Chelsea Joy Wolfe was born in Roseville, California, and grew up in Sacramento. She is of Norwegian and German descent. Her father was in a country band and owned a home studio. By the age of 7, she had written her first poem and by the age of 9, she had written and recorded songs which she later described as "basically Casio-based gothy R&B songs."
Inspired by the dark state of the world and the strange connection between all things, she creates a unique musical blend of goth-folk, experimental rock and spiritual realm funeral songs. With influences ranging from the great minds of Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch to Soviet and end-times literature, her songs conjure visions of other dimensions, claustrophobic echo-rooms and parking garage cathedrals.
Wolfe has recorded eight full length studio albums: The Grime and the Glow, which was released on December 28th, 2010 on limited vinyl through Brooklyn’s Pendu Sound Recordings; Ἀποκάλυψις (pronounced “Apokalypsis”), which was released as a 12” LP on August 23rd, 2011; Unknown Rooms: a Collection of Acoustic Songs, which was released on October, 2012 through Sargent House; Pain Is Beauty, out September 3rd, 2013; Abyss, which was released August 7th, 2015; and Hiss Spun, out September 22nd, 2017; Birth of Violence which was released on September 13th, 2019; She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She which was released on February 9th, 2024.
Sick
Chelsea Wolfe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And time is broken and moves slow
Your pure heart, your white light
I should be put to death for ever being cruel to you
You washed me clean like no one ever could
Come closer now and step right into
The wide mouth, the sharp teeth of the one you love
I'm not the kind of sick that you can fix
I've got no enemies and i've got no time
The song, we carry on
Even though you pushed us down
We carry on
When you try to blind my eyes I can see tenfold
It's nothing that my heart can't take, 'cause your hate has made me strong
And stronger men than you have tried to break me
Stronger men than you have tried to break me
Leaning toward the golden days
Forget about the older days
And everything we left behind
To stand here in another life
We carry on, even though you held us down
We carry on, with the song
We carry on, even though you pushed us down
We carry on
The lyrics to Chelsea Wolfe's song Sick are like a cry of vulnerability and strength blended into one. The song uses metaphorical imagery to convey the idea of suffering and pain that bring people closer to each other. By saying, "This suffering brings me closer to you," the song portrays how hardships can break time and intensify relationships. The repeated phrase, "We carry on," emphasizes the idea that no matter how much someone tries to hold us down, we will always rise above and find our way to move forward.
Wolfe's lyrics also convey a sense of guilt and a longing to make up for past wrongs. The lines, "I should be put to death for ever being cruel to you" express her regret for hurting someone she loves. This deeply emotional and metaphorical song expresses a range of emotions, from guilt and sadness to strength and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
This suffering brings me closer to you
Through my pain and hardships, I feel a stronger connection towards you.
And time is broken and moves slow
My perception of time is warped due to my suffering.
Your pure heart, your white light
You possess a genuinely good and pure heart.
I should be put to death for ever being cruel to you
My regret for treating you cruelly extends to the point of punishment.
You washed me clean like no one ever could
You have cleansed me from my past mistakes and nobody else could compare to what you have done for me.
Come closer now and step right into the wide mouth, the sharp teeth of the one you love
Even though loving me may be risky, I urge you to come closer and take that risk.
I'm not the kind of sick that you can fix
My issues cannot be easily resolved nor can they be solved by your care alone.
Don't you worry about me baby
Please do not concern yourself over me.
I've got no enemies and i've got no time
I have nobody to hold a grudge against nor do I have time for negativity.
The song, we carry on
We will continue to move forward and maintain hope.
Even though you pushed us down, We carry on
Despite being held back, we will persevere.
When you try to blind my eyes I can see tenfold
Even in the face of adversity, I am able to see things more clearly than ever before.
It's nothing that my heart can't take, 'cause your hate has made me strong
Your negativity has not broken me, but rather made me stronger.
And stronger men than you have tried to break me
I have been tested and faced challenges from people more powerful than you.
Leaning toward the golden days
I am yearning for a brighter and happier future.
Forget about the older days
I am choosing to let go of past regrets and memories.
And everything we left behind
I am acknowledging the things we have lost.
To stand here in another life
Despite past events, I am here and moving forward in a new life.
We carry on, even though you held us down
We will not let anyone hold us back or break us.
We carry on, with the song
We will persevere and move forward with hope.
We carry on, even though you pushed us down
Despite being held back, we will not give up.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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