every cell remembers what have taken us this far)*
Feed me sunlight, feed me air
(I see images of killer whales)
Feed me truth and feed me prayers
(Sleeping in a desert trail)*
(Dreaming of a parallel world where nothing ever hurts)*
(Dreaming of a parallel world where nothing ever hurts)*
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Oh no*
Just like the seed
I don't know where to go
Through dirt and shadow I grow
I'm reaching light through the struggle
Just like the sea, I'm chasing the wonder
I unravel myself, all in slow motion
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Suffocate me, so my tears can be rain
I will water the ground where I stand
So that the flowers can grow back again
Cause just like the sea, everything wants to live
We are burning our fingers
But we learn and forgive
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Feed me sunlight, feed me air
Feed me truth and feed me prayers
Feed me sunlight, feed me air
Feed me truth and feed me prayers
I see images of killer whales
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
You cannot eat money, oh no
You cannot eat money oh no
When the last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money oh no
Transcribed lyrics made by listening, official lyrics copied from YouTube.[13] Differences are marked with *
Music video[]
A music video for the song was released on April 11, 2019. It was directed by Michael Hili.
Alternative video[]
An alternative edit of the video was public for a short time.
Stills[]
Video stills were posted by Ian Wallace,[14] some of these do not appear in the videos.
Behind the scenes[]
Audio[]
Trivia[]
- During promotion for the single, a Pacman-style game based on the song's lyrics was released.[15]
- The chorus lyrics are inspired by a First Nations saying credited to Alanis Obomsawin, an Abenaki American-Canadian filmmaker, singer, artist, and activist:
"When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can't eat money."[16]
- Photos by Michael Hili were used for the song's promotion, see the photoshoot here.
- The single cover was shot by Morgan Hill-Murphy, see the photoshoot here.
- A different edit of the cover appeared on the Glassnote Records site:[17]
References[]
- ↑ File:The Seed-ASCAP.jpg
- ↑ https://aurora.lnk.to/TheSeed
- ↑ https://twitter.com/AURORAmusic/status/1113741102434140160
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/DBeTrRFNy3_/
- ↑ https://aurora.lnk.to/TheSeedRAH
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHPIPdPhUP0&t=2240s
- ↑ https://www.dagsavisen.no/kultur/nyetakter/2019/06/07/aurora-jeg-er-en-maskin-en-folsom-maskin/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/auroramusic/comments/ll6smq/
- ↑ https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/aurora/13948
- ↑ https://applauss.com/aurora-magia-encanto-reencuentro-chile/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUIIkBZVzTU
- ↑ https://www.readdork.com/features/aurora-interview-jul19
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96GWa4G4fHw
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BwH61ndAcXG/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20190405015317/https://umusic.digital/auroramaze/
- ↑ https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/10/20/last-tree-cut/
- ↑ https://www.glassnotemusic.com/aurora-releases-anthemic-new-single-the-seed-and-announces-new-album/
[]
| v • e A Different Kind of Human - Step 2 | |
|---|---|
| Featured Tracks | |
| Producers | |
| Related | |
| v • e Singles | |
|---|---|
| 2012 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | |