Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an… Read Full Bio ↴Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an American singer and songwriter. She grew up singing with her musician parents and performing in the school choir. She taught herself guitar, and began writing songs which blend tense, trance-like arpeggios with warm vocals and meditative lyrics about family and nature. Her first recordings were self-released in 2003 as Forest Parade. Her first solo public appearances were at the invitation of fellow Nevada City native Joanna Newsom. She also did a stint in the Nevada City slow grass band Black Bear before continuing with her solo pursuits.

The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.

A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, Songs Whistled Through White Teeth, released in the UK in October 2006. The Pirate's Gospel was released in the UK on Names Records in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times and NME.

Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview, her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.

She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.

Clickity Clack
Alela Diane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do you
How do you do
How do you
How do you do it

Music make her stop pressing those strings firmly to my down
Ground water is drying up to fill my jars again

But then click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack
I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
And punish what young is left in these eyes

And how do I
Oh how do I
How do I
How did I
How can I
How will I
How did I
How can I pick up and go

'Cause I lack the wind and trees and the sunlight in the afternoon
And my button collections need to find a home

And that click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack
I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
And punish what young is left in these eyes

Oh click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack

And when I turn my back
And when I turn my back
I'll twirl my little skirt
And it'll be my shoes instead of yours
My shoes instead of yours
My shoes screaming back
Click clack clickity click click click

Clickity clack
Clickity clack

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alela Diane's song Clickity Clack express a sense of frustration and a desire for independence. The singer is asking how to break free from someone or something that is pressuring her to conform or obey. She feels like she is suffocating and needs to breathe and live her life on her own terms. The line "Music make her stop pressing those strings firmly to my down" seems to refer to the pressure and control that someone else (perhaps a patriarchal figure or society) is exerting over her. The reference to "ground water" drying up and needing to be refilled again may mirror the singer's emotional state, as if she is drained and needs to replenish herself before she can keep going.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "clickity clack," which could be a reference to the sound of shoes walking on a hard surface. The image of shoes, especially when paired with the line "I'll twirl my little skirt," suggests a feminine disposition. However, the forceful repetition of "clickity clack" and the resolve to have "my shoes instead of yours" imply a defiance and a reclaiming of power. The singer is no longer going to submit to someone else's expectations or rules.

Overall, the song Clickity Clack speaks to a universal desire for independence, self-expression, and agency. It is a call to break free from oppressive forces and to live authentically. The repetitive and percussive nature of the lyrics and music reinforce the message of strength and determination.

Line by Line Meaning

How do you
She wonders how someone else does something.

How do you do
She continues to wonder about someone else's ability.

How do you
She asks the same question again.

How do you do it
She wonders how someone else is able to do something specific.

Music make her stop pressing those strings firmly to my down
The music makes her stop thinking or feeling something strongly negative and brings her back to reality.

Ground water is drying up to fill my jars again
A metaphor for slowly gaining control over chaos in her life through routine tasks like collecting water.

But then click clack clickity click click click
A sound effect used to mimic the sound of moving on from something.

Clickity clack
Repeating the sound effect for emphasis.

I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
She is done with feeling belittled by someone imposing their superiority on her.

And punish what young is left in these eyes
She is tired of feeling criticized by someone who is trying to take away her youthfulness.

And how do I
She now turns her focus on herself and questions her own abilities.

Oh how do I
She repeats the question to emphasize her confusion.

How do I
She questions her own abilities again.

How did I
She now starts to question past decisions or actions.

How can I
She questions her future abilities or decisions.

How will I
She questions how she will handle a future situation.

How did I
She questions past decisions or actions again.

How can I pick up and go
She wonders if she has the strength to just leave and start over.

'Cause I lack the wind and trees and the sunlight in the afternoon
She feels like something is missing in her life that would give her peace and happiness.

And my button collections need to find a home
A metaphor for feeling lost and needing to find a sense of belonging.

And that click clack clickity click click click
The sound effect again, foreshadowing the moving on from her current situation.

Clickity clack
Repeating the sound effect for emphasis.

I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
Repeating a previous line to emphasize her resolution of moving on from feeling belittled.

And punish what young is left in these eyes
Repeating a previous line to emphasize her resolution of not letting someone take away her youthfulness.

Oh click clack clickity click click click
Repeating the sound effect before her big decision for emphasis.

Clickity clack
Repeating the sound effect for emphasis.

And when I turn my back
She is ready to leave and start over.

And when I turn my back
Repeating the line for emphasis.

I'll twirl my little skirt
A metaphor for feeling free and joyful after making a difficult decision.

And it'll be my shoes instead of yours
A metaphor for finding her own path instead of walking in someone else's footsteps.

My shoes instead of yours
Repeating the metaphor for emphasis.