Released: 2014
All right, let’s dive into Kimbra’s “Goldmine”—an absolute gem of self-worth and inner value. Thematically, this track is about recognizing and cherishing one’s intrinsic value, the kind of treasure that’s immune to outside influence. It’s a powerful declaration of ownership over one’s self and the wealth that comes from within.
Opening with “You can’t touch it with your two hands,” we’re thrown into the ethereal realm of intangible worth. The “third eye” reference isn’t about some paranormal sight, but a heightened state of understanding and enlightenment. Kimbra’s singing about value that’s beyond the physical, a spiritual or emotional richness that’s not readily seen or grasped by just anyone. She’s been “thirsting in the mud lands,” symbolizing her search through tough, murky areas in life. This quest isn’t for something fleeting; it’s a pursuit for substance that “can’t run dry,” not your run-of-the-mill oasis, but something enduring.
Kimbra elegantly talks about wisdom “passed down through the wind”—think legacies, traditions, the kind of knowledge that’s whispered soul to soul, not taught in any classroom. And it’s the “silence of the white sound” where this hidden gold is found; perhaps alluding to white noise, the backdrop of life where we often find whispers of truth. “Always hidden in the dark night,” reinforces this sense of treasure that’s not just lying around but requires a deep relentless search, like gold “dug up from the cold ground.”
The chorus hits hard with a mantra of inner peace amid external noise: “it goes over the heart, over the head, over and above all the words they said.” No matter what’s thrown at her, Kimbra remains unshaken because her wealth is beyond reach, a personal “gold mine” that’s exclusively hers. The repeated line, “Nobody can touch this gold of mine,” is a defiant celebration of self-ownership. This gold has endured adversity, “been through the brimstone, been through the fire,” speaking to resilience, character forged through trials. It’s gold that’s pure, having been tested and “refined in the third eye.”
Then we have the bridge, a sly nod to the frenzy of a gold rush where everyone’s scrambling for material wealth, “running to the river.” Kimbra tells us to “keep it hush,” invoking the idea that what she possesses is so precious that it doesn’t even need the clamor. The delivery she mentions could be a moment of realization, an epiphany, where one finally understands the true worth of what’s been there all along.
In essence, “Goldmine” is a treasure trove of messages about recognizing and protecting one’s value. Kimbra doesn’t just sing; she declares her truth: that what she has inside—the love, the spirit, the knowledge, and the strength—is utterly invaluable. It’s an anthem for self-empowerment that’s as golden as the title suggests, an affirmation to anyone who’s ever felt less than, that what you carry within you is worth more than what glitters on the surface.
