He played with three Louisville hardcore and hardcore-inflected bands in his early career. He got his start as guitarist for Maurice, but he first recorded with Solution Unknown. He rose to prominence as part of the post-rock band Slint. Since its breakup he has contributed to many lineups, playing and recording with Will Oldham, The For Carnation, Tortoise, Stereolab, Royal Trux, King Kong, Bush League, Zwan, and Peggy Honeywell.
He had recorded several instumental albums and EPs under various monikers, Aerial M, M, Papa M before picking up the microphone and singing, his first recordings being the EP Papa M Sings (2001), and subsequent album Whatever, Mortal (2001). He currently records under the name Pajo.
http://www.papa-m.com/discog.html
Let Me Bleed
David Pajo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beasts in the bushes are pleasantly shrieking the
Sky is a slideshow of planets enflamed and we
Dream of the spaces that lie between frames
Thrown out of bars again I'll take the heat for you
I can't say I think about things that we didn't do
Now your life story is padding your bank account
Fill in the blanks there ain't much to talk about
All these years have made a man of me
I was chosen I never asked to be free
Flickering halos that flare up like car bombs
Books where the endings are written in margins
We all cross our fingers we all cross the line sometimes
Don't get discouraged that what's yours is mine
Flotsam and jetsam on avenue a you wind
Down a black window of a white limo and
Take in a nostril of new city sewage reflect
On your daughter that's left in the ruin
You don't let me bleed
All these years you can't say something nice to me
You just act like I'm fucking crazy
The lyrics of David Pajo's song Let Me Bleed express a feeling of being trapped and unable to escape from the toxic nature of a relationship. The first two lines describe a boat with a hole in it that is experiencing damage and leaking, and the beasts in the bushes are shrieking with pleasure, which is a metaphor for the pain the main character is experiencing. The sky is described as a slideshow of planets enflamed, which represents the chaos and turmoil of the world around the singer.
The second stanza describes the frustration and anger the main character is feeling towards his partner. He is thrown out of bars, taking the heat for his partner, and yet he is not appreciated or valued. His partner’s life story is padding her bank account, but there is nothing really exciting happening. The chorus reaches out to his partner to 'let him bleed,' by opening up and expressing her true feelings towards him.
The third stanza mentions flickering halos and car bombs which are a reference to the uncertainty and unpredictability of life. The books that have their ending written in margins represent the inevitability of the end, and how we can see it coming but cannot escape it. The fourth stanza links back to the second, as it describes the partner’s act of not allowing him to bleed even though it has been years now. The singer is asking that they at least say something nice, but their partner continues to treat him as if he is crazy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hole in my boat where the damage is leaking the
There's a leak in my ship that's causing damage
Beasts in the bushes are pleasantly shrieking the
Animals are making pleasant sounds in the bushes
Sky is a slideshow of planets enflamed and we
The sky is a moving display of burning planets
Dream of the spaces that lie between frames
We imagine the gaps between moments
Thrown out of bars again I'll take the heat for you
Once again, I was kicked out of a bar and I'll take the blame for you
I can't say I think about things that we didn't do
I don't spend time wondering about things that we didn't do
Now your life story is padding your bank account
Your autobiography is making you money
Fill in the blanks there ain't much to talk about
The story is so obvious that there's not much to add
You don't let me bleed
You don't let me express my emotions
All these years have made a man of me
My experiences have made me into a mature person
I was chosen I never asked to be free
I was given a responsibility without a choice in the matter
Flickering halos that flare up like car bombs
There are bright, explosive lights that resemble car bombs
Books where the endings are written in margins
Some books have a summary or conclusion written in the margins
We all cross our fingers we all cross the line sometimes
We all hope for luck and sometimes take risks
Don't get discouraged that what's yours is mine
Don't lose hope that what belongs to you will benefit me as well
Flotsam and jetsam on avenue a you wind
There is debris and garbage blowing down Avenue A
Down a black window of a white limo and
From the tinted window of a white limousine
Take in a nostril of new city sewage reflect
Inhale the odor of the city's sewage and reflect
On your daughter that's left in the ruin
Think about your daughter who has been left behind in a destroyed place
All these years you can't say something nice to me
After all this time, you can't speak kindly to me
You just act like I'm fucking crazy
You treat me like I'm insane
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.