Northern Lad Lyrics
He moved like the sunset, God who painted that.
First he loved my accent. How his knees could bend.
I thought we'd be okay, me and my molasses.
But I feel something is wrong? But I feel this cake just isn't done.
And if you could see me now, said if you could see me now.
Girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page.
Or when you're only wet because of all the rain.
Because of... because of... all the rain, because of...
I loved his secret places but I can't go anymore.
"You change like sugar cane," says my northern lad.
I guess you go too far when pianos try to be guitars.
I feel the West in you, but I, I feel it falling apart too.
And if you could see me now... Said if you could see me now.
Girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page.
Or when you're only wet because of all the rain.
Or when you're only wet because of all the rain.
Because? of, because of... of the rain, because of...
Because of... of all the rain, because? of... the... rain...
"My heart goes out to where that song comes from. It's very much about thinking you were loved for who you were, and realizing you weren't and realizing maybe you don't love yourself. The line, 'I guess you go too far/when pianos try to be guitars' is just about never being enough. I felt that with my instrument sometimes, wanting to be Jimmy Page. You can only be you. A lot of times it's never enough for people."
I think "when you're only wet because of the rain" refers t a different sort of wet. I think that makes the line even sadder.
you know what's interesting? I feel this way about my husband sometimes. I made no mistake in marrying him, but sometimes I catch myself in my own lie. The way I try to be something esle for him, so that he'll be more in love with me. Then I realize- he's not exactly perfect himself, so what am I doing?
I think women do this more than men. I know the more I fake it, the weaker we become.
and that's probably the truest thing I've ever written on this site.
I agree, this is about a different kind of wet. She's referring to the entanglement of emotions with our sexuality, and how emotional pain can still ignite passion. This song is such a word for word summary of my last relationship that its scary.
I agree, this is about a different kind of wet. She's referring to the entanglement of emotions with our sexuality, and how emotional pain can still ignite passion. This song is such a word for word summary of my last relationship that its scary.
Tori said there was one thing that has been kept out of the media, and she can only thank her girlfriends (and some boyfriends) that have been loyal to her. In between her Sylvia Plath and heavy classics and non-fiction, she used to have books like The Flames of Love, etc. Trashy romance novels. She felt ashamed, but was so hooked on them. But one day she was talking to Beenie and was reminded how she used to always read them but not anymore, and why was that? "Because I met this guy, he's no white knight, but I wrote this for him." and went into Northern Lad. After she finished, she told us, "I'm really not supposed to talk about him, see we made a deal; I married him."
At this point, there was a problem with one of the lights, so everything stopped while Kevyn gave Tori a "Lip Gloss Boost" and then asked if the person with the last question wanted to ask it now during the break. Chris stood up and told her back in '96, he was one of about 8 people at this radio station and she had played a new song, that is now Never Seen Blue. He wanted to know where it had come from. Tori was a bit surprised; "I did? I sang that? Oh shit. See, it's about the same guy that I'm not supposed to talk about about and I lied about Northern Lad and I don't have another lie." And she played it. So beautiful. -- an account of VH1 Storytellers on October 24, 1998 by Beth Coulter via
not to blow you all out of the water, but the song is actually about eric ross, tori's love affair for much of the 90s. trent rezner was just a good friend. she did not seek anything more than a friendship with him. much of boys for pele was about the loss of a relationship between her and ross, and now this song is a sort of closing of that chapter. this is proven with the lines: And if you could see me now, said if you could see me now. Girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page. Or when you're only wet because of all the rain. Because of... because of... all the rain, because of. to prove my point, she actually talks about it in a concert. she doesn't specifically mention eric's name, but she says it was a crewman which eric was. here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg6i1mUJhO8
She's actually talking about Mark Hawley, one of her sound engineers, whom she became romantically involved with in 1994/1995 and married in 1998. He still works on the sound for her live concerts - which, I believe, is why she appears to be looking straight into the middle of the audience (where the soundboard is often located) when she says in the video that she "really, really, really broke" the rule.
She's actually talking about Mark Hawley, one of her sound engineers, whom she became romantically involved with in 1994/1995 and married in 1998. He still works on the sound for her live concerts - which, I believe, is why she appears to be looking straight into the middle of the audience (where the soundboard is often located) when she says in the video that she "really, really, really broke" the rule.
Tori's relationship with Eric Rosse began in the late 1980s (before her solo career began) and ended in 1994 during the Under The Pink tour.
Tori's relationship with Eric Rosse began in the late 1980s (before her solo career began) and ended in 1994 during the Under The Pink tour.
The song is not about any of them. It's about a man she met at a lounge she performed at in LA " I can feel the West in you". The story goes that he came often to visit her and on one occasion worked with her on a lyric to another song with the word " west" in it. Thus the capital W. Their friendsship began to blossom into something more apparently.She also wrote China about him and Eric. They had a falling out because she couldn't choose between them.And then he dissappeared. " He moved like the sunset"....
The song is not about any of them. It's about a man she met at a lounge she performed at in LA " I can feel the West in you". The story goes that he came often to visit her and on one occasion worked with her on a lyric to another song with the word " west" in it. Thus the capital W. Their friendsship began to blossom into something more apparently.She also wrote China about him and Eric. They had a falling out because she couldn't choose between them.And then he dissappeared. " He moved like the sunset". So she had a northern lad but not exactly had. He was from Ohio or Illinois and I think also Mexico. Then years later I was told by a friend close to the source that he did a fictional article for a fetish magazine that included several drawings about fetish hookers. One of them was a caricature of Tori as a leather Rock Star . The song Hey Jupiter may also be about the discovery of this article. I am told that his star sign was Jupiter. He pictured her playing a guitar. Thus the lyric " you go too far when pianos try to be guitars". and " I loved his secret places". How very strange and intriguing. Apparently she was quite taken by this man.
beautiful, very easy to relate to if youve ever been on the downside of an ending relationship.
"girls you've got to know when it's time to turn the page, when you're only wait because of the rain"
I think that line is about how when you are in a relationship, you build your whole world around that one person, and everything happens because of them and for them because they are the center of your universe. The cold water falling on your skin isn't him, it's just the rain. That is so hard to realize. I want to give everyone a hug now.
"when you're only wet because of the rain" = sexual reference. or in this case, lack thereof
"when you're only wet because of the rain" = sexual reference. or in this case, lack thereof
she uses 'molasses' in 2 songs. does anyone have any idea what it means to her?
I think of "slow like molasses"...to me, it sounds like she's deliberately going slow, perhaps too slow, and she thought that it would be okay. But, as it turns out, it wasn't okay, and now he's gone. Really heartbreaking song.
I think of "slow like molasses"...to me, it sounds like she's deliberately going slow, perhaps too slow, and she thought that it would be okay. But, as it turns out, it wasn't okay, and now he's gone. Really heartbreaking song.
I love the way she plays the piano especially in this song.
this song's just beautiful... and..i take it..in a personal manner..like..how sometimes..we choose to do certain things just to please others..and in the proccess..u just see how unhappy u are with urself...yet u still wanna remain as urself..it gets complicaded..cuz we're never satisfied...and when..it comes..about..a romantic manner...wow=/..i gets me all wrapped up..with..sadness...and i just have to say.. u just know it...when its fading...and theres nothing u can do.. just let go..
peace
I really love this song, the line "He don't show much these days, it's gets so fucking cold." is amazing... I can relate with personal cough incidents I have had (or maybe just one) and the song just expresses the feeling so well.
didn't Tori once refer to this song as "part 2 of Baker Baker"?