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Sheela-Na-Gig Lyrics
I've been trying to show you over and over
Look at these my child-bearing hips
Look at these my ruby red ruby lips
Look at these my work strong arms and
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
I lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me
He said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time he said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner another one there
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before
He said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time he said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner another one there
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before
He said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
He said 'wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean'
He said 'please take those dirty pillows away from me'
He said 'wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean'
He said 'please take those dirty pillows away from me'
He said 'wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean'
He said 'please take those dirty pillows away from me'
He said 'wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean'
He said 'please take those dirty pillows away from me'
i pretty sure that the meaning is right there in the lyrics. PJ is presenting her body to a possible lover, he calls her a "sheela-na-gig" and blatantly rejects her advances. Too bad for her, but oh so good for the rest of us.
The four things PJ lists at the beginning represent all the things men want from a woman. Children, sexuality, work (housework) and charm. But for this man, it isn't enough.
I like the parody of the 50's song line "gonna wash that man right outta my hair".
'Dirty Pillows' is a reference to the book and film Carrie, it's what Mrs. White, a mad extremeist Christian, calls Carrie's breasts in one scene.
Maybe a comment on the degradation women have to go through to get noticed sexually, and how it's even more degrading when their rejected for that very degradation.
Sheela-Na-Gig was a Celtic fertility goddess who was portrayed in art with spread legs and prominent genitalia.
The Sheela-Na-Gig was more of a universal symbol of fertility, rather than any one specific goddess.
The Sheela-Na-Gig was more of a universal symbol of fertility, rather than any one specific goddess.
To me this is a song about the Christian perversion of sex- turning it from a natural celebration into something dirty and repulsive. Sheela Na Gig is an uninhibited pagan fertility Goddess. She is depicted as sitting spread eagle, using her hands to pull her vaginal lips apart; a welcoming enticement into carnal pleasure and the miraculous creation of life that results.
It's not easy being a pagan fertility goddess in a culture of Puritan repression. It's pathetic that too many men have been taught to find such open sexuality as filthy and wrong.
The song triumphantly declares she will not hide or conform- she will not let derision crush her spirit. She will boldly move on until she finds men who appreciate her.
In a broader sense I think it's about misogyny in general. Much hate and scorn is casually thrown at women for no other reason than their gender. For example, they're judged way too much on their appearance and If they're strong willed they're called bitches. If they want to be single they're accused of being selfish- but if they want to get married they're teased for "trying to trap a man." There's no winning. Women should be celebrated and treated as equally important to men, and men who treat women badly should be left lonely.
In a broader sense I think it's about misogyny in general. Much hate and scorn is casually thrown at women for no other reason than their gender. For example, they're judged way too much on their appearance and If they're strong willed they're called bitches. If they want to be single they're accused of being selfish- but if they want to get married they're teased for "trying to trap a man." There's no winning. Women should be celebrated and treated as equally important to men, and men who treat women badly should be left lonely.
I would like to add that to that chloe..It also deals with one night stands and feeling guilty about them afterwards.
Gotta love PJ Harvey. This was my favorite song from the album, with Dress right behind it. Somehow, songs of loss, and rejection seem to resonate with me.
"Turn the corner; another one there." The protagonist of this tale, she wants a man. Now. There's THIS guy, but...he's not interested? Well, there are plenty of others around. (She's confident enough.)
Wondering whether "put money in your idle hole" is some idiom I'm not familiar with. Also thinking: the meaning is obvious, and I'm sorta trying to avoid seeing it?
Just to add, in my head "put money in your idle hole" means put your money where your mouth is. Hole being literal for mouth. Idle drawing parallels to the phrase idle chatter.
I always thought it was 'idol hole'-- as in the holes of the sheela na gig
I always thought it was 'idol hole'-- as in the holes of the sheela na gig
But if it is 'idle hole' wouldn't that be the vagina (again thinking of the sheela na gig statues)
But if it is 'idle hole' wouldn't that be the vagina (again thinking of the sheela na gig statues)