Her second album, After, was released through ANTI- on September 25, 2015 to critical acclaim.
Transforming pain into transcendence is the genius of many pop artists, but Doe Paoro brings an entirely ne depth to that process. On her third album Soft Power, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter digs into her own frustration and anguish, and ultimately comes away with a newfound strength that’s profoundly inspiring.
A self-taught pianist and vocalist, Paoro trained in Lhamo while traveling alone through the Himalayas. During this period, she also spent several weeks practicing silent meditation, which allowed her to reflect on the "space between silence and sound." Her cover of Baltimore synthpop band Future Islands' "Little Dreamer" was released in December 2011; original singles "Can't Leave You" and "Born Whole" followed in January 2012. In 2013, Paoro released two songs on a 7" through White Iris Records.
Paoro has performed at SXSW, Osheaga, and CMJ, as well as numerous venues throughout the U.S. She often opens her live performances with an a cappella Tibetan prayer, and credits Vipassanā meditation with having a strong influence over the themes explored in her work, which include attachment, detachment, compassion, and disconnection from the human experience.
"Hypotheticals," Paoro's first track released through ANTI-, was featured on Season 4 of Girls. NPR's All Songs Considered listed Paoro on their Six Musical Discoveries You Can't Miss list.
She has been compared to Fiona Apple, James Blake, Adele, and Lykke Li, among others.
http://www.facebook.com/doepaoro
http://doepaoro.bandcamp.com/
Can't Leave You
Doe Paoro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll believe anything you say
Hope keeps pressing on
The problem is my memory
I recall love's reverie
Wailing her siren song
I can't leave you yet
I'm all twisted up
In your vicious net
Won't you set me free
Have mercy on me
I've lost all agency
I've already waited on you way too long
I've already waited on you way too long
See I'm addicted to you
Need you like air, I'm sick off you
Strung out in the dark
And despite all the pain,
I can't leave you yet
I'm all twisted up
In your vicious net
Won't you set me free
Have mercy on me
I've lost all agency
I've already waited on you way too long
I've already waited on you way too long
The lyrics of Doe Paoro's song "Can't Leave You" express the singer's feeling of being trapped in a toxic relationship despite knowing better. The opening lines - "Reason is kept at bay, I'll believe anything you say, hope keeps pressing on" - suggest that the singer is struggling to use logic and reason to get out of the relationship, clinging onto hope that things will improve.
The next few lines reveal that the problem lies in the singer's memory, which keeps recalling the sweet moments of the relationship and "love's reverie". The image of "wailing her siren song" suggests that the singer is being lured back into the relationship by the memories of the good times.
Despite the pain that the singer acknowledges, they admit to being addicted to their partner, needing them like air and being "sick off" them. The metaphor of being "all twisted up in your vicious net" suggests the suffocating and constrictive nature of the relationship.
The chorus pleads for the partner to "set me free" and "have mercy on me", acknowledging that the singer has lost all agency and is unable to leave the relationship on their own terms. The repetition of "I've already waited on you way too long" reinforces the idea that the singer is aware that they should leave, but can't seem to muster the strength to do so.
Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Leave You" capture the emotional turmoil of being stuck in a toxic relationship, torn between the happy memories of the past and the pain of the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Reason is kept at bay
I'm not thinking logically when it comes to you.
I'll believe anything you say
I'm easily swayed by your words.
Hope keeps pressing on
I still believe there could be something good in this relationship.
The problem is my memory
I can't forget the feelings I had for you in the past.
I recall love's reverie
I remember the good times we had together.
Wailing her siren song
The memory of our love is calling out to me.
And despite all the pain,
Even though this relationship is hurting me,
I can't leave you yet
I'm not ready to let go of you.
I'm all twisted up
My emotions are in turmoil.
In your vicious net
I feel trapped by my feelings for you.
Won't you set me free
I'm asking you to release me from this cycle of pain.
Have mercy on me
I'm asking you to be kind to me in this process.
I've lost all agency
I feel powerless to control my feelings for you.
I've already waited on you way too long
I've been holding on to the hope that things will get better for too long.
See I'm addicted to you
I'm aware that I'm dependent on you for my happiness.
Need you like air, I'm sick off you
I feel like I can't live without you even though this relationship is making me unhappy.
Strung out in the dark
I'm emotionally exhausted and feel like there's no hope for us.
I've already waited on you way too long
I've been holding on to the hope that things will get better for too long.
Writer(s): KREITZER SONIA JILL, HART YURI
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Randi Cerini
holy god this is amazing sonia!!! congratulations again!! ~randi
bimberandbigos
I like her. Ive heard at least 6 songs of her's and I loved every one of them! NPR has set me up with her;-).
shanz jallim
I love this!
Liz McNeill
I am feeling a bit of a Lady Gaga vibe in the hair, make up and theatrics! This was really amazing!
Teona
Wonderful !
trisha ziff
Great you guys! Felicidades... trisha in Mexico !!!!
J.Apple
Beautiful Son
Joshua Maiden
you are amazing.
Jeremy Sapriel
Spectacular
jessicaisland
please marry me