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. Because it was not sold in stores, it was ineligible for the Billboard Hot 100, but it made #39 on the Airplay chart in April 1995 and also reached #11 on the Modern Rock chart. I hope she was not molested by anyone and I am going on the assumption that she was not until she corrects me or puts it on the record. She was picked on by her older brothers though. "My father, my father, he liked me Oh he liked me" I saw some of you interpreted that she was abused but I don't think so; I think she's once again saying that his feelings towards her changed.
For example, on the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number 26. “Ode To My Family” is a reflective song that questions, “does anyone care?” while finding peace in the thoughts of family and growing up. Her father did not molest her. Instead of ignoring her, he liked her because she wasn't girly. she said she was molested by a friend of her father's. Cuffs and slaps are Father’s way of toughening you up for the world. People who’ve lost their parents. And I did kinda, ya know, run away from home and all that type of thing… against my mother’s will and everything… And I think at that point I realized that I really missed them all ya know… I realized how good it was.” Her Mother loved her, but her Father only liked her. When she sings,"my father, he liked me, does anyone care?" The only thing I'm unclear about is about the father. Lead singer Dolores O'Riordan was raised in the countryside of County Limerick, Ireland. On January 9, 1994 in an interview given to the Irish Times, Dolores explained that on No Need to Argue “there’s […] songs like Ode To My Family which isn’t very rock’n’roll, it’s about my parents and growing up in Limerick. Family members must be firm with the addict in order not to be guilty of becoming enablers for his or her addiction. Her father had brain damage from a bike accident and she said he would have killed the molester had he not been “retarded”, (so it must have been severe). It's a bit easier for me to understand the song as the result of living it. She might also be regretting that he only liked her and not loved her. So it's part of the song either you like it or not. I thought the meaning of this song was very different from what was already posted. Anyone who has experienced childhood abuse or has seen it happen very closely will immediately make the connection.