After high-school Ainslie set out to refine her skills. She left her rural home in Albury and moved to Ballarat where she studied for a diploma in music and performed regularly at local venues. During this time Ainslie began writing more and more.
After completing her diploma, Ainslie was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Here she studied under the masterful Julie O'hara, learning the ins and outs of Jazz and Improvisation.
Although Ainslie has spent much of her time studying Jazz, it is in pop/rock music where her heart truly lies.
Ainslie's Influences range from Dvorak through Wes Montgomery to Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos and beyond. And the Carpenters. She really likes the Carpenters.
Ainslie performs regularly around Melbourne.
Something I Prepared Earlier
Ainslie Wills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a song you play over and over
I turn to see the back of your shoulder
There is nothing I can erase
There is nothing you can erase
There is nothing I can erase
There is nothing to erase
Oh the clever things that you say to no one
Never never say it to their face
Oh how much time you waste
There is nothing you can erase
There is nothing you can erase
There is nothing to erase
Here is something I prepared earlier, never in real time
Otherwise you'd see all these faults of mine
Oh here is something I prepared earlier, never in real time
Otherwise you'd see all these faults of mine
Oh the things you think of at night my mother
Here's a song you can play over and over my sister
There is nothing you can erase
There is nothing you can erase
There is nothing to erase
The song "Something I Prepared Earlier" by Ainslie Wills deals with the concept of regret and the tendency to ruminate over things that have already happened. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer describes the uselessness of the thoughts that come to her at night. The repetition of a song that is played over and over again represents the repetitive nature of these thoughts, and the inability to escape them.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of regret, as the singer describes the clever things that are said but never spoken to the person they are about. This highlights the tendency to hold onto thoughts and feelings rather than dealing with them in the moment, resulting in wasted time and missed opportunities. The chorus reinforces the idea that there is nothing that can be erased, no matter how much one might want to go back and change the past.
The bridge of the song provides a solution to this problem: by preparing something ahead of time, the singer can avoid the faults that might be revealed in real time. This represents the idea of learning from past mistakes and being better prepared for the future. The final lines of the song suggest that this is a message that can be passed on to others, as the singer references her mother and sister.
Overall, "Something I Prepared Earlier" is a poignant reflection on the human proclivity for dwelling on the past, and the importance of learning from past mistakes rather than regretting them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the things you think of at night are useless
The thoughts that come at night are pointless and have no value.
Like a song you play over and over
These useless thoughts are like a song that keeps repeating in your head.
I turn to see the back of your shoulder
I look at you, but you turn away and don't want to face me.
There is nothing I can erase
There are things I cannot change, no matter how hard I try.
There is nothing you can erase
There are things you cannot change and must accept as they are.
Oh the clever things that you say to no one
You come up with witty remarks and ideas, but never express them to anyone.
Never never say it to their face
You are afraid to express your thoughts and ideas to others directly.
Oh how much time you waste
You spend so much time thinking and coming up with things, but never actually put them into action.
Here is something I prepared earlier, never in real time
This idea or creation was made beforehand, without the pressure and immediacy of the moment.
Otherwise you'd see all these faults of mine
If I made it in real time, my flaws and mistakes would be evident.
Oh the things you think of at night my mother
You think of your mother at night and wonder what she would think of your thoughts and actions.
Here's a song you can play over and over my sister
This is a song you can relate to and keep listening to, just like your own thoughts at night.
There is nothing to erase
Acceptance of things that cannot be changed, and letting go of the need to erase them.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.