Lyrics

Understand the things I  
Don't turn   from me
'Cause I've spent   my life out there
You wouldn't  

Do you see me? Do you see?
Do you   me?
Do you like me   there?
Do you   ? Do you know?
Do you see me?
Do you see me? Does anyone care?

Unhappiness
Where's when I was  
And we didn't give a  
'Cause we were  
To see life as fun
And take it if we can

My mother, my mother
She hold me, she hold me
When I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, oh, he liked me
Does anyone care?

Understand what I've  
It wasn't my  
And people   think something
Better than I  

But I miss you, I miss
'Cause I liked it
'Cause I liked it when I was out there
Do you know this? Do you know
You did not   me?
You did not find. Does anyone care?

Unhappiness
Where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun
And take it if we can

My mother, my mother
She hold me, she hold me
When I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, oh, he liked me
Does anyone care?

Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Legend

Meaning

In a 2017 interview that the lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan, granted to Songfacts, she revealed the meaning behind “Ode to My Family”. According to her, the lyrics are about the choice she made to pursue the career of a rock star and the misunderstanding she had with her parents regarding her choice.

Vocabulary

To turn away from

avoid involvement, reject

to be out there

To be somewhat unusual, unconventional, crazy, or eccentric.