Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
when i saw the blossoms broke after the rain
limp and sodden, when you wrote me again
made me think of spiders i washed down the drain
spiders' ghosts, thrown up and back again
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
when i see the blossoms broke after the rain
limp and gray, when you wrote me again
made me think of spiders i washed down the drain
be a woman, be a woman
limp and sodden, when you wrote me again
made me think of spiders i washed down the drain
spiders' ghosts, thrown up and back again
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
blessing all the birds that died so i could live
be a woman, be a woman
when i see the blossoms broke after the rain
limp and gray, when you wrote me again
made me think of spiders i washed down the drain
be a woman, be a woman
Lyrics submitted by delial
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
"blessing all the birds that died so I could live"
this might sound kind of odd but the way I think of it is that the birds are ex-girlfriends who she is half-jokingly thinking of as martyrs who left her boyfriend in his previous relationships so that fate would let her have him.
"Blessing all the birds that died so I could live."
That puts an image in my head of an archer who lives in the woods and hunts for all her own food. But she has respect for life, so she appologizes to everything she kills. Of course, she doesn't like killing things, but she understands that you have to do unpleasant things to live, sometimes. That she must "be a woman," and handle these things with maturity, and know that you have to do things that make you uncomfortable, sometimes.
It's kind of an analogy to how we all have to live, really.
Does anyone else notice a sort of asian sound to this song? I do, and it makes this song remind me of Princess Mononoke. Same with the similar segment of "Only Skin."
i seem to have missed this song...
you can find a live version of this song as transcribed here on the milkymoon fansite!
this is the most beautiful heartwrenching song i have ever heard, i thought it would be on Ys but it seems to be a secret song for now. Joanna Newsom can write some great 10 minute songs but the simplicity of this songs lyrics make it so profound and beautiful.
this seems to have been incorporated into 'only skin' off the new album. the lyrics are slightly altered, but it's my favourite part.
does anyone have the live version of this song? the milkymoon website is down and i don't have it downloaded. anyone of service to me?
:D
that's a very interesting way of interpreting this song. i like your thinking.
The bird line may have to do with the whole dying bird part of only skin. In that song, by providing a bird with some comfort in its final moments, the speaker feels (in one interpretation, one that works with this song) an intense awareness of her own being.
Atagamay41: Indeed. The melody is built on a pentatonic scale, which is used in a lot of Asian music. Guess it maybe adds to the meditative feel?