Anya was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., and grew up in the Silicon Valley area of California as a capricious child with Russian-Agnostic/Irish-Catholic professor parents (psychology and russian literature/math) and a younger sister. After finishing high school, Anya moved to Los Angeles as an aspiring actress. With stints in the British American Drama Academy (taught by Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, Anya has also acted in television and film (in 2001, she starred in the feature film, 100 Girls). She eventually moved back home to earn a college degree in English and writing at Santa Clara University. She continued to struggle as an artist -- working in acting, musical theatre, music, improv and comedy -- but eventually found a job as a radio DJ on KSCU, Santa Clara University's college station.
After graduating, Anya took a radio station job in San Diego with Mike Halloran at XHRM-FM (92.5). After the station was bought out by another corporation, Halloran hired Anya at Y107 in Los Angeles before they both moved to Premium Radio 92/1 in San Diego's North County. After leaving that station, both disc jockeys landed at FM94/9.
It was in San Diego that Anya played her first open mic night and began to write her own songs. She quickly developed a live stage act using what she learned as an actress, comic and impressionist. Her recorded debut was a five-song EP called Exercises in Racketeering, which eventually led to a full-length album, Miss Halfway, which was released in early 2005. Anya subsequently opened for such artists as Jason Mraz and Rhett Miller. She was named one of the "Best Unsigned" acts by San Diego CityBeat.
The songs on Miss Halfway talk about her upbringing, ex-boyfriends and all the after-effects. Anya's album was also produced by Scott Russo, the frontman for rockers Unwritten Law, along with Peter King from The Surfers. The record eventually earned a San Diego Music Award for Best Recording. The title track also landed on Grey's Anatomy and was featured as the fifth song on the second Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack) disc along with The Fray, KT Tunstall, Gomez and Snow Patrol.
The internet radio station KGRL featured her as their Flower-Powered Artist for March of 2007. The feature includes an exclusive interview, CD Review of Miss Halfway, and an on-demand audio stream of an unreleased Anya Marina track titled "Try It And Like It."
Flinty
Anya Marina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It doesn't go away no matter the days
When trying to forget, y'push it down with cigarettes or better yet
Burn it up into a fire but none of it goes
'Cause I know what I know and I know what I shouldn't
It's a loathsome truth between us now
Send it up in smoke, the embers all aglow
Ooh, ooh, ooh
No, it doesn't when you're trying
No, it doesn't go away, no matter the days
'Cause I know what I know and I know what I shouldn't
It's a loathsome truth between us now
If you're on the level
If you're on the level
Are you?
If you're on the level, on the level
You can talk to me
(Talk to me)
If you're on the level
I'm gonna level with you anyway
Are you flinty?
(Strong)
To hang my secrets on?
If you're on the level, on the level
You can talk to me
(Talk to me)
If you're on the level
I'm gonna level with you anyway
Are you flinty?
(Strong)
To hang my secrets on?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Come back, dummy, get it, get home
Come back, dummy, never leave me alone
Bring some sweetness, sugar, your drug
Gimme sickness, summa, summa your love
'Cause it doesn't go away, even trying out the strays
No, it doesn't go away, no matter the days
Send it up in smoke, the embers even show oh oh oh
But it doesn't go away, this aching old pain
The song "Flinty" by Anya Marina depicts the struggle of trying to forget the painful truth that exists between two individuals. The line "It doesn't go away when you're trying not to stay" indicates that even when one tries to move on and let go, the pain continues to linger. The singer tries to forget the truth by pushing it down with cigarettes or burning it up into a fire, but none of it seems to work. The lines "If you're on the level, you can talk to me" suggests that the singer is looking for someone trustworthy to confide in and possibly share her burden with.
The chorus "Cause I know what I know and I know what I shouldn't, it's a loathsome truth between us now" highlights the painful truth that exists between the two parties. The word "loathsome" indicates the intense dislike and disgust that the singer feels towards this truth. The use of the word "flinty" throughout the song suggests someone strong enough to handle the singer's secrets and support them in their struggles. The line "Bring some sweetness, sugar, your drug, gimme sickness, summa, summa your love" indicates the singer's willingness to accept both the good and the bad in a relationship, suggesting that love is indeed a strong drug.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't go away when you're trying not to stay
This feeling persists even when you try to ignore it
It doesn't go away no matter the days
Time doesn't heal this pain
When trying to forget, y'push it down with cigarettes or better yet
People resort to smoking, or other means, to hide or suppress the feeling
Burn it up into a fire but none of it goes
Even trying to burn or destroy the feeling doesn't help
'Cause I know what I know and I know what I shouldn't
The person knows something that they shouldn't have known
It's a loathsome truth between us now
This knowledge is an unpleasant reality for them and someone else
Send it up in smoke, the embers all aglow
They try to let go of the feeling by setting it free, but it still lingers
But it doesn't go away, this aching old pain
The pain is constant and enduring
If you're on the level
If you are genuine or sincere
You can talk to me
You can confide in me
I'm gonna level with you anyway
I will be forthright and candid with you regardless
Are you flinty?
Are you strong enough to handle my secrets?
Come back, dummy, get it, get home
The person is beckoning their lover to return home to them
Come back, dummy, never leave me alone
They don't want to be alone without their partner
Bring some sweetness, sugar, your drug
They want their partner to come home with love and affection
Gimme sickness, summa, summa your love
Even if their love is unhealthy or toxic, they want it
'Cause it doesn't go away, even trying out the strays
Even distractions or other romantic partners can't make the feeling go away
Send it up in smoke, the embers even show oh oh oh
Burning the feeling yet again, but it's still present
But it doesn't go away, this aching old pain
The pain remains even after attempts to move forward
Contributed by Jake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.