Deap Vally are a rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2011. T… Read Full Bio ↴Deap Vally are a rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2011. The group consists of Lindsey Troy (guitar, vocals) and Julie Edwards (drums). In the heart of Silver Lake, California, Edwards met Troy at a needlework class. They bonded over their love of music, specifically the blues and hence, Deap Vally was formed.
Over the past year, the girls' live demos and videos have circulated online. Deap Vally officially released their debut single, 'Gonna Make My Own Money', on Ark Recordings on July 30th, 2012. 'Gonna Make My Own Money' received an overwhelming positive response in both the U.S. and the U.K. They played their first London show at the Old Blue Last pub and venue in early July, where several other bands have made their mark. They have also landed spots at music festivals such as Hyde Park with Iggy Pop in London, United Kingdom, Latitude Festival in Henham Park in Suffolk, United Kingdom, and are set to play Reading and Leeds Festival in late August[when?]. Their live shows draw similar comparisons to Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, as well as guitar blues influences from Jack White.
Deap Vally will close out the 2012 year with a debut performance in Japan in November, where they will share the stage with the likes of Thurston Moore and Dinosaur Jr., among others.
Deap Vally's debut album will be released under Island Records / Communion in 2013.

Smile More
Deap Vally Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody's tryina tell me what to do
Everybody's tryina tell me what to do
Makes me wanna break some shit and sniff some glue
Everybody's tryina tell me what to do
Stranger in the bar tells me to smile more
I look at him and I ask, what for?
I am happily un-happy man
And no, I don't wanna shake your hand

I don't wanna be a reflection
I'm so bored with this rejection
I don't wanna be a reflection
I don't need your direction

And I am not ashamed of my mental state
And I am not ashamed of my body weight
And I am not ashamed of my rage
And I am not ashamed of my age
And I am not ashamed of my sex life
Although I wish it were better
I am not ashamed I am no one's wife
Although the idea does sound kind of nice

I don't wanna be a reflection
I'm so bored with this rejection
I don't wanna be a reflection
I don't need your direction

All this reflecting is bad for my complexion,
Come on now, let's take this to the next section

People think they know what kind of girl I am
They take one look, they think they understand
And they're always surprised when they meet me
Apparently I'm terribly misleading
And yes, I am a feminist
But that isn't why I started doing this
And sometimes I am full of bitterness
But I am trying to work through this

I don't wanna be a reflection
I'm so bored with this rejection
I don't wanna be a reflection
I don't need your direction

I don't wanna be a reflection
I'm so bored with this rejection

I don't wanna be a reflection
I don't need your direction

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Deap Vally's song "Smile More" are a powerful statement on the pressure that society puts on individuals to conform and abide by certain expectations. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rebellious mood of the song; the repetition of "Everybody's trying to tell me what to do" highlights the frustration and anger that the singer feels about being constantly told how to act and what to do. This pressure is so overwhelming that the singer feels compelled to rebelliously and destructively lash out, stating that it makes her "wanna break some shit and sniff some glue." This is a clear nod to the idea of rejecting societal norms and breaking free from the expectations of others.

The next part of the song focuses on a specific example of how women are told to act - the idea that they should "smile more." The singer is approached by a stranger in a bar who tells her to "smile more." She reacts by asking "What for?" and rejecting the idea that she needs to be any different. This rejection of societal expectations is reinforced throughout the song as the singer expresses pride in her mental state, body weight, age, and sex life. She will not be made to feel ashamed of who she is or what she desires.

Overall, "Smile More" is a powerful anthem of rebellion against societal expectations, particularly those placed on women. The song encourages individuals to be who they are and not allow themselves to be influenced by the opinions and expectations of others.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody's tryina tell me what to do
The singer is tired of people trying to dictate how she should live her life.

Makes me wanna break some shit and sniff some glue
The singer is so fed up that she feels like lashing out with destructive behavior.

Stranger in the bar tells me to smile more
A stranger tries to give the singer unsolicited advice and tells her to smile more.

I look at him and I ask, what for?
The singer questions why a stranger would care if she smiled more.

I am happily un-happy man
The singer is content to be unhappy and doesn't need anyone to try and fix her.

And no, I don't wanna shake your hand
The singer doesn't want to interact with people who try to control her.

I don't wanna be a reflection
The singer doesn't want to be a version of herself that others want her to be.

I'm so bored with this rejection
The singer is tired of being rejected for not conforming to societal expectations.

I don't need your direction
The singer doesn't want others to give her orders or tell her how to live her life.

And I am not ashamed of my mental state
The singer is not embarrassed by her mental health and doesn't want to be judged for it.

And I am not ashamed of my body weight
The singer is comfortable with her body and doesn't want to be shamed for her weight.

And I am not ashamed of my rage
The singer is not afraid to express her anger and doesn't want to be silenced or judged for it.

And I am not ashamed of my age
The singer is not self-conscious about her age and doesn't want to be discriminated against because of it.

And I am not ashamed of my sex life
The singer is not embarrassed by her sexual experiences, but wishes they were better.

Although I wish it were better
The singer admits that she desires a better sex life but isn't ashamed of her current situation.

I am not ashamed I am no one's wife
The singer doesn't need a spouse to define her worth or validate her existence.

Although the idea does sound kind of nice
The singer acknowledges that the concept of marriage is appealing, but she doesn't want to be pressured into it.

All this reflecting is bad for my complexion,
The singer jokes about the negative effects of too much introspection and reflection on her physical appearance.

Come on now, let's take this to the next section
The singer urges listeners to move past superficial judgments and engage with the deeper message of the song.

People think they know what kind of girl I am
Society stereotypes the singer and assumes they know everything about her based on her appearance or behavior.

They take one look, they think they understand
People make snap judgments about the singer based on superficial characteristics.

And they're always surprised when they meet me
Others are shocked when they discover that the singer doesn't fit their preconceived notions about her.

Apparently I'm terribly misleading
The singer doesn't conform to societal expectations, causing others to misunderstand her intentions and character.

And yes, I am a feminist
The singer believes in gender equality and the empowerment of women.

But that isn't why I started doing this
The singer's music isn't solely focused on feminist ideals but reflects her individual experiences and emotions.

And sometimes I am full of bitterness
The singer's experiences have caused her pain and anger, leading her to feel bitter at times.

But I am trying to work through this
Despite her negative emotions, the singer is actively trying to heal and improve her mental health.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Julie Edwards, Lindsey Troy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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