Emilie-Claire Barlow (born 6 June 1976) is a Canadian singer, arranger, rec… Read Full Bio ↴Emilie-Claire Barlow (born 6 June 1976) is a Canadian singer, arranger, record producer, and voice actress. She has released several albums on her label, Empress Music Group, and has voiced characters for animated television series. She performs in English, French, and Portuguese.

Barlow's first album, Sings, was released in 1998. She has received seven nominations for Canada's Juno Awards with her album Seule ce soir winning for best Jazz Vocal Recording in 2013 and Clear Day winning the same award in 2016. Seule ce soir also won Album of the Year – Jazz Interpretation at the 2013 ADISQ Awards. Barlow was also nominated for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award at the 2016 Juno Awards.

Barlow was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. She has named as influences Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Stevie Wonder.

Barlow has voiced various characters for animated television series, including Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon, Courtney, Laurie and Ellody in the Total Drama series, Chrissy in 6teen, Mrs. Ridgemount in Stoked, Bunny in Almost Naked Animals and Theresa Falcone (MacDougall) in Fugget About It.

Born in Toronto to parents who were professional musicians, Barlow grew up in recording studios and by age seven had begun a career singing television and radio commercials.

She was encouraged by her parents to sing and study several instruments including piano, cello, clarinet, and violin. Barlow studied voice at the Etobicoke School of Arts and music theory and arranging at Humber College.

Barlow's grandfathers were ventriloquist Cy Leonard and actor Bob Homme (who played The Friendly Giant). Her father is award-winning jazz drummer Brian Barlow (aka Brian Leonard). Her mother, Judy Tate, is a composer, arranger and singer. Her uncle was Richard Homme, a Canadian jazz bassist who died 6 May 2011.

I Don't Know Where I Stand
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know, the sickening thoughts that slither around your head
I know, the gluttonous guilt that buried me in your bed
Manipulate me if you can, go on and fool me like your biggest fan

I know, the arrogant pride that poisons the truth you hear
I know, the bigoted tongue that tears apart all your fears
Pontificate, you faded star, go on and show them who you really are

You can lie to the papers
You can hide from the press
You can fake it on stage
Crawl from your cage
Search and destroy
You can kill and depend on it
I know your tainted flesh
I know your filthy soul
I know each trick you played
Whore you laid
Dream you stole
I know the bed in the room in the wall
In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it all
I know the secrets that you keep
I know where you sleep

I know, the illness behind the image that you create
I know, the tedious need to turn all your love into hate
You poor pathetic paranoid, is it just me or do you secretly enjoy it?

You can lie to the papers
(You can lie)
You can hide from the press
(You can hide)
You can fake it on stage
(Fake)
Crawl from your cage
(Crawl)
Search and destroy
(Search)
You can kill and depend on it
(Kill)
I know your tainted flesh
(You can hide)
I know your filthy soul
(You can hide)
I know each trick you played
(You can fake it if you try)
Whore you laid
Dream you stole
I know the bed in the room in the wall
In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it all
I know the secrets that you keep
I know where you sleep

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

You play the victim very well
You build yourself indulgent hell
You wanted someone to understand you
Well be careful what you wish for because I do
You've got a fancy turn of phrase
You set your trap
You made your plays
You're so fond of games
You must never lose
Funny how the only one in your bed is you

You can lie to the papers
You can hide from the press
You can lie to the papers
You can hide from the press
(Fake, crawl, search, kill)
You can lie to the papers
You can hide from the press
Fake, crawl, search, kill

Oh my god, Oh my god
I touched you
I can never live it down
I can never live it down
God save the queen
I loved you
I can never live it down
I can never live it down
Oh, oh, I fucked you
I can never live it down
I can never live it down
I can never live it down

I know the sickening thoughts that slither around your head
I know the gluttonous guilt that buried me in your - shh! - bed

You can lie to the papers
You can hide from the press
You can fake it on stage
Crawl from your cage
Search and destroy
You can kill and depend on it
I know your tainted flesh
I know your filthy soul
I know each trick you played
Whore you laid
Dream you stole
I know the bed in the room in the wall
In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it
I know the bed in the room in the wall
In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it
I know the bed in the room in the wall
In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it all
I know the secrets that you keep
I know where you sleep

I'm wishing you the best of luck and by the way
(Your poetry sucks)
I'm wishing you the best of luck and by the way
(Your poetry sucks)
I'm wishing you the best of luck and by the way

(Your poetry sucks)
I'm wishing you the best of luck and by the way

Overall Meaning

These lyrics portray a deep understanding and insight into the manipulative and deceptive nature of someone in the spotlight. The singer is fully aware of the toxic thoughts and guilt that consume this person's mind, as well as their ability to control and fool others like a devoted fan. This person's excessive pride and prejudice poison their perception of truth and make them tear apart the fears of others. The singer recognizes them as a faded star who tries to showcase their true self through pontification.

The lyrics also expose the extent to which this person goes to maintain their facade. They lie to the media, hide from the press, and fake their emotions on stage. They roam freely, destroying everything in their path, sacrificing others for their own desires. The singer knows about their tainted flesh and filthy soul, having witnessed each deceptive trick they have played, every person they have used as a means to an end, and the dreams they have stolen. The singer even knows about the secret room in the house where this person got what they wanted and caused destruction.

The singer delves into the underlying issues behind this person's behavior, highlighting their illness and unending need to turn love into hatred. They perceive this person as someone who secretly enjoys their own paranoia and creates a self-destructive hell for themselves. The singer recognizes and understands this person's desire to be understood, but warns them to be cautious, as they are the one who truly comprehends their motives and actions. The person's fancy words and traps do not deceive the singer, who realizes that they are trapped in their own bed alone.

The lyrics also touch upon a personal experience with this person, with the singer expressing regret and feeling unable to live down the intimate connection they once had. There is a sense of profound disappointment and a realization that they can never escape the memory or consequences of their involvement with this person.

In the final moments of the song, the singer sarcastically wishes the person luck while simultaneously criticizing their poetry, seemingly calling out the shallowness and lack of depth in their artistic expression. This serves as a final jab at their character and a reminder of the singer's keen perception of their true nature.

Overall, these lyrics provide a raw and incisive commentary on the toxic dynamics and manipulation that can exist within relationships, particularly in the context of fame and public persona. The singer showcases a deep understanding of this person's inner workings, their destructive tendencies, and the impact they have on others.

Line by Line Meaning

I know, the sickening thoughts that slither around your head
I am aware of the repulsive thoughts that manipulate your thinking

I know, the gluttonous guilt that buried me in your bed
I understand the excessive remorse that drowned me in our relationship

Manipulate me if you can, go on and fool me like your biggest fan
Try to control me, deceive me as if I am your loyal supporter

I know, the arrogant pride that poisons the truth you hear
I recognize the haughty arrogance that corrupts the honesty you receive

I know, the bigoted tongue that tears apart all your fears
I am aware of the narrow-minded words that destroy your vulnerabilities

Pontificate, you faded star, go on and show them who you really are
Continue to preach, former celebrity, and reveal your true self to others

You can lie to the papers
It is possible for you to deceive the media

You can hide from the press
You have the ability to conceal yourself from the media

You can fake it on stage
You can pretend on the stage or in front of an audience

Crawl from your cage
Escape from your confined existence

Search and destroy
Seek out and eliminate threats or obstacles

You can kill and depend on it
You are capable of both harming and relying on others

I know your tainted flesh
I am aware of the impure nature of your physical being

I know your filthy soul
I know your corrupt and unclean essence

I know each trick you played
I know all the deceitful maneuvers you employed

Whore you laid
The individuals you used for personal gain

Dream you stole
The aspirations you took away from others

I know the bed in the room in the wall
I am familiar with the hidden place in the house where you satisfied your desires

In the house where you got what you wanted and ruined it all
In the very location where you achieved your desires and subsequently destroyed everything

I know the secrets that you keep
I am aware of the confidential information you hold

I know where you sleep
I know the exact location of your slumber

I know, the illness behind the image that you create
I understand the underlying sickness present in the persona you present

I know, the tedious need to turn all your love into hate
I am aware of the exhausting compulsion to transform your affection into animosity

You poor pathetic paranoid, is it just me or do you secretly enjoy it?
You pitiful and delusional individual, do you secretly find pleasure in this situation?

You play the victim very well
You perform the role of the victim quite convincingly

You build yourself indulgent hell
You construct a self-centered and luxurious torment

You wanted someone to understand you
You desired someone who could comprehend your inner self

Well be careful what you wish for because I do
However, be cautious about your desires as I do understand you

You've got a fancy turn of phrase
You possess a skillful way with words

You set your trap
You devise a cunning plan

You made your plays
You executed your strategies

You're so fond of games
You greatly enjoy playing mind games

You must never lose
You always strive to emerge victorious

Funny how the only one in your bed is you
Ironically, the only person present in your bed is yourself

I'm wishing you the best of luck and by the way
I am expressing my well-wishes to you and incidentally

(Your poetry sucks)
I find your poetry to be of poor quality

Oh my god, Oh my god
An exclamation of surprise or shock

I touched you
I had physical contact with you

I can never live it down
I can never forget or escape from that action

God save the queen
An exclamation pleading for assistance or salvation for the queen

I loved you
I had feelings of affection towards you

Oh, oh, I fucked you
An exclamation acknowledging a sexual encounter with you