In my opinion, this song is about Tori's own musical career. The leather sounds like a reference to her dressing style during the Y Kant Tori Read era. I think it's pretty much about her turning point with Little Earthquakes, then in phase of writing, and critical acclaim. She has often said that she hates Y Kant Tori Read, as it reflects a period of time in wich she was lying to herself, she was just doing what she felt was expected, not what she really wanted to. After that, the first version of Little Earthquakes was rejected by Atlantic Records. She was probably doubting that she would have been accepted as the girl with her piano, as this idea has been rejected more times before.
She's saying that she's "naked before you", probably referring to Little Earthquakes itself, in wich she talked very much about herself, it is in fact a very personal album.
"Don't you want more than my sex" could mean, don't you want more than who I was in Y Kant Tori Read?
She's capable of that, but she "can't claim innocence".
So the line "But why do I need you to love me" could mean that just being herself now matters more than being loved i.e. accepted.
The refrain sounds sardonic, if it's not just the weather that makes you reject me, then hand me my leather, I'll be like others want to see me.
I thought of this meaning reading this reference from Tori:
"I've never told this story. People think um, that this next song is about wild sex. And I think... well, it isn't. And um, it is for you, probably, that's fine. I mean, I, you know, whatever your experience is, you've probably had much more fun with this song than I have. But um, I've never had fun with this song, but I sing it all the time. I do adore this song because it reminds me of the time that this bitch came over to my house. And I lived in this hovel in um, Hollywood. And I don't remember what my manager called it, but it was a pit. And um, when you walk in all my clothes were strewn, you know, peanut butter and banana, all that stuff. I know, gross. But anyway, you get to my piano, right, and my fish tank, and I had dead fish in the fish tank. Because I forgot to feed them, but I couldn't throw them away. And so I was sitting there at my piano, right? And this girl comes over there that is very very very very very close by - not mentioning any names. And so she comes over... So she comes and goes, "Can I have some sugar?" And I said, "Yes." And uh, she goes, "I hear you wrote a new song." I said, "Yes." And um, I played it for her, and it was one of the songs that went on Little Earthquakes, I won't mention it. And she says to me, "Well, you know... I really think you better get a new writing style, because that's like, not catchy." And so I say, "Obviously you have the sugar. Good day." So... The next eight minutes of my life..." [Dew Drop Inn tour - 1996]
Still, it's ok if you find a different meaning for yourselves. Tori Amos herself is open to that.
In my opinion, this song is about Tori's own musical career. The leather sounds like a reference to her dressing style during the Y Kant Tori Read era. I think it's pretty much about her turning point with Little Earthquakes, then in phase of writing, and critical acclaim. She has often said that she hates Y Kant Tori Read, as it reflects a period of time in wich she was lying to herself, she was just doing what she felt was expected, not what she really wanted to. After that, the first version of Little Earthquakes was rejected by Atlantic Records. She was probably doubting that she would have been accepted as the girl with her piano, as this idea has been rejected more times before.
She's saying that she's "naked before you", probably referring to Little Earthquakes itself, in wich she talked very much about herself, it is in fact a very personal album. "Don't you want more than my sex" could mean, don't you want more than who I was in Y Kant Tori Read? She's capable of that, but she "can't claim innocence".
So the line "But why do I need you to love me" could mean that just being herself now matters more than being loved i.e. accepted.
The refrain sounds sardonic, if it's not just the weather that makes you reject me, then hand me my leather, I'll be like others want to see me.
I thought of this meaning reading this reference from Tori:
"I've never told this story. People think um, that this next song is about wild sex. And I think... well, it isn't. And um, it is for you, probably, that's fine. I mean, I, you know, whatever your experience is, you've probably had much more fun with this song than I have. But um, I've never had fun with this song, but I sing it all the time. I do adore this song because it reminds me of the time that this bitch came over to my house. And I lived in this hovel in um, Hollywood. And I don't remember what my manager called it, but it was a pit. And um, when you walk in all my clothes were strewn, you know, peanut butter and banana, all that stuff. I know, gross. But anyway, you get to my piano, right, and my fish tank, and I had dead fish in the fish tank. Because I forgot to feed them, but I couldn't throw them away. And so I was sitting there at my piano, right? And this girl comes over there that is very very very very very close by - not mentioning any names. And so she comes over... So she comes and goes, "Can I have some sugar?" And I said, "Yes." And uh, she goes, "I hear you wrote a new song." I said, "Yes." And um, I played it for her, and it was one of the songs that went on Little Earthquakes, I won't mention it. And she says to me, "Well, you know... I really think you better get a new writing style, because that's like, not catchy." And so I say, "Obviously you have the sugar. Good day." So... The next eight minutes of my life..." [Dew Drop Inn tour - 1996]
Still, it's ok if you find a different meaning for yourselves. Tori Amos herself is open to that.