Birth in Reverse
St. Vincent Lyrics
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Take out the garbage, masturbate
I'm still holding for the laugh
The dogs will bark, so let them bark
The birds will cry, I'll let them cry
Here's my report from the edge
Like a birth in reverse
What I saw through the blinds
You could say that I'm sane
In phenomenal lies
I'm the cause; make a turn
Near the party line
Like a birth in reverse
In America
This too will haunt me through the war
Laugh all you want, but I want more
'Cause what I'm swearing, I never sworn before
Like a birth in reverse
What I saw through the blinds
You could say that I'm sane
In phenomenal lies
I'm the cause; make a turn
Near the party line
Like a birth in reverse
In America
Like a birth in reverse
What I saw through the blinds
You could say that I'm sane
In phenomenal lies
I'm the cause; make a turn
Near the party line
Like a birth in reverse
In America
The lyrics to St. Vincent's song Birth In Reverse seem to be a commentary on the mundanity of everyday life and the feeling of being trapped in it. The opening lines, "Oh what an ordinary day, take out the garbage, masturbate," suggest a sense of boredom and routine. The line "I'm still holding for the laugh" can be interpreted as a desire for something to break the monotony, but this may never happen.
The following lines, "The dogs will bark, so let them bark, the birds will cry, I'll let them cry," convey a sense of detachment and a willingness to let things be as they are. This is reinforced by the line "Here's my report from the edge," indicating that the singer is observing life from a place of detachment.
The chorus, "Like a birth in reverse, what I saw through the blinds, you could say that I'm sane in phenomenal lies, I'm the cause; make a turn near the party line, like a birth in reverse, in America," parallels the notion of birth with a sense of reversal, perhaps indicating a desire to break free from the constraints of society and live life in a different way. The line "you could say that I'm sane in phenomenal lies" suggests that the singer is aware that reality is perception, and that there is no objective truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh what an ordinary day
Nothing extraordinary happened today
Take out the garbage, masturbate
I did mundane things today
I'm still holding for the laugh
I am waiting for something exhilarating to happen
The dogs will bark, so let them bark
I will not stop anyone from making unnecessary noise
The birds will cry, I'll let them cry
I will not stop someone from expressing their emotions
Here's my report from the edge
Here is the situation as I am seeing it
Like a birth in reverse
Everything is happening backwards
What I saw through the blinds
I observed something while peeking through the window
You could say that I'm sane
People might view me as rational
In phenomenal lies
Amidst extraordinary falsehoods
I'm the cause; make a turn
I am responsible for the shift
Near the party line
Close to the boundaries
In America
This situation is occurring in America
This too will haunt me through the war
This will continue to affect me, even in tough times
Laugh all you want, but I want more
You may find this situation humorous, but I want greater things
'Cause what I'm swearing, I never sworn before
What I am asserting is something new to me
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: ANNE ERIN CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theneedledrop
she's a hero.
@Seth-hc2bj
theneedledrop Sainthony Vinctano
@DarrenBonJovi
The music's not bad either. The chorus riff on this is almost as bloody caustic as Big Black, albeit a lot more beautiful.
@angelaallen1207
DarrenBonJovi so tru abt Big Black
@davidcremin3837
theneedledrop masseduction a 6 wow.
You just lost your opinion privileges.
@nonikita
Decent 7 out of 10 for that comment.
@DSTORQUE
"Take out the garbage, masturbate"
Finally someone who shares my passions!
@liamcraven6673
Lol
@AdamG1983
I know right?
STOP READING MY MIND, GIRL
@kennydnolan
I did a double take first time I heard that line.