In NYC, Dee is best known as the badly angelic, Shirley Temple obsessed, high riding cat that ruled the streets of 90s Lower Manhattan. Her quest for adventure and little fishes led her to become the bilateral hermaphrodite of Coney Island Circus Sideshow and Kamikaze Freak Show.
Michael Musto calls her "a fabulous accordionist" and "ingenious harpist". Time Out calls her "the nightclub sensation". The LA Times calls her "hilariously bawdy".
She has worked with Marc Almond, Will Oldham, Andrew Wilkes-Krier (aka Andrew W.K.), Robbie Lee, Maxim Moston (Antony and the Johnsons), William Breeze (Psychic TV), John Edward Contreras II (aka John Contreras), James Lo (Chavez) and Lia Kessel. She has also toured extensively with Current 93 (piano, harp) and has opened concerts for The Dresden Dolls.
Baby Dee now lives in seclusion, having taken vows as a novitiate of the Little Sisters of Crabby Doom (Cleveland order dedicated to the care of smelly old men).
Lilacs
Baby Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That bloom the whole year round
Friends remembered and lovers found
And lovers found
With words that reach from star to stone
And lies as true as nature's own
My friends and I will sing a sea of merciful days
For the lilacs have come
Friends remembered and lovers found
And lovers found
Arise, my love, and come away
For the winter's ruinous work is done
Arise my love and come away
For the earth has heard the robin's song
And welcomed every word
And welcomed every word
For the lilacs have come
That bloom the whole year round
Friends remembered and lovers found
And lovers found
So good
Beyond all wishing
That even as we slept
Small voices, sweet to sing,
Did sing a promise kept
My friends and I will sing a sea of merciful days
For the lilacs have come
That bloom the whole year round
Friends remembered and lovers found
And lovers found
The lyrics of Baby Dee's Lilacs sing of the blooming and beauty of lilacs that last year-round. The lilacs are a symbol of lovers found, old friends remembered, and the coming of spring after winter's destruction has passed. The words of the song seem to insinuate the lasting fragility of love, and how it can come in various forms, whether it's the romantic kind, or the love of friendship.
The first sets of lines echo the beauty of the lilacs, and their everlasting charm. The second verse invites a lover to come away now that the winter is gone, and the earth is welcoming once more. The mention of the robin's song is a symbol of nature's cycle and metamorphosis. Baby Dee's ability to weave nature's elements and symbolism into the lyrics is impressive - making the song a celebration not only of the lilacs but also the loveliness of nature.
The last line (paraphrased) indicates an everlasting friendship, where true friends sing their promises to each other like the sweet voices of children, and the lilacs keep blooming year-round. The choice of lyrics is persuasive, evocative, and insightful, making Baby Dee one of the most influential songwriters of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
The Lilacs have come
The flowers called Lilacs have bloomed
That bloom the whole year round
These Lilacs bloom throughout the year
Friends remembered and lovers found
The sight of these Lilacs reminds us of our friends and loved ones
And lovers found
These flowers inspire new lovers to come together
With words that reach from star to stone
The emotions felt by these flowers are so powerful that they can be felt everywhere, from the heavens to the earth
And lies as true as nature's own
The promises made under these flowers are as true as the natural cycle of life
My friends and I will sing a sea of merciful days
We will celebrate the beauty of life and the hope that these flowers give us
Arise, my love, and come away
Wake up, my love, and come with me to enjoy these beautiful flowers
For the winter's ruinous work is done
After a harsh winter, the flowers have brought an end to the bleakness
For the earth has heard the robin's song
Spring has arrived and the earth is alive with the sound of birds singing
And welcomed every word
The earth has eagerly embraced the new life and hope that these flowers represent
So good
These flowers are unbelievably beautiful
Beyond all wishing
Their beauty is beyond anything we could have hoped for
That even as we slept
Even while we were sleeping, these amazing flowers bloomed
Small voices, sweet to sing,
The flowers seem to be singing a beautiful song
Did sing a promise kept
The flowers have made a promise of new life and hope
Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.