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The Sprawl Lyrics
[Kim]
To the extent that I wear skirts
and cheap nylon slips
I've gone native
I wanted to know the exact dimension of hell
does this sound simple?
Fuck you! Are you for sale?
Does 'Fuck you' sound simple enough?
This was the only part that turned me on
but he was candy all over
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
I grew up in a shotgun row
sliding down the hill
out front were the big machines
steel and rusty now I guess
outback was the river
and that big sign down the road
that's where it all started
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, more, more, more
To the extent that I wear skirts
and cheap nylon slips
I've gone native
I wanted to know the exact dimension of hell
does this sound simple?
Fuck you! Are you for sale?
Does 'Fuck you' sound simple enough?
This was the only part that turned me on
but he was candy all over
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
sliding down the hill
out front were the big machines
steel and rusty now I guess
outback was the river
and that big sign down the road
that's where it all started
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
come on down to the store
you can buy some more, and more, and more, and more
you can buy some more, more, more, more
More Sonic Youth
Teenage Riot
The Diamond Sea
Schizophrenia
Bull In The Heather
Tunic (Song for Karen)
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In Sonic Youth's biography, "Goodbye 20th Century", Kim says that this song is a compilation of various mumblings of hookers and junkies on Eldridge Street, which she wrote down. Although, the placement of the phrases is really thought-provoking.
Alternate interpretation to Kim's version, assuming that sometimes these "official" versions can be innocent, half-remembered musings.
The first verse sounds like her response to an interviewer innocently asking something like, "What would you say to people who might call your iconic sense of style, somewhat simple?" Her response in this verse is basically, "I'm not intentionally trying to live up to anyone's sense of fashion; I'm trying to authentically be a part of this culture that I love, so are you calling that simple?" Her retort asking the interviewer whether he's for sale, is her suggesting that playing into the fickle whims of "Fashion" is just selling out anyway, and is in fact the "simple" way out. Any idiot can just pay for the latest trends. But she reflects that despite annoying her, the interviewer was actually pretty good-looking.
The chorus is her doubling down on and berating the trend-seeking poseurs who think they can buy a lifestyle.
In the second verse, even though she grew up in LA, which is a big city, it was never enough for her, and part of why she wanted to move to NYC. She may overcompensate by projecting what might have been a more rural setting, but it's to make the point -- those innocent youthful days out of the urban fray are not necessarily something she's trying to disavow or deny, but something she always knew she'd outgrow, and that one day she'd follow that "big sign down the road" and pursue her destiny.
The chorus still applies. She followed the calling of her soul and changed her life, even though she knew it might be hard. She continues to mock anyone who thinks they can be true to themselves if all they are doing is buying into capitalist consumption.
Whatever it means, it's mega-sexy and just pours right out of the band. Love it!
Think its about prostitution. "come on down to the store" would be basicaly convinsin people to "buy" her. and then on the second first shes talking bout her past as its the reason this has happened...
@Davetheinvincible Considering what BurningCrossTheBreeze wrote eight years after that, I think it's quite possible. If not on the content, certainly it's a good guess about the vibe.
@Davetheinvincible Considering what BurningCrossTheBreeze wrote eight years after that, I think it's quite possible. If not on the content, certainly it's a good guess about the vibe.
I think it could be a double entendre for prostitution and commercial consumption. That's how I see anyway, and it's really powerful. This may be my favourite Kim-on-vocals SY track.
I love when she is talkin at the start when shes saying "Does 'Fuck you' sound simple enough?"
Well... I have read that it is a reference to WIlliam Gibson's novel, "Neuromancer", but the lyrics don't really support that...
Yeah, when I saw 'The Sprawl' that's what I immediately thought, but the lyrics aren't really related to it.
The lyrics don't support any references to "Neuromancer".
Prostitution, plain and simple. "Fuck you! Are you for sale?" is an expression of how the men call to her. "I've gone native" means that she's gotten used to prostitution.
The third stanza (I grew up...started) is full of metaphors for a rough life, the life which drove her to prostitution(that's where it all started)
"The Sprawl" could also mean the busy part of a city, usually the place where prostitutes work.
my favorite sonic youth song! (it was my gateway drug.) I'm not so sure what it means, though the prostitution thing is convincing. It's just so awesome! i love it.
where the f are the lyrics?