Pip I

Smokey Joe you're calling at the station,
"Love, it's one of life's complications"
I did not ask for this
"Oh but love yes you did"

Maybe it terrifies me
This quiet siege
Maybe it terrifies me

Pip II

It's too easy
It's too easy
To wish you harm
It's too easy
You through black ice
At the bottom of the river

Pip I

Smokey Joe hey what's a revelation
"That one's past is not a destination
It is a road for fools
Who need empty approvals"

Pip II

My dark twin
The annihilating Feminine
Does not need
Civilizing

Pip I

Maybe it terrifies me
This quiet siege
Maybe it terrifies me

Pip II

It's too easy
It's too easy
To wish you harm
It's too easy
You through black ice
At the bottom of the river

Pip I

Smokey Joe can you pass the pipe
You have been blessed now go be wise.
"It is a coward who will say he's not afraid
Of dying when clearly he is potently alive"

Pip II

A songless robin
She became
He stole my sister Clitorides.
These silken rubber gloves
Choking his vitriolic tongue

Pip I

Maybe it terrifies me
This quiet siege
Maybe it terrifies me
This quiet siege

Pip II

It's too easy
It's too easy
To wish you harm
It's too easy
You through black ice
At the bottom of the river

Pip I and Pip II

Smokey Joe is calling at the station
Calling at the station


Lyrics submitted by stentorian

Smokey Joe Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Smokey Joe song meanings
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    General Comment

    I love this song... It's one her more sinister ones. I think it's about a deep anger towards someone (possibly the rapist) and the anger is causing her to have thoughts about hurting him, getting revenge ("it's too easy, it's too easy to wish you harm"). She thinks that killing him would make her feel better, but she also knows that she shouldn't ("if I kill him there are complications") so instead she thinks about all the ways she would hurt him.

    Because American Doll Posse is all about the different parts of Tori's personality, it's like one part of herself (Pip) is singing about the other parts - she talks about her 'twin'. When she says "he stole my sister clitorides" I think this is a reference to rape. (clitorides = Clyde). Maybe Tori was imagining a group of women coming together, talking about how much they were hurt by the rapist, and plotting their revenge on him. "I did not ask for this, 'oh but yes you did'" suggests she is battling with shame and guilt associated with the rape - she knows it is not her fault, but there is still part of her pinning the blame on herself. "Maybe it terrifies me, this quiet siege" - the anger and destructive thoughts are so strong, and they scare her. The anger (quiet siege) has been building up over time, and suddenly she is overwhelmbed by these thoughts.

    shadowfeeton June 03, 2011   Link

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