Bridget St John (b. 1946) is an English singer-songwriter.

Born Brid… Read Full Bio ↴Bridget St John (b. 1946) is an English singer-songwriter.

Born Bridget Hobbs on the 4th October 1946 in South London, she learnt piano and viola as a child, and guitar while a student at Sheffield University, from which she graduated in 1968. Her "To B. without a Hitch"/"Autumn Lullaby" (1969) was one of the first two singles released by Dandelion Records, John Peel's label. Ask Me No Questions - including the earlier single, and sparingly produced by Peel - was the label's first LP later the same year.

Her second album, the more highly regarded Songs for the Gentle Man, was produced by Ron Geesin, and two more albums followed: Thank You For... (1972), again on Dandelion, and Jumblequeen (1974), on Chrysalis. Commercial success did not follow critical acclaim, and St John lay low for some time, reemerging in the 1990s, and releasing Take the 5ifth in 1996.

Aside from work under her own name, St John has also recorded with Mike Oldfield, Kevin Ayers, and Robin Frederick. There is another recording artist named Bridget St John in Seattle, Washington, USA, who has since changed her stage name to Sweet Punch to avoid confusion.

* Web site (archived)

Curl Your Toes
Bridget St. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, curl your toes as you would by the fire
Try to catch a life as it grows higher
Oh, close your eyes and you′ll see what I mean
Blessings and shades of where I've been
Oh watch the mole as he buries in the dirt
Ask him why he hides, why does it hurt?
He runs off with the questions and escaping just like you
Blessings and shades of what I do

(Interlude)
Oh, see the curtain, your hair as it grows
Wonder where it′s going
No one knows
Oh, see me smile as I say I want to live
Blessings and shades of what I give
Oh, curl your toes as you would by the fire
Try to catch a life as it grows higher
So close your eyes and you'll see what I mean

Blessings and shades of where I've been
(Outro)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bridget St. John's song "Curl Your Toes" encourage listeners to fully immerse themselves in life—to embrace the present moment and pursue their aspirations. The opening lines urge people to curl their toes and try to catch a life as it grows higher. This notion suggests that life is constantly evolving and that we should try to catch it, to make the most of every learning opportunity, to take risks, and to enjoy life as it presents itself. The singer advises to close your eyes and you'll understand the blessings and shades of where she's been. By closing your eyes, you can fully experience the present moment and tap into your intuition, imagination, and memories, learning from each experience.

The second verse encourages listeners to observe the world around them with curiosity and wonder. The singer marvels at a mole burying himself in the dirt and wonders why he hides and why it hurts him. This can be interpreted as one's ability to see things differently, perhaps examining the world from another perspective, to question their actions or experiences, and to learn from them. By doing so, they can discover how to navigate the world and move forward beyond the pain and fears. The song then goes into an interlude that brings a peaceful rhythm to the song.

The third verse urges us to cherish the little things in life. We should cherish the way our hair grows and wonder where it's going, which implies that we should pay attention to the little details and marvel at the possibilities of where our lives will take us. The singer then smiles as she declares that she wants to live, indicating that although life may not always be easy, she is determined to make the most of what she has been given. In the final verse, listeners are once again encouraged to curl their toes and try to catch a life as it grows higher, closing their eyes to truly understand the blessings and shades of where one has been. This reflects the cyclical yet ever-changing nature of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, curl your toes as you would by the fire
Relax and be comfortable while pursuing your dreams

Try to catch a life as it grows higher
Work hard to achieve what you want while it's still attainable

Oh, close your eyes and you′ll see what I mean
Visualize and feel the message

Blessings and shades of where I've been
The experiences I've had in the past have shaped me

Oh watch the mole as he buries in the dirt
Observe nature and learn from it

Ask him why he hides, why does it hurt?
Question why things are the way they are

He runs off with the questions and escaping just like you
Some questions may not have a clear answer and may lead to more questions

Blessings and shades of what I do
The things I do bring different outcomes and emotions

Oh, see the curtain, your hair as it grows
Observe the changes in life and in yourself

Wonder where it′s going
Think about the future and the unknown path ahead

No one knows
The future is uncertain