Barnett puts a lot of effort into sounding effortless. Her songs are wild and wooly and wordy, her lyrics plainspoken and delivered like she’s making them up on the spot.
Barnett was originally a part of several bands, including Immigrant Union and The Olivettes before focusing on her solo work. In 2012, Barnett started her own record label, Milk! Records, and recorded her debut EP I've Got A Friend Called Emily Ferris in a friend's lounge room and released it later that year. Late 2012 also saw the release of a new single, "History Eraser," which was backed with Jen Cloher's "Mount Beauty" for a split seven-inch release.
In 2013, Barnett released her second EP, How to Carve a Carrot Into a Rose. Along with "History Eraser," the EP spawned a second single, "Avant Gardener." Her second EP received international acclaim, taking her and the band, Dave Mudie (drums), Bones Sloane (bass) and Dan Luscombe (guitar) all around the world.
Barnett would later combine those two EP releases into one for The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, which was released internationally on 20 May 2013 via House Anxiety/Marathon Artists. It was named the album of the week by Stereogum.
Barnett's debut LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, was released in 2015 to widespread acclaim. At the 2015 ARIA Music Awards, she won four awards from eight nominations. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and International Female Solo Artist at the 2016 Brit Awards.
In 2017, she released Lotta Sea Lice, a collaborative album with Kurt Vile.
Barnett's second album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, was released in 2018.
Small Poppies
Courtney Barnett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It needs a cut but I leave it growing
All different sizes and all shades of green
Slashing it down just seems kind of mean
In a way it's a a shame you get a way
Thinking it's just a game
Who am I to deny myself a pawn for you to use?
But I'm sure it's a bore being you
I don't know quite who I am, oh but man I am trying
I make mistakes until I get it right
An eye for an eye for an eye for an eye for an eye
I don't agree with that, why can't we just talk nice?
Oh! The calamity, I wanna go to sleep for an eternity
Who am I to deny myself a pawn?
Oh! The humanity I wanna disappear into obscurity
But I'm sure it's a bore being you
I don't know quite who I am, oh but man I am trying
I make mistakes until I get it right
An eye for an eye for an eye for an eye for an eye
I used to hate myself but now I think I'm alright
I don't know quite who I am, oh but man I am trying
I make mistakes until I get it right
An eye for an eye for an eye for an eye for an eye
I dreamed I stabbed you with a coat hanger wire
The first verse of "Small Poppies" by Courtney Barnett captures the singer's state of mind on a Wednesday morning. She is looking at her lawn and thinking that it needs trimming, but decides to let it grow, as she does not want to be unkind to the grass. The lawn becomes a metaphor for the way people deal with their emotions. Barnett feels that people often try to cut down their feelings, but this only ends up hurting them, and it is better to let them grow organically.
The second verse is a reflection of the singer's current situation. She feels that she has been used by someone who took advantage of her vulnerabilities. In the end, the pain of seeing their name everywhere is exhausting, but she would not want to be in the other person's shoes either. The next lines reveal the singer's struggle with understanding who she is. She knows that making mistakes is a part of the journey, and she does not believe in the concept of an eye for an eye. Instead, she wishes people could just talk nicely and work things out.
The chorus of the song is an expression of the singer's desire to escape from all the chaos around her. She wishes to disappear and go to sleep for an eternity. Yet, she acknowledges that everyone has their own struggles, and it would not be easy to be in the other person's situation. The final lines repeat the theme of making mistakes until it is right, while also revealing a disturbing dream where she stabs someone with a coat hanger wire.
Overall, "Small Poppies" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of human emotions and the anxieties that come with trying to figure out who one is. The metaphors used in the lyrics are relatable, and Courtney Barnett's raw, conversational style of singing adds a layer of authenticity to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I stare at the lawn, it's Wednesday morning
I am gazing at my lawn on a Wednesday morning
It needs a cut but I leave it growing
My lawn is overgrown and requires mowing, but I let it be
All different sizes and all shades of green
My lawn has grass of multiple sizes and various shades of green
Slashing it down just seems kind of mean
I feel cutting my lawn is a bit harsh
In a way it's a a shame you get a way
In some manner or form, it is a pity that you are excused
Thinking it's just a game
Believing it to be a mere sport
Who am I to deny myself a pawn for you to use?
It's not my place to refuse to be a tool for you
At the end of the day it's a pain that I keep seeing your name
When the day concludes, it is distressing to see your name continuously
But I'm sure it's a bore being you
However, I suspect it must be tedious to be in your position
I don't know quite who I am, oh but man I am trying
I am struggling to understand my identity, but making every effort towards it
I make mistakes until I get it right
Mistakes are made, but I learn from them and improve
An eye for an eye for an eye for an eye for an eye
A cycle of revenge and retribution is not beneficial
I don't agree with that, why can't we just talk nice?
I do not approve of this vicious cycle and prefer peaceful communication
Oh! The calamity, I wanna go to sleep for an eternity
Oh! What a disaster, I want to sleep forever and never wake up
Who am I to deny myself a pawn?
Why should I deny myself the opportunity to be used by you?
Oh! The humanity I wanna disappear into obscurity
Oh! What a tragedy, I long to vanish into anonymity
But I'm sure it's a bore being you
Nevertheless, I suppose it must be boring to be you
I dreamed I stabbed you with a coat hanger wire
I had a dream where I killed you with a coat hanger wire
I used to hate myself but now I think I'm alright
I used to loathe myself, but now I think I'm fine
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Courtney Barnett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nineties Forever
on Untogether
It’s a cover, originally by Belly, written by Tanya Donnelly.