McCue's first band was known as Vertigo.
In 1988, McCue moved to Melbourne, Australia and took guitar lessons from Bruce Clarke. Answering an ad in the local press, she joined all-female rock band Girl Monstar as lead guitarist (1988-1993). The band eventually received an ARIA nomination for best independent act.
Following her stint with Girl Monstar, she played acoustically around Melbourne, later performing in Vietnam for a year before returning to Melbourne to record her Laughing EP (1996). She then joined Australian female trio Eden AKA, who signed to Columbia Records in the USA. They released a self-titled album and performed in Canada and the USA at the Lilith Fair in 1998 and 1999.
McCue's first solo album, Amazing Ordinary Things, was released in 1999 in Canada and Japan, and she toured with a number of well-known musicians, including an international tour with Lucinda Williams, who would often introduce McCue as "my new favorite artist... and an amazing guitarist". Williams later included McCue on an 'Artist's Choice' compilation alongside Paul Westerberg and Leonard Cohen.
McCue's success on the Lucinda Williams tour prompted the release of a live album, Live: Ballad of an Outlaw Woman, recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California, and her first Messenger Records release, Roll.
Roll also received numerous critical accollades, with Los Angeles Weekly stating that the Australian performer had more "all-American authenticity than a dozen Martina McBrides" and Entertainment Weekly drawing comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Canadian alt-country singer Kathleen Edwards. Bob Harris from the BBC went as far as to call it his album of the year, and she toured internationally to promote the album.
McCue released her album Koala Motel on Messenger Records in 2006. She is completed an international tour to promote the album. She relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville and in August of 2007, took part in the Broad Festival which toured major Australian cities.
Stupid
Anne McCue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothing to believe in anymore
The time of the flood is almost here
The end of the world is drawing near
Stupid on a lonely afternoon
I almost gave up on my life too soon
Reckless at the lonely close of day
And I'm gonna write a Bob Dylan song
I'll sing all day but it won't take long
Well, I never worked in a factory
But I suffered your shit and shoveled your debris
Stupid on a lonely afternoon
I almost gave up on my life too soon
Reckless at the lonely close of day
I almost listened to what the prophets, the prophets had to say
And I feel a light come shining down on me
And it's full of solar energy
There is no greater power
No man-made god could ever be
No man-made god could ever be
Stupid on a lonely afternoon
I almost gave up on my life too soon
Reckless at the lonely close of day
I almost listened to what the prophets, the prophets had to say
Stupid on a lonely afternoon
I almost gave in to the voice of doom
Reckless at the lonely close of day
I almost listened to what the prophets, the prophets had to say
The lyrics of Anne McCue's song "Stupid" reflect the artist's musings on the current state of society and her own personal struggles. The song opens with a reference to John Lennon, who famously declared that there are no institutions or beliefs worth holding onto anymore. McCue echoes this sentiment, suggesting that the end of the world is drawing near and that we are living in a time of great uncertainty.
The first verse then shifts to a more personal level, as McCue reflects on her own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. She admits that she almost gave up on her life too soon, feeling "stupid" for even considering such an act. But the song quickly takes a more defiant turn in the chorus, as McCue rejects the voices of the "prophets" who would have her give up hope.
The second verse is a bit more tongue-in-cheek, as McCue playfully suggests that she will "write a Bob Dylan song" that will sum up her feelings without taking too long. She also makes a sarcastic reference to the idea of working in a factory, suggesting that she has suffered just as much as any working-class person despite her unconventional career.
The final verse is the most hopeful, as McCue suggests that a "light" full of solar energy is shining down on her, casting aside the idea of any man-made gods. The song concludes with a renewed sense of purpose and a rejection of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Lennon said there are no institutions
According to Lennon, traditional establishments and systems have lost their significance
There's nothing to believe in anymore
There seems to be no more trust or faith in anything
The time of the flood is almost here
The end of times or catastrophic events are nearing
The end of the world is drawing near
The apocalypse or world destruction is looming
Stupid on a lonely afternoon
Feeling foolish and hopeless during a solitary time
I almost gave up on my life too soon
Almost surrendered to the struggles of life and contemplated ending it prematurely
Reckless at the lonely close of day
Being impulsive and careless as nighttime approaches and feelings of loneliness surface
I almost listened to what the prophets, the prophets had to say
Almost heeded the warnings and predictions of those who claim to foresee the future
And I'm gonna write a Bob Dylan song
Expressing the desire to create music with poetic depth and meaning, similar to Bob Dylan
I'll sing all day but it won't take long
Dedicating oneself to music but realizing life is fleeting and brief
Well, I never worked in a factory
Not having experience in a typical blue-collar job or manual labor
But I suffered your shit and shoveled your debris
Having dealt with difficult situations and people while trying to move forward in life
And I feel a light come shining down on me
Experiencing a positive energy or mindset
And it's full of solar energy
Being filled with a strong, natural power
There is no greater power
There is no force or entity that surpasses this intense feeling
No man-made god could ever be
Even established religions or belief systems cannot compare to this overwhelming sensation
I almost gave in to the voice of doom
Weakly considering the possibility of failure or negativity overpowering one's life
Contributed by Connor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
elomek eklu
Je ne sais plus combien d'année j'ai mis à chercher cette chanson. Mais je viens de la trouver j'en ai les larmes au yeux. Elle a marqué un moment de ma vie où je ne pouvais même pas savoir ni le titre ni l'auteur.
Ed S
I came across this rather late, but it hasn't left my head since. Great song, Anne!
Anne McCue
It is 10 years since my album 'Roll' came out. 70 minutes of music, it would have been a double album in the good old days, maybe even triple considering that 'Machine Gun' would have taken up a whole side. It continues to be one of my most popular titles to this day, and includes 'Hangman', 'Stupid' and 'Milkman's Daughter'. Bob Harris of the BBC picked it as his favourite album of that year. Is there an accolade higher? This year saw the passing of two wonderful people who were integral to the making of the album - Cary Brock, Executive Producer; and Heidi Fener who designed the artwork. So sad to pass so young - it reminds me to be thankful for Life. Dusty Wakeman co-produced, Dave Raven played drums and Carl Byron played keyboards. The album was engineered by Jon DeBaun. The record label was Messenger Records run by Brandon Kessler and my manager at the time was Mike Gormley, Cary Baker did publicity. Many others were involved including the beautiful people who listen - Thanks to all of you! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Anne McCue - Stupid (Official Video)
Tony McCall
Hmmm, I think we snapped that up after seeing you at Byron Bay. Great songs on there. My wife loves Tiny Little Song; I like 'em all!
Anne McCue
Thanks Tony! :-)
Mike Gormley
Hey, that's my piano. And clock. :)
Anne McCue
Why yes it is! :-)
Mike Gormley
Nice memories.
:)
Stephen lyon
Beautiful song with great lyrics Anne I wish I discovered you earlier if it wasn't for your appearance on Rockquiz I would of missed listening to you ,your so good ❤️
Kirk Knestis
I stumbled onto Stupid on a college station in eastern NC, probably about the time it first dropped. Bought the CD; got it stolen in a break-in. I still come back to it every once in a while. One of my all-time faves.