Led by Clare Fader on vocals, the Vaudevillains - Aaron Bachelder (percussion), Brad Cokendolpher (guitar), Mary K. Elinks (cello), and Andy Mabe (bass and backing vocals) - released the album Seventh and Trade in 2003 on the Raconteur Records label, "The Southeast's Most Independent Label" founded by Fader herself.
Prior to Seventh and Trade, Fader released a "solo" album entitled The Elephant's Baby in December, 2000, to which Dirty Linen said, "One of the more unique American recordings I have heard in recent years."
Clare Fader's music has been used in episodes of MTV's The Real World, as well as in Ramin Bahrani's film Man Push Cart. She's also been featured on a "Biddycast," which is a Podcast program started by her friends the Lascivious Biddies.
Love Is the Cruelest Cliche
Clare Fader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Romeo came and rescued me
I'll keep you warm was what he said
And the storm was gone when I left his bed
But when the sun was high
And the ground left dry
So was I
And I don't wanna be cliche
But at the end of the night
And the dawn of the day
I wouldn't have it any other way
'Cause I've never really known it any other way
We made love in his sanctuary
Got out of bed at a quarter to three
We dined on bread and raspberries
As frozen rain clung to the trees
But it's such a shame
And was just the same
In the frozen rain
'Cause love is the cruelest cliche
And I don't wanna be cliche
But at the end of the night
And the dawn of the day
I wouldn't want to have it any other way
'Cause I've never really known it any other way
The poets never wrote it any other way
The artists never showed it any other way
'Cause love is the cruelest cliche
In the song "Love Is the Cruelest Cliche" by Clare Fader, the singer describes a moment when she was going through a difficult time, likening herself to an "ice storm refugee", when a man named Romeo came and rescued her. He promised to keep her warm, and she felt safe in his bed until the storm passed. However, as soon as the storm cleared and the sun came out, she was no longer able to stay with him because she realized that she didn't truly feel the love that he had promised her. She then contemplates the irony of love being the cruelest cliche, but admits that she wouldn't have it any other way, as she has never really known any other type of love.
The song explores the idea of love being a cliche, something that has been repeatedly romanticized in art and literature. The singer seems to be coming to terms with the reality that love is not always as perfect and romantic as it is often depicted, while also acknowledging that she has never experienced it any other way.
Line by Line Meaning
I was an ice storm refugee
I was lost and alone, seeking refuge from an emotional storm
Romeo came and rescued me
I met someone who made me feel safe and loved
I'll keep you warm was what he said
He promised to protect and comfort me
And the storm was gone when I left his bed
Being with him made me forget my troubles temporarily
But when the sun was high
When things were good and happy
And the ground left dry
When life was stable and predictable
So was I
I felt like I had lost the passion and intensity of the storm
'Cause love is the cruelest cliche
Love can feel overused and predictable
And I don't wanna be cliche
I don't want to fall into the same patterns as others in love
But at the end of the night
But deep down, when everything is quiet
And the dawn of the day
And the new day begins
I wouldn't have it any other way
I can't imagine wanting anything different
'Cause I've never really known it any other way
Because this is the only type of love I've experienced
We made love in his sanctuary
We were intimate in a special and private place
Got out of bed at a quarter to three
We were awake and alive in the middle of the night
We dined on bread and raspberries
We enjoyed simple pleasures together
As frozen rain clung to the trees
As the outside world was cold and harsh
But it's such a shame
But it's unfortunate
And was just the same
And it always ends up feeling the same
In the frozen rain
Even in tough times
'Cause love is the cruelest cliche
Love can feel overused and predictable
And I don't wanna be cliche
I don't want to fall into the same patterns as others in love
But at the end of the night
But deep down, when everything is quiet
And the dawn of the day
And the new day begins
I wouldn't want to have it any other way
I can't imagine wanting anything different
'Cause I've never really known it any other way
Because this is the only type of love I've experienced
The poets never wrote it any other way
Throughout history, love has always been depicted in a certain way
The artists never showed it any other way
Artists have always portrayed love in a similar fashion
'Cause love is the cruelest cliche
Love can feel overused and predictable
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D. Carmona
on Alice
Aurora's boring Alice
Alice is not as fascinating or exciting as her friend Aurora
Aurora refers to the city in Canada, not a person's name.
D. Carmona
on Johnny
CORRECTION: "capital" is correct. (my bad!)
But Aurora refers to a city in Canada, not a person.
D. Carmona
on Alice
The location is ostensibly very interesting, potentially comparing it to Wonderland in 'Alice in Wonderland'
Capitol (not capital) - a reference to Aurora which is located in Ontario as is Canada's capitol city, of Ottawa.
D. Carmona
on Alice
To the girls with googly eyes
D. Carmona
on Alice
It's a capital wonderland
It's a capitol wonderland
For Alice
For Alice
D. Carmona
on Alice
I saw her snoring
Aurora's boring Alice
Alice I saw her snoring
D. Carmona
on Queen
Sitting in the coffee shop
Sitting in a coffee shop
D. Carmona
on Queen
And kiss the world goodbye?
To cash in on a lifelong debt
And kiss this world goodbye?
D. Carmona
on Queen
I wonder is she ready yet
D. Carmona
on Queen
And wonders why she left her bed