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
Stairs
Emily Jane White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We don't know what game to play
This baby calf fell to earth
We don't know just what she's worth
Mama don't leave, mama don't stay
We don't know what game to play
This baby calf tell to earth
At the top of the stairs, with a crash she hit the ground
She fell backwards, backwards without a sound
Backwards without a sound
With a backhand at night, with a crash she hit the ground
She fell backwards, backwards without a sound
Backwards without a sound
Until she hit the ground
Until she hit the ground
Oh leave me here to stay
Oh I was meant to die this way
Oh leave me here to stay
Oh I was meant to die this way
And the wind rolled, and the rain came
And we all know, it was not her way
And the wind rolled, and the rain came
And we all know, it was not my way
Oh Katherine, are you in heaven now
Oh my Katherine, are you in heaven now
Oh sweet Katherine, are you in heaven now
Oh my Katherine, are you in heaven now
'Cause I was once just like you
And how it grew and how it grew
All these dreams of human beings
And all these wells, all these springs
I just don't know what to do, what to do
What to do
Mama don't leave, mama don't stay
We don't know what game to play
This baby calf fell to earth
We don't know just what she's worth
The lyrics of Emily Jane White's song "Stairs" revolve around the exploration of death and the happenings after it. The track talks about a misfortunate calf that fell to the ground and its worth unknown. Mama, the personification of death, is being pleaded to stay, as the game of life is now uncertain. It's essential to note that the song's lyrics are ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways, and this is part of its charm.
White's haunting voice echoes throughout the song, adding to the solemnity of the track, as the singer's beloved Katherine compares her fate to that of the calf's. The words "Oh leave me here to stay, oh I was meant to die this way" express the acceptance of her fate and the longing to remain in her current state. The lyrics give the impression that it was a sudden death, with no warning signals or noise leading up to it, emphasizing the notion that sometimes in life, there is no explanation or reason behind things that happen.
Moreover, the lines "And all these wells, all these springs, I just don't know what to do, what to do" can be interpreted to mean that the singer is unsure of how to grieve and mourn her loss or comprehend life's purpose. This track is a poignant reflection on the finality of death, leaving the listeners with a sense of introspection and melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama don't leave, mama don't stay
We are uncertain about what we should do now.
We don't know what game to play
We are uncertain about how to proceed next.
This baby calf fell to earth
We encountered an unexpected and tragic event.
We don't know just what she's worth
We cannot evaluate the significance or value of what has happened.
At the top of the stairs, with a crash she hit the ground
The tragic event occurred suddenly and without warning.
She fell backwards, backwards without a sound
The event was silent and untimely.
With a backhand at night, with a crash she hit the ground
The event was caused by a violent and unexpected action.
Until she hit the ground
The event concluded with a tragic outcome.
Oh leave me here to stay
I accept my fate and wish to remain here.
Oh I was meant to die this way
I believe that my death was predestined or inevitable.
And the wind rolled, and the rain came
A tumultuous and turbulent event occurred.
And we all know, it was not her way
The event was not in line with the natural order.
Oh Katherine, are you in heaven now
I am contemplating the fate of a person who has passed away.
Oh sweet Katherine, are you in heaven now
I am expressing affection towards the person who passed away.
Cause I was once just like you
I can relate to the person who passed away.
And how it grew and how it grew
I am reflecting on the changes and development that have occurred in my life.
All these dreams of human beings
I am contemplating the nature of human desire and aspiration.
And all these wells, all these springs
I am contemplating the abundance of resources in the world.
I just don't know what to do, what to do
I am uncertain about how to proceed with my life.
Mama don't leave, mama don't stay
We are still uncertain and lost after the tragic event.
We don't know what game to play
We are still uncertain about how to proceed with life after the tragic event.
This baby calf fell to earth
We are still thinking about the tragic event that occurred.
We don't know just what she's worth
The significance and value of the event still elude us.
Contributed by Christian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rapciur Raptscha
Such a wonderful song with an amazing structure and strong moments