Leather

this song is about a woman being used but loving the man so much that she lets it happen...she resigns herself to the fact, and just says, okay, alright, ill do it, just hand me my leather. the nice big fat cigar is an obvious phallic symbol.

i think it's pretty clever how she says "but i can't claim innocence" and then two verses after that the angel says "in a sense." i thought he said "innocence, you're alone here." like he was talking to tori.. either way, it's pretty cool how in a sense can sound like innocence, no? I really like this song.

I think this song is about a sexual encounter that just doesnt make sense to her. Hse knows she shouldnt go through with it, but she does nothing to prevent it. It's random, it's not love, "hand me my leather...." means she is acting a a bit racy, etc. It's more humorous, than serious. Come on.......some of us have been there!!!

to me this song means alot to me, since i have had very familier expirences, for instance, i was with someone who i knew did not love me but i still stayed, and i heard this song and it all made sense, he didnt hold me dear!

I think this song is about a woman who becomes frustrated by the fact that her relationship with the man she loves doesn't surpass the sexual, & that he doesn't return her feelings. It's like she's saying, "Hey, I love you! & I know all you want is sex & if that's all I can hope to get out of this, than fine! But don't you want more than just a quick screw?" That's my 2 cents.

In my opinion, this song is about Tori's own musical career. The leather sounds like a reference to her dressing style during the Y Kant Tori Read era. I think it's pretty much about her turning point with Little Earthquakes, then in phase of writing, and critical acclaim. She has often said that she hates Y Kant Tori Read, as it reflects a period of time in wich she was lying to herself, she was just doing what she felt was expected, not what she really wanted to. After that, the first version of Little Earthquakes was rejected by Atlantic Records. She was probably doubting that she would have been accepted as the girl with her piano, as this idea has been rejected more times before.

She's saying that she's "naked before you", probably referring to Little Earthquakes itself, in wich she talked very much about herself, it is in fact a very personal album. "Don't you want more than my sex" could mean, don't you want more than who I was in Y Kant Tori Read? She's capable of that, but she "can't claim innocence".

So the line "But why do I need you to love me" could mean that just being herself now matters more than being loved i.e. accepted.

The refrain sounds sardonic, if it's not just the weather that makes you reject me, then hand me my leather, I'll be like others want to see me.

I thought of this meaning reading this reference from Tori:

"I've never told this story. People think um, that this next song is about wild sex. And I think... well, it isn't. And um, it is for you, probably, that's fine. I mean, I, you know, whatever your experience is, you've probably had much more fun with this song than I have. But um, I've never had fun with this song, but I sing it all the time. I do adore this song because it reminds me of the time that this bitch came over to my house. And I lived in this hovel in um, Hollywood. And I don't remember what my manager called it, but it was a pit. And um, when you walk in all my clothes were strewn, you know, peanut butter and banana, all that stuff. I know, gross. But anyway, you get to my piano, right, and my fish tank, and I had dead fish in the fish tank. Because I forgot to feed them, but I couldn't throw them away. And so I was sitting there at my piano, right? And this girl comes over there that is very very very very very close by - not mentioning any names. And so she comes over... So she comes and goes, "Can I have some sugar?" And I said, "Yes." And uh, she goes, "I hear you wrote a new song." I said, "Yes." And um, I played it for her, and it was one of the songs that went on Little Earthquakes, I won't mention it. And she says to me, "Well, you know... I really think you better get a new writing style, because that's like, not catchy." And so I say, "Obviously you have the sugar. Good day." So... The next eight minutes of my life..." [Dew Drop Inn tour - 1996]

Still, it's ok if you find a different meaning for yourselves. Tori Amos herself is open to that.

Again she comments on how religion has forsaken her "you're alone here" but i dont understand the reference to the weather. what does the weather symbolise?

the reference to the weather is sort of in the spirit of, "God, I feel like shit, and I'm pretty sure it's not the weather causing it." or possibly not merely feeling like shit, but having all these things go wrong with a relationship and knowing there's something wrong -- in everyday life, weather is so the cliched, convenient excuse for bad things happening.

haha frei, good point!!! fantastic song,, to be honest id been wondering bout the meaning to this song lol.. thanks for makin it clear guys :)

what an amazing song. tori is a golden goddess.