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Left Alone Lyrics

You made your major overtures
When you were a sure and orotund mutt
And I was still a dewy petal
rather than a moribund slut
My love wrecked you, you packed to
twirl your skirt at the palace
it hurt more than it ought to hurt, I went to work
to cultivate a callous

And now I'm hard, too hard to know
I don't cry when I'm sad anymore, no, no.
Tears calcify in my tummy
Fears coincide with the tow
How can I ask anyone to love me
When all I do is beg to be left alone

Oh, and I tried to love
And I can love the same man, in the same bed,
in the same city
But not in the same room, it's a pity
But oh, it never bothered me before
Not until this guy, what a guy, oh god,
What a good guy and I
can't even enjoy him 'cause I'm

Hard too hard to know
I don't cry when I'm sad anymore
Tears calcify in my tummy
Fears coincide with the tow
How can I ask anyone to love me
When all I do is beg to be left alone

My ills are reticulate
My woes are granular
The ants weight more than the elephants
Nothing, nothing is manageable
So, couldn't we skip the valedictories,
I can see a door there:
shut it and forget my number
'cause I'm Hard, too hard to know
I don't cry I'm sad anymore
Tears calcify in my tummy
Fears coincide with the tow
How can I ask anyone to love me
when all I do is beg to be left alone.
Song Info
Submitted by
helooksdaft On Jun 14, 2012
10 Meanings

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Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

Official lyrics (from the deluxe edition):

You made your major overtures When you were a sure and orotund mutt And I was still a dewy petal rather than a moribund slut My love wrecked you, you packed to twirl your skirt at the palace it hurt more than it ought to hurt, I went to work to cultivate a callous

And now I'm hard, too hard to know I don't cry when I'm sad anymore, no, no. Tears calcify in my tummy Fears coincide with the tow How can I ask anyone to love me When all I do is beg to be left alone

Oh, and I tried to love And I can love the same man, in the same bed, in the same city But not in the same room, it's a pity But oh, it never bothered me before Not until this guy, what a guy, oh god, What a good guy and I can't even enjoy him 'cause I'm

Hard too hard to know I don't cry when I'm sad anymore Tears calcify in my tummy Fears coincide with the tow How can I ask anyone to love me When all I do is beg to be left alone

My ills are reticulate My woes are granular The ants weight more than the elephants Nothing, nothing is manageable So, couldn't we skip the valedictories, I can see a door there: shut it and forget my number 'cause I'm Hard, too hard to know I don't cry I'm sad anymore Tears calcify in my tummy Fears coincide with the tow How can I ask anyone to love me when all I do is beg to be left alone.

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

This song is so beautiful and true. It brings tears to my eyes. I've always felt like this (like i push people away because i want to be alone, but on the other side, i crave love) and it feels fucking crazy! Only Fiona Apple could've written something so wonderful.

My Opinion
Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

Also, I think it's: 'You pack to twirl your skirt at the palace', as in he's leaving to go to a place of curtsies and niceties rather than stay with such a self destructive person.

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

When I heard this line "it hurt more than it ought to hurt, I went to work to cultivate a callous", I thought it was so much more nuanced than this one: That which does not kill you makes you stronger. (Neitzsche). It desensitizes, which is not necessarily making one stronger. Beautiful thought from Fiona.

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

I think it's "orotund" mutt. I have no idea what "chauven'd" means - anyone want to explain that? I keep thinking it sounds like "a sure and orotund mutt...

Lyric Correction

It is orotund mutt, and I think by Chauven''d she means chauvinistic (just a shortened, past tense version of the word).

Why do I see 'orotund' everywhere I look?

Rotund, however, is a word. (meaning 'portly')

"When you were a rotund mutt"

@digirati, 'orotund' is also a word (meaning "(of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness"). the dictionary is a handy thing.

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

Also, I think it's: 'You pack to twirl your skirt at the palace', as in he's leaving to go to a place of curtsies and niceties rather than stay with such a self destructive person.

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

And what about "tears coincide with the tow"?

@echo14 fears coincide with the tow... maybe fear of being alone?

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

*fears

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

I love this song... :) I had to look up a few of the words, though. Hahah.

Cover art for Left Alone lyrics by Fiona Apple

Great rhyming and alliteration - and an expression of paranoia which a lot of people can understand.

But I can't help noticing those opening lines - she surely must know that "dewy petal" also means "anus". I guess we now know what kind of "slut" she is!

 
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