White's haunted blues quickly found a home on Oakland's Double Negative Records with them only hearing her four-track demo. Fooling around with music since pre-school, White started on piano around the same time she learned to read, eventually picking up the guitar during her college days.
After graduation White moved to Bordeaux, France, where she performed with a bevy of independent French artists further honing her songwriting skills. Upon returning stateside, she moved to SF and began recording four-track demos formulating the songs that would ultimately become her debut album, Dark Undercoat.
Her second album entitled Victorian America was released in 2009 in France (and in 2010 in the U.S.). it was written largely in San Francisco and Oakland.
Her third album entitled Ode to Sentience was released in 2011.
www.emilyjanewhite.com
Pallid Eyes
Emily Jane White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh and I've become
You call me up in your words you say,
Oh I have begun
And when the sheets are frayed,
And when you walk alone
Your rolling eyes in your head you say
And you can't wait til may,
Cause winter's just begun
Your eyes roll back in your head you say
What have I become?
Oh, what have I become?
And when the ice turns gray
And the clarity is gone
Your eyes roll back in your head you see
What have I become?
You're so sweet, you cheat, so sweet
And when the ice turns gray
And the clarity is gone
Your eyes roll back in your head you see
What have I become
Oh what have I become?
You're so sweet, you cheat, so sweet
Emily Jane White's song "Pallid Eyes" presents a haunting and introspective portrayal of a person who is grappling with their own identity, and the choices they have made that have led them to where they are now. The imagery of ice turning gray and sheets fraying brings to mind a sense of decay and loss, as if something that was once vibrant and full of life has begun to wither away. The repetition of the question "what have I become?" underscores this sense of existential crisis, as the person confronts the choices they have made and the paths they have taken.
At the same time, there is a certain lyrical beauty to the song, with its rolling melodies and haunting vocals. There is a sense of yearning in the lines "You're so sweet, you cheat, so sweet", as if the person yearns for something that they know is ultimately unattainable. This adds an element of tragedy to the song, as the person seems to be stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and regret, unable to break free from the choices they have made.
Overall, Emily Jane White's "Pallid Eyes" is a powerful and emotionally resonant song that speaks to the complexities of the human experience, and the ways in which we struggle to come to terms with our own identity and the choices we make.
Line by Line Meaning
And when the ice turns gray,
When life becomes uncertain and unclear,
Oh and I've become
When you start to feel lost in life,
You call me up in your words you say,
You reach out for help and guidance,
Oh I have begun
Asking for help is the first step towards finding clarity in life.
And when the sheets are frayed,
When things start to fall apart,
And when you walk alone
When you feel like no one is there for you,
Your rolling eyes in your head you say
You feel lost and unsure of yourself,
Oh oh oh oh
Expressing a feeling of confusion and uncertainty.
And you can't wait til may,
When you are looking forward to a new beginning,
Cause winter's just begun
But you are currently facing a challenging time,
Your eyes roll back in your head you say
Feeling overwhelmed and lost,
What have I become?
Questioning the choices and actions that led to this point in life.
Oh, what have I become?
Expressing a feeling of regret and disappointment in oneself.
And when the ice turns gray
When life becomes uncertain and unclear,
And the clarity is gone
When you cannot see a clear path forward,
Your eyes roll back in your head you see
Feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed,
You're so sweet, you cheat, so sweet
Sometimes, in order to find clarity and happiness, we have to let go of things that are holding us back.
Writer(s): emily jane white
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HolyDark
Incrível
Anouk-Laura Payan
I just discovered this beautiful music on ABC RADIO, what a nice discovery! I m on her channel now.
sacrificial lamb
been listening to this since 2016 but she's still criminally underrated.
Aven Pace
So glad I found her, I love her voice and this track
MrHumanracin
Just discovered this amazing artist.
David Cross
Absolutely love this track! 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Claude Colléter
Je ne me lasse pas d'écouter cette merveilleuse artiste, que j'ai eu le bonheur de voir en concert. J'ai quatre de ses albums et projette d'acquérir les autres : je ne doute pas de leurs égales sensibilité et beauté...
CHRIS CASH
Parfait, magnifique, l'Excellence rien à ajouter.
Jason Serfling
LOVE IT!!
PJS
The intro reminds me of “wild eyes” by Mariee Siou. Two of my favorite musicians!