Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Hey, sister, why you all alone?
I'm standing out your window
Hey, little sister, can I come inside, dear?
I want to show you all my love
I want to be the only one
I know you like nobody ever, baby
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
You whisper secrets in my ear
Slowly dancing cheek to cheek
Such a sweet thing when you open up, baby
They say I'll only do you wrong
We come together 'cause I understand
Just who you really are, yeah, baby
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Now shake it up
I'm standing out your window
Hey, little sister, can I come inside, dear?
I want to show you all my love
I want to be the only one
I know you like nobody ever, baby
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
You whisper secrets in my ear
Slowly dancing cheek to cheek
Such a sweet thing when you open up, baby
They say I'll only do you wrong
We come together 'cause I understand
Just who you really are, yeah, baby
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Little sister, can't you find another way?
No more living life behind the shadow
Now shake it up
Lyrics submitted by Subliminal012, edited by TheBronze, S0LEX
Little Sister Lyrics as written by Joshua Homme Joey Castillo
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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Maybe its about a small nun. Who lives in the shadow of the church... Yes.
To me its about a guy and he's just in love with this girl. But she spends her time hidden away hesitant to give into him and admit how she feels. He struggles to coax her out her shell and accept him. He wants her to break into the light with him. But at the same time he doesn't want to hurt her perhaps the title of "little sister" is to help him keep distance from her while trying to help her.
You whisper secrets in my ear(Her slowly breaking down and speaking with him) Slowly dancing cheek to cheek(Being intimate with one another) It's such a sweet thing when you open up, baby(When she does speak to him its the sweetest thing to him) They say I'll only do you wrong(Everyone around them sees him as a corrupter and doesn't want the two involved) We come together cause I understand Just who you really are, baby(Really self explanatory.)
Those are just my thoughts on the matter.
Great song. Finally, a band that knows that repeating a chorus over and over is pointless.
actually - it isn't a cowbel OR a woodblock.... it's called a jam block
Who the fuck dances "tree to tree?". ACTUAL LYRIC: Slowly dancing cheek to cheek
Now that I got that out of the way I have to say.... This is a song about either unrequitted or unfullfilled love. and no shit it's not HIS little sister. I dig the dark edge on this seemingly upbeat song. That guitar and the vocal harmonies send chills down the spine. sweet. Best song on the album.
I think this song is about a girl who won't let a guy into her mind and/or pants because she's introverted and unsure
Just my thoughts....
Yea, great song. I would just like more people to post what thay think the song's about ando not so many comments about cowbells or woodblocks or plastic cowbells and how great they are. I mean thats the main reason I joined the page to discuss lyrics. Eanyway if the song was really about banging his sister i'd be very dissappointed if i was his sister. or maybe happy u never know. But I could certainly believe it they look kind of perverted to me. i dunno maybe is kis friends much younger sister or somethin'.
amen to that. I didn't join so I could see who likes/dislikes this song. I think the "little siser" he is referring to is a girl who is younger than him and is kind of like his little sister 'cause she's innocent.
oh, and a good point you made; it may be a friends little sister
Even tho its like 5 years since u posted. I love this song & love qotsa! J\k i think that homme is a big fan of white wedding (billy idol, hinse the cover he did on the 2 disk version of era vulgaris) i think homme was like,"he wants to marry his sister? Thats weird but i like it" then he made his on confusing ass song like that to make people wonder what he means. Homme always writes in code in a way anyways. <br />
Guys say "Little sister" in many contexts, not just age. There's "Let me tell you how this or that really works little sister", there's "There is never a good reason to do this or that (unsafely), little sister", there's "Keep on doing what you're doing and this will happen, little sister" and "Don't BS me, tell me whats really going on, little sister" All of these things have been said to me by male friends who were chronologically younger, its a figure of speech. Somewhere between irritation, affection and protectiveness. My younger biological brother uses the term in reference to my physical stature.
Its a cowbell. Read the credits.
@taking_backmonday No, it's an LP Medium Pitch Jam Block. Google it.
IT'S A FUCKING PLASTIC ASS WOODBLOCK. You can believe me, I'm a percussionist.
It's not a cowbell, wood block, or wooden cowbell (no such thing anyway)...it's called a tempo block. Awesome song, I think he's trying to turn a girl around from a dangerous life she's living, and he loves her so much that he treats her like his "little sister"