Barrie, the band, is primarily her project; on the record, which she co-produced with Jake Aron (Snail Mail, Solange, Grizzly Bear), Lindsay plays guitar, piano, synth and bass. But still, Barrie is distinctly not a solo project, and Happy To Be Here—out May 3, 2019 via Winspear—is very much a full band record. Dominic’s drums fill the entire album, while Noah added synths and Spurge sang on nearly every track; the three also contributed production. And Sabine, though stuck in Germany with visa issues, remotely recorded vocals.
chinatown
Barrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It works out sometimes better than others
I never got my chance to say it
Oh, but I can be so cruel
Oh-oh, the lights in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
Sitting on a sink in the boys room
Ducking their head to get their hair cut
Nothing on the neck, nothing on the side
It comes off so easy
Oh-oh, the lights in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
Oh-oh, the lights in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
The song "Chinatown" by Barrie is a nostalgic and dreamy piece that explores the complexities of relationships and the contrast between the past and the present. The lyrics suggest that sometimes relationships can be a give and take, and while it may not always work out, it can still be beautiful in its own way. The singer of the song expresses regret for not having the opportunity to say something before being cruel, perhaps implying that they could have salvaged the relationship if they had been more compassionate.
The chorus of the song, "Oh-oh, the lights in Chinatown tonight, those are weaker days," creates a vivid image of a place that once held a lot of significance, but has now lost some of its magic. The repetition of "weaker days" highlights the idea that time has passed, and things are not the way they used to be. The final verse is particularly poignant as it describes a mundane activity of sitting in a boys' room and getting a haircut, but the lyrics "it comes off so easy" suggest that these simpler moments now hold more significance because they are in the past.
Overall, "Chinatown" is a beautiful and introspective song that speaks to the universal experiences of love, loss, and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
You give some and you take a little
Sometimes in a relationship, both parties contribute, and other times, it's unbalanced.
It works out sometimes better than others
Relationships can have ups and downs, with periods of smooth sailing and other times of difficulty.
I never got my chance to say it
The singer regrets not expressing something important to someone before it was too late.
Oh, but I can be so cruel
The artist knows they have a tendency to act cruelly, although they may not always intend to do so.
Oh-oh, the lights in Chinatown tonight
The artist is observing the lights of Chinatown in the present moment.
Those are weaker days
The singer is reminiscing about a time in the past when things were not as strong or stable as they are now.
When I talk to you, when I say your name
The singer remembers a specific interaction with someone when they spoke to them and addressed them by name.
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
The artist is unsure if they are remembering a dream or an actual experience.
Sitting on a sink in the boys room
The artist is describing a specific setting, likely a bathroom, where they were sitting on a sink.
Ducking their head to get their hair cut
Someone is getting their hair cut and is tilting their head down to make it easier for the barber to work.
Nothing on the neck, nothing on the side
The haircut involved removing hair from the neck and sides of the person's head.
It comes off so easy
The hair is easy to cut and remove, likely because it's already very short.
Writer(s): barrie lindsay
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Ojyo___
You give some and you take a little
It works out sometimes better than others
Oh, never got my chance to say it
Oh, but I can be so cruel
Oh, the light in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
Sitting on a sink in the boys' room
Ducking their head to get their hair cut
Nothing on the neck, nothing on the side
It comes off so easy
Oh, the light in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
Oh, the light in Chinatown tonight
Those are weaker days
When I talk to you, when I say your name
I can't tell if I fell back asleep
Those are weaker days, when I talk to you
@Stankervision
Reminds me of my first time walking into a CVS.
@bobbylawrence3517
Lol this is great haha
@rangoononline
And then you get that super sweet long receipt that you can make into a scarf
@goobea
How specific
@TeegMonkey
Somehow, I relate
@nunyabeezwax1439
this makes me feel a very specific emotion
@Stankervision
Nunya Beezwax eating shrimp in an elevator w/ Jesus Christ?
@Onarse
Nunya Beezwax honestly!!!
@Zim1411
Gosh, I’m so obsessed with this rhythm with the chords. This one’s on repeat for me. Love y’all ❤️
@Onarse
I LOVE THIS SONNGGG!!! Ughhh the music taste is immense