Ethel Cain returns with “Nettles,” the lead single from her upcoming album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, due out August 8, 2025. Originally written as a rough demo in 2021, the final version is an 8-minute emotional epic blending Cain’s signature cinematic style with rare vulnerability.
Written in the early days of living in the Alabama house where she completed Preacher’s Daughter, “Nettles” explores the fear of losing someone you love, clinging instead to a hopeful vision of growing old together.
The track acts as a prequel to her debut album, focusing on her first love, Willoughby Tucker, and standing out as a tender moment in her often dark discography.
Nettles Ethel Cain Lyrics
We were in a race to grow up
Yesterday, through today, ’til tomorrow
But when the plant blew up
A piece of shrapnel flew and slowed that part of you
The doctors gave you until the end of the night
But not ’til daylight (Not ’til daylight), not ’til daylight (Not ’til daylight)
Time passes slower in the flicker of the hospital light
I pray the race is worth the fight
Made a fool of myself down on Tennessee Street
It wasn’t pretty like the movies
It was ugly, like what they all did to me
And they did to me what I wouldn’t do to anyone
You know that’s for sure
Tell me all the time not to worry
And think of all the time I’ll, I’ll have with you
When I won’t wake up on my own (Wake up on my own), wake up on my own
Held close all the time, knowing I’m half of you
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm)
Lay me down where the trees bend low
Put me down where the greenery stings
I can hear them singin’
“To love me is to suffer me”, and I believe it
When I lay with you in that auld lang room
Wishin’ I was the way you say that you are
You’ll go fight a war, I’ll go missing
I warned you, for me, it’s not that hard
That picture on the wall you’re scared of looks just like you
I wanna bleed, I wanna hurt the way that boys do
Maybe you’re right and we should stop watchin’ the news
‘Cause, baby, I’ve never seen brown eyes look so blue
Tell me all the time (Tell me all the time) not to worry (Not to worry)
And think of all the time I’ll, I’ll have with you
When I won’t wake up on my own (Wake up on my own), wake up on my own
Held close all the time, knowin’ I’m half of you
Think of us inside (Think of us inside), after the wedding (After the wedding)
Sufferin’ the while to lie a time or two
When we won’t wake up on our own (Wake up on our own), wake up on our own (Wake up on our own)
Held close all the time, knowin’ (Knowin’)
This was all for you
Think of us inside
Gardenias on the tile, where it makes no difference who held back from who
To love me is to suffer me
