Music Review: Mulberry Lane "Harmless"

Mulberry Lane

Harmless

Album:  Run Your Own Race

Year: 1999

          Heather Rizzuto’s short fuse causes problems with her boyfriend in the              poisonous “Harmless.”

              Overly gracious synths open the single, setting a manipulative tone. Rizzuto sits down next to him on the couch. She says she’s sorry for what she said earlier. She didn’t mean it. She was upset about work.  However, she says he brings up issues that aren’t even relevant. It escalates the fight and it ends with one of them leaving for a drive or walk. (“I apologize (baby)./I couldn't describe how I hurt inside/So I take it out on you/I think we're both to blame/We storm like thunder and we pound like rain,/Just like we always do.”)

           In the pre-chorus, he says he can’t continue arguing with her. It’s happening nearly every day now. He has told her that he doesn’t think they are right for each other. She says all she needs is comfort. They have to talk it out and dig themselves out of the rut that encloses them. (“You say you've had enough, the water is rough,/The river between us is raging higher than ever before/I know you're having doubts, but we can work it out/If you wrap your love around me/'Cause I don't want to fight anymore.”)

            In the chorus, she says she promises to control herself. He can trust her. She says it was mainly her fault. She needs him to be understanding right now. She’ll be careful not to hurt him anymore. (“You've got to believe, I'm begging you please/Hold me harmless tonight/I know I was wrong, you've got to be strong,/Hold me harmless tonight.”)

             She says they each have bad days. They don’t just don’t know how to handle the stress of it well. They are both set in their ways. Adjusting to each other’s moods is a part of being a relationship. They still hang on to the relationship thinking it will get better.(“Tomorrow's gonna come/And after all is said and done/We still won't get along./It's really no surprise/You have your days and I have mine/But still we're holding on.”)

           In the pre-chorus, she walks from the foyer to the family and back again, waiting for him to touch the door. He places his hand on it and she gives him a dirty look. He shakes his head and then she runs to him, saying “don’t leave.” (“I pace across the floor, your hand is on the door/The tension between us is raging higher than ever before/But baby turn around, don't make another sound/Just wrap your love around me/'Cause I don't want to fight anymore.”)

            In the second chorus, she snuggles up to him on the swing on the porch and says it’s a romantic evening. It’s a special moment they haven’t had in a long time. (“You've got to believe, I'm begging you please/Hold me harmless tonight/I know I was wrong, you've got to be strong/Hold me harmless tonight/'Cause there's a moon up above, it sure feels like love/Hold me harmless tonight.”)

          In the bridge, she asks him to not to break up with her. He has to give her another chance. (“Here we are, closer to the end than the beginning/But don't let it end/Don't let it end/Don't let it end/Don't let it end/You've got to believe in love, be strong in love, hold on/You've got to believe in love, be strong in love, hold on.”)

           An edited chorus ends the single. (“You've got to believe, I'm begging you please/Hold me harmless tonight/'Cause there's a moon up above, it sure feels like love/Hold me harmless tonight.”)

          Mulberry Lane’s wishy-washy vocals play the angel and turn it around on her boyfriend. She criticizes him for fighting back with her. It’s her temper that making him leave and she knows it. Her own ego and pride wont’ allow him to go. She won’t let it. She keeps stringing him along on her with promises. She’ll be the one who says it will end.

       The controlling “Harmless” is absolutely horrible all-around.