Andrea has headlined everywhere from the Nuyorican Poet's Café, to Pride Fests and Lady Fests, to high schools and universities throughout the country. They have been showcased on Free Speech TV, Dyke TV, the documentary Slam Planet, and Independent Radio Stations nationwide. They are featured on New York City's 2004 Best of Urbana CD, and are currently a member of the prestigious Bullhorn Collective "comprised of 30 of the highest ranking slam poets and most accomplished performance poets in the world." They have shared the stage with such names as Leslie Feinberg, Amy Goodman, Dennis Kucinich and KRS1.
Andrea's poetry deconstructs the foundations of the current political machine, highlighting issues such as patriarchy, gender norms, white-supremacy, and capitalist culture. Their words are honest, humble and "oh my god, I can't believe you said that in public!" (ex-girlfriend #4).
Andrea is an independent artist who has self-released four CDs, Bullets and Windchimes (2003), Swarm (2004), When The Bough Breaks (2006), and Yellowbird (2009).
They have also self published three books, Trees That Grow in Cemeteries, Yellow Bird, and What the Yarn Knows of Sweaters.
Write Bloody Publishing published their nationally distributed collection of poems in 2008, Pole Dancing To Gospel Hymns.
Andrea uses they/them pronouns.
from: http://www.andreagibson.org/
Jellyfish
Andrea Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are a jellyfish with no lips"
I said listen, shortstuff:
I skip my moon rock across your puddle dive.
I'll kiss your punches with my nose.
I bet you smell like butterfly
but I bet you dream cocoon
but we all know you do
My heart is a runway
I've been staring at this sky since my love took off
Will you be my friend?
Will you poem me a porchswing?
Will you punch me in the touch, just once?
I need to reset my bones
swingset my ribcage
so the next time somebody pushes me away
I'll swing right back to that chisel with my marble spine
Go ahead, build me
Go ahead, throw me at the storm like a fisherman's prayer
Do you ever think about God's ears?
Wonder if the levy broke a promise?
Wonder if the wrecking ball was trying to run its fingers
soft across the bricks
but its head was just too heavy?
Before you become my friend
picnic with my rubble
roadtrip with everyone I left in the dust
do the laundry from the last time I was loaded
how she found my trigger and we woke
with the sheets pulled above our heads
praying the mortician could make us pretty
None of us are pretty
but our ugly has an alibi
and our gorgeous has a baby sister
a sand collection or three harmonicas we keep blowing off
for that flute we carve from our wrists
Put your lips here
Tell me there is music in my blood
then tell me there is more in my light
Hang me chandelier from the last night
I believed this life had to hurt so much
I am done kneeling in the church of steepled smokestacks
Done stargazing train crash
Give me windsprint
Tell me my fingerprints are the shape of ripples on a frozen lake
Tell me my coal mind will never collapse on my heart
I'll tell you these poems
they're my birthmarks
and I came this close to having them removed once
even kept that voice-box cutter hidden in my shoe the day that flight took off
but the runway
it's made of marble
made of gush
made of windmill
made of salt
and there is a sea of hopechest in every word I speak
praying to be open by the night
with its belly full of anchors
full of yield
Pull the shield
from my wingspan
Teach me how the candlewax says thank you to the flame
Tell me how your mother says your name like an orchard going bloom,
Angela
A doctor once told me I feel too much
I said so does god
That's why you can see the grand canyon from the moon
we are a telescope a riverbed
we are empty lockets melting into gold
we are hearts breaking bread
Fold me in the napkin poem
Pull the tinsel from my hair from all the past I cannot let go
My gills are adjusting to the air
The story husk peeled from my bones
My bones know the song of our tears
dripping from the faucet
ticking like a metronome
I know there is better music
Even in this cabin full of fever
tonight I'm catching nothing but the lightning bug
My body is a mason jar
transparent as a jellyfish
I wish for a heart you can see straight through
for a voice that glows in the dark
and a few really good friends to skip moon rocks to
The lyrics of Andrea Gibson's song Jellyfish tell a story of two individuals, one comparing the other to an astronaut detached from their mothership and a jellyfish without lips. The other replies by telling the first person to skip their moon rocks across their puddle dive and kisses their punches with their nose. They then ask the first person to be their friend, to punch them in the touch once to reset their bones, to swing set their ribcage, and to build them up. The song speaks about themes of friendship, the pain of life, feeling too much, and ultimately finding hope in the darkness.
The first person is a metaphor for feeling lost and disconnected from one's roots, symbolized by being an astronaut clipped from their mothership. The second person is a jellyfish without lips, which could refer to feeling muted in one's voice, unable to express themselves fully. However, they find a kindred spirit in each other, and through the act of skipping moon rocks, kissing punches, and swinging their ribcages, they find a sense of companionship and catharsis. The song ends on a hopeful note with the lyrics, "My body is a mason jar transparent as a jellyfish / I wish for a heart you can see straight through for a voice that glows in the dark and a few really good friends to skip moon rocks to."
Line by Line Meaning
She said "you are an astronaut clipped from the mothership
She thinks you are disconnected, lost, different from everything else.
You are a jellyfish with no lips"
You are a creature without a voice, helpless and mute.
I said listen, shortstuff:
I responded to her statement and addressed her with a nickname.
I skip my moon rock across your puddle dive.
I play with you by skipping a rock on the surface of the puddle you created.
I'll kiss your punches with my nose.
I'll try to counter your hostility with kindness.
I bet you smell like a butterfly
You have a delicate and gentle scent, like that of a butterfly.
but I bet you dream cocoon
You dream of transforming into something more beautiful and free.
and I bet you never say the word ‘fuck'
You don't swear or use profanity.
but we all know you do
But I know you do, even if you don't say it out loud.
My heart is a runway
I'm ready to take off and pursue my dreams.
I've been staring at this sky since my love took off
I've been longing for something or someone who's no longer with me.
Will you be my friend?
Can we connect and form a bond?
Will you poem me a porchswing?
Can you write me a poem about a comforting and nostalgic memory?
Will you punch me in the touch, just once?
Can you show me a bit of physical affection?
I need to reset my bones
I need to restart, recharge, and heal myself.
swingset my ribcage
Transform my inner self and make me stronger.
so the next time somebody pushes me away
So that I can resist the next time someone rejects me.
I'll swing right back to that chisel with my marble spine
I'll remain strong and confident in who I am, even in the face of adversity.
Go ahead, build me
Challenge me, shape me, make me better.
Go ahead, throw me at the storm like a fisherman's prayer
I'm ready to face anything, no matter how difficult.
Do you ever think about God's ears?
Do you ever consider that there might be a higher power listening to us?
Wonder if the levy broke a promise?
Maybe things went wrong in life because of a failure of a promise or commitment.
Wonder if the wrecking ball was trying to run its fingers
Maybe some actions are well-intentioned, but they still cause destruction.
soft across the bricks
Gently over the surface, but still leaving an impact.
Before you become my friend
Before we connect with each other.
picnic with my rubble
Enjoy the mess and chaos of my life and history.
roadtrip with everyone I left in the dust
Take a journey with all the things I've left behind.
do the laundry from the last time I was loaded
Cleanse my past experiences and trauma.
how she found my trigger and we woke
Talk about the moment when someone noticed my vulnerability and we became close.
with the sheets pulled above our heads
With a sense of protection and privacy.
praying the mortician could make us pretty
Even after death, we hope for beauty and peace.
None of us are pretty
None of us are perfect or flawless.
but our ugly has an alibi
But we have reasons why we are the way we are.
and our gorgeous has a baby sister
Our beauty and greatness are an inseparable part of us.
a sand collection or three harmonicas we keep blowing off
We all have hobbies and passions that we treasure, even if nobody else understands them.
for that flute we carve from our wrists
We all have our own ways of expressing ourselves, even if it's painful.
Put your lips here
Kiss me, show me your affection.
Tell me there is music in my blood
Help me recognize my inner talents and creativity.
then tell me there is more in my light
Encourage and inspire me to pursue my passions.
Hang me chandelier from the last night
Make me feel special and important.
I believed this life had to hurt so much
I thought pain was an inevitable part of life.
I am done kneeling in the church of steepled smokestacks
I'm tired of going through life just to meet society's expectations.
Done stargazing train crash
Done dwelling on tragic stories and focusing on the negative.
Give me windsprint
Give me something to lift me up and give me hope.
Tell me my fingerprints are the shape of ripples on a frozen lake
Remind me that I have the power to leave my mark on the world.
Tell me my coal mind will never collapse on my heart
Reassure me that my thoughts and ideas won't consume me.
I'll tell you these poems
I'll share with you my innermost thoughts and feelings.
they're my birthmarks
They're an integral part of who I am.
and I came this close to having them removed once
At one point, I considered suppressing my creativity and voice.
even kept that voice-box cutter hidden in my shoe the day that flight took off
I was close to giving up, even when I was in the process of pursuing my dreams.
but the runway
But my path and journey.
it's made of marble
It's strong and resilient.
made of gush
It's full of passion and emotion.
made of windmill
It's constantly moving and changing.
made of salt
It's filled with both tears and healing.
and there is a sea of hopechest in every word I speak
There is always a glimmer of hope in every utterance I make.
praying to be open by the night
I hope to be receptive and vulnerable enough to let in positivity and change.
with its belly full of anchors
Even though the night can be heavy with burdens and problems.
full of yield
Full of potential and opportunity.
Pull the shield
Remove the barrier and let me be vulnerable.
from my wingspan
Let me fly, let me be free.
Teach me how the candlewax says thank you to the flame
Help me understand how the small and insignificant can show their gratitude.
Tell me how your mother says your name like an orchard going bloom
Tell me about your own background and life story.
Angela
The artist mentions a name, possibly to convey familiarity or friendship.
A doctor once told me I feel too much
Someone once criticized me for being too emotional.
I said so does god
I countered by saying that a higher power also feels deeply and strongly.
That's why you can see the grand canyon from the moon
That's why some natural wonders can be seen even from a great distance.
we are a telescope a riverbed
We are both observers and participants in the world.
we are empty lockets melting into gold
We're vulnerable and exposed, but still precious and valuable.
we are hearts breaking bread
We come together and connect, sometimes through shared pain.
Fold me in the napkin poem
Let me be a part of your creative process and expression.
Pull the tinsel from my hair from all the past I cannot let go
Help me move on from the past and let go of painful memories.
My gills are adjusting to the air
I'm adapting to new circumstances and environments.
The story husk peeled from my bones
I'm shedding my baggage and past story.
My bones know the song of our tears
I'm familiar with pain and suffering.
dripping from the faucet
Slowly leaking and causing damage.
ticking like a metronome
Regularly and consistently, like a clock.
I know there is better music
I know there is more hope and positivity to be found.
Even in this cabin full of fever
Even in the midst of sickness or trouble.
tonight I'm catching nothing but the lightning bug
Tonight, all I can see is a brief glimpse of something beautiful.
My body is a mason jar
I see myself as a container, holding many different experiences and emotions.
transparent as a jellyfish
I'm open and exposed, yet beautiful and resilient.
I wish for a heart you can see straight through
I'm looking for authenticity and vulnerability in others.
for a voice that glows in the dark
I'm looking for someone who can be a guiding light and beacon of hope.
and a few really good friends to skip moon rocks to
Ultimately, I'm looking for connection and friendship, and someone to share simple joys with.
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brandon Falco
"A doctor once told me I feel too much, I said so does god, that's why you can see the Grand Canyon from the moon" this just makes me cry man I don't know
Lauren Brittain
"And a few really good friends to skip moon rocks to" I wish for that too.
amanda
Your words are like arrows bandaged in song. Thank you for pressing forward and sharing. Thank you for keeping your aim true.
Valerie Wood
This poem is a miracle and a salve.
reni kefiraa
"I'll tell you these poems, they're my birthmarks." Amen. Andreas powerful words are exactly what started me on my own pathway as a poet. So much love <3
KusogakiBoi
Her voice just fits what she writes. It's amazing.
Allie Metcalf
"tell me how the candlewax thanks the flame"....damn. I'm dizzy and you are from outerspace, Andrea. Thank you.
Maedchenlyrik
I LOVE this poem - and the visuals are perfect to underline its content, well done! All the best, Annika (a spoken word artist from Germany)
Sammie
Why can't I stop listening to this?? Andrea Gibson, you're AMAZING! <3
pentest
"Go ahead throw me at the storm like a fisherman's prayer." Nice, some of these lines are not in the Madness Vase Kindle version.