Rock And Sing
Big Thief Lyrics
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Naked and bare
Quiet and obviously not there
I am that naked thing
Swimming in air
Why's that mean anything?
Why do you stare?
Lean on your table
I am unable
Cry with me, cry with me
Within this body
Confuse
Confuse my home for a refuge
I don't want to be scared of
Anybody coming in
I don't want to lock my door anymore
Hand me that cable
Plug into anything
I am unstable
Rock and sing, rock and sing
The lyrics to Big Thief's song Rock and Sing portray a sense of vulnerability, confusion, and a desire for human connection. The first verse talks about being without a physical body, feeling exposed and visible, yet wondering why it matters or why others would stare. The second verse talks about feeling confused and scared in one's own body, not wanting to be afraid of others but also not wanting to lock oneself away. The chorus invites someone to cry with the singer, and then shifts to a desire for stability, symbolized by plugging into something with a cable and rocking and singing.
The lines "Without his body / Naked and bare / Quiet and obviously not there / I am that naked thing / Swimming in air" have been interpreted by some as a reference to out-of-body experiences or astral projection, in which one's soul or consciousness leaves the body temporarily. This idea is reinforced by the singer's confusion about why others stare when they are "not there." The line "Confuse my home for a refuge" suggests that the singer is seeking safety and comfort in their physical body, but is finding it difficult to do so.
The line "Hand me that cable / Plug into anything / I am unstable / Rock and sing, rock and sing" can be interpreted in a couple of ways. It could be seen as a plea for stability and grounding, as the singer seeks something to plug into to stabilize themselves. Alternatively, the line "I am unstable" could be a statement of acceptance, as the singer acknowledges their own instability and invites the listener to join them in rocking and singing.
Overall, the lyrics to Rock and Sing suggest a yearning for connection and stability, amidst feelings of vulnerability and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Without his body
The singer is separated from a male companion who is no longer present.
Naked and bare
The absence of the male companion leaves the singer feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Quiet and obviously not there
The male companion is not physically present and the singer is aware of this silence.
I am that naked thing
The artist is acknowledging their vulnerability and exposure without the companion's physical presence.
Swimming in air
The artist feels untethered and adrift without the grounding presence of the companion.
Why's that mean anything?
The singer questions the significance of their emotional state.
Why do you stare?
The singer acknowledges the attention they are receiving from another person.
Lean on your table
The artist addresses another person who is present in the scene.
Ask what you want of me
The artist is willing to engage in conversation or actions with the other person.
I am unable
The artist acknowledges their limitations.
Cry with me, cry with me
The singer desires shared emotional connection with the other person.
Within this body
The artist shifts focus to their physical state and location.
Confuse
The singer is uncertain or disoriented by their surroundings.
Confuse my home for a refuge
The singer is unable to discern safety from danger within their environment.
I don't want to be scared of
The singer desires to release their fear and feelings of being threatened.
Anybody coming in
The artist references a fear of invasion or intrusion from others.
I don't want to lock my door anymore
The artist desires freedom from self-imposed isolation and confinement.
Hand me that cable
The singer requests another object to be handed to them.
Plug into anything
The singer desires connection, even if it is not necessarily stable or predictable.
I am unstable
The artist acknowledges their own emotional instability.
Rock and sing, rock and sing
Despite the instability, the artist finds comfort and solace in self-expression and creativity.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Adrianne Lenker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind