St. Vincent
A pseudonym of Annie Clark (b. 28 Sept 1982), a USA multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. She was a member of The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and as a teenager worked as the tour manager for her uncle's band Tuck & Patti. She grew up in Dallas and attended Lake Highlands High School, graduating in 2001. Following this, she went on to attend Berklee College of Music, dropping out 3 years later. Read Full BioA pseudonym of Annie Clark (b. 28 Sept 1982), a USA multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. She was a member of The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and as a teenager worked as the tour manager for her uncle's band Tuck & Patti. She grew up in Dallas and attended Lake Highlands High School, graduating in 2001. Following this, she went on to attend Berklee College of Music, dropping out 3 years later. Soon after this, she joined The Polyphonic Spree. In 2003, during her time at Berklee, she released an EP with fellow students, entitled Ratsliveonnoevilstar.

Clark joined Sufjan Stevens' touring band in 2006, bringing with her a tour EP entitled Paris Is Burning. It contains three tracks, including a cover version of Jackson Browne's These Days.

Clark released her début album, Marry Me, 10 July 2007 on Beggars Banquet Records. Named after a line from the cult-hit television show Arrested Development, the LP features appearances from drummer Brian Teasley (Man or Astro-man?, The Polyphonic Spree), Mike Garson (David Bowie's longtime pianist), and horn player Louis Schwadron (The Polyphonic Spree).

In 2008 Clark was nominated for three PLUG Independent Music Awards: New Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year, and on 6 March 2008, she won the Female Artist of the Year award.

Her second album for 4AD, entitled Actor, was released on 5 May 2009. It was written entirely by Clark and produced by Clark and John Congleton of The Paper Chase.

The Strange Mercy Songfacts reports that Clark wrote her third album in Seattle. She decamped to the Northwestern city to escape from the information overload she was experiencing at home and recorded Strange Mercy in a studio provided by Death Cab For Cutie drummer Jason McGerr. The album was released by 4AD on September 12, 2011 and peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200, making it her first Top 20 LP.

2) A pseudonym of singer-songwriter Vincent Bernardy, who has written and recorded music since 1980. see also St. Vincent Folk

3) A singer/songwriter from Victoria, Australia.
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Cruel
by St. Vincent

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?

Forgive the kids, for they don't know how to live
Run the alleys casually cruel
Cruel, cruel

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?
For you could want that, too
They could take or leave you
So they took you, and they left you
How could they be casually cruel?
Cruel, cruel, oh
Cruel, cruel, oh

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?
If you could want that, too, then you'll be happy

You were the one waving flares in the air so they could see you
And they were a zephyr, blowing past ya,
Blowing fastly so they can see ya
Cruel, cruel, oh
Cruel, cruel, oh

Cruel, cruel, oh
Cruel, cruel, oh

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Anne Clark

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Comments from YouTube:

Jamie Ryan Storey

I love how she is literally kidnapped and enslaved by a man and his two demented children, and she only looks mildly annoyed by it.

Th.El.Co._1

Maybe that's the point. Motherhood?

Plasma Bat

@kidkruschev I think it could be seen as anyone being forced into roles by society. It's not like men aren't seen as disposable.

Mikel Montoya

@Angela Kartolína Luntian she dated Cara Delevingne. 'St. Vincent will love Cara Delevingne "forever"' https://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=270372 on that same interview she explains though that she doesn't date exclusively women but likes both men and women.

Angela Kartolína Luntian

@Joe Alias being gay has nothing to do with gender roles though so that was kind of out-of-topic. also, clark is gay? source please?

kidkruschev

the beginning lyrics that are repeated throughout the song describe the song word for word. the song is about women being used in society as objects for birth, sex, or domestic chores. she doesnt refer to herself or others as women, but "bodies" that are being seen as objects for others to use. the video just visualises that, and her mundane attitude is reflective of how women are oppressed into these roles without realising they're being forced into roles in the first place. her being buried is akin to divorce or separation, they dont see her as useful anymore, they took her and left her like the lyrics said. the "zephyr" blowing past her is them ignoring and choosing not to see or come to the reality that they're hurting her so they act like it's all on her or it didn't happen.

TL;DR: the song is about societal misogyny

11 More Replies...

Brendon Infante

I think this song is about how casually cruel it is to pressure women into the thankless job of a mother/wife.
It's easier to remember all the mistakes made instead of appreciating all the things they do for you, despite their efforts. (It only shows her 'screwing things up')

Eugeniya Leshenko

Oh stop this crap.... Noone forces us to do anything at this point, and guess what - many women STILL want to do it themselves, snowflakes...

Eccremocarpus scaber

gosh, that's rather prescriptive. Half of my female friends don't have children and are very happy. The others do have children and are very happy. I find it a bit difficult to be casting aspersions about mothers in this fashion. Most of the mothers I know see it as a joy and a privilege. Those who don't just don't have children. Thats what condoms, the pill and abortion are for.

Santiago Florentín

@Krys F It seems like someone didn't hear about exogenesis

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