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"Doing The Right Thing" is the first single released by indie band Daughter off of their sophomore album, Not To Disappear.
Background[]
The lyrics of this song focus on Alzheimer's and the effects it has on the family. About the song, Elena Tonra said:
“It’s the most upsetting song to me, because it’s not about me. It’s about my grandmother, and it’s about my mother. I have to put up with my own brain and my own insecurities every day and it doesn’t make me that sad, it’s just obviously there and is something that keeps ticking around my brain and keeps me writing which is actually probably not that great for my mental health but great for making records. When I began writing “Doing The Right Thing” it wasn’t about my grandmother or my mother, then it suddenly took a turn ……about how my mum is affected by my grandmother and just, it’s a really strange sadness that I’ve been keeping at bay for a while, not talking about, and not even fully admitting to myself that it’s making me sad, then it just suddenly poured out of me. When you write a song like that, like you didn’t mean to, it’s a bit intense. For me that is the saddest song, and the most difficult to play. I just didn’t know how we would be able to go about making that together”
Reception[]
Mitch Mosk of Atwood Magazine reviewed the single, stating:
"Layered with subtleties and overflowing with emotion, “Doing The Right Thing” is a raw testament to our human mortality, offering something of a bleak commentary on the nightmares of old age, specifically neurodegeneration. The circle of life is such that every beginning has an end, but we often forget that deterioration affects the mind as well as the body."
Lyrics[]
And they're making children
And they're making love
With their old excuses
We are built for reproduction
But I find it soothing
When I am confined
I'm just fearing one day soon
I'll lose my mind
Then I'll lose my children
Then I'll lose my love
Then I'll sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Float across the room
Whisper into one ear
And out the other one
Then I'll take my clothes off
And I'll walk around
Because it's so nice outside
And I like the way the sun feels
And when it's dark
I'll call out in the night for my mother
But she isn't coming back for me
Cause she's already gone
But you will not tell me that
Cause you know it hurts me everytime you say it
And you know you're doing the right thing
You must know you're doing the right thing
I have lost my children
I have lost my love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
And they're making children
Everyone's in love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Music Video[]
| Music Video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
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Premiere | |
| Filmed | ||
| Director | Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard | |
| Producer | Vanessa Farinha | |
| Production co | The Nothing | |
| Exec. producer | ||
| Editor | Rachel Spann | |
| Choreographer | ||
| Length | 6:04 | |