She continues to be involved in the influential Glasgow based label Chemikal Underground. A second solo album, The Law of Large Numbers, was released by the label on March 1, 2010. Her third solo album, In Search of Harperfield, was released on January 29, 2016.
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Confessions
Emma Pollock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I listen to voices of the death machine
Important, important, important
Listen to me
I have no no ammunition when they come to me
Oh wake me, just wake me, please wake me from this stupor
These are the voices of progress
But I keep on falling behind
These are the voices that lead us
But I am deaf and I am blind
And I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
But you're keeping all my confessions strictly under control
I'm running from voices of the death machine
Resistance, resistance, resistance I can't hear you
I have no real ambition, how I laugh at you
I call myself carefree
I'm a liability
I call myself different
But I'm just the same you see
You are the voices of progress
But I keep on falling behind
You are the voices that lead us
But I am deaf and I am blind
And I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
But you're keeping all my confessions under constant control
I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
But you're keeping all my confessions strictly under control
You were careless from the start
I could tell we stood apart
You were careless from the start
To let me think I could take part
I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
But you're keeping all my confessions under constant control
The lyrics of Emma Pollock's song Confessions express feelings of disillusionment, helplessness, and a struggle to find one's place in a world governed by powerful voices of progress that might not always represent the best interests of the individual. The opening line "You were careless from the start" suggests that the singer has been betrayed or deceived by someone they trusted. As the song progresses, the singer is overwhelmed by "voices of the death machine" that dictate what is "important" and demand obedience. They feel powerless and unable to resist, but at the same time resentful of their own lack of ambition and agency. The line "I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore, but you're keeping all my confessions strictly under control" hints at a fear of vulnerability, a fear that sharing personal truths might lead to further manipulation or betrayal by those in power.
The chorus of "These are the voices of progress but I keep on falling behind / These are the voices that lead us but I am deaf and I am blind" suggests a conflict between the desire to belong, to be part of something bigger, and the feeling of being out of step with the world around you. The repetition of the word "voices" in both the verses and the chorus emphasizes the power of language, the ways in which words can be used to shape reality and control perceptions. The fact that the singer says "I have no ammunition when they come to me" suggests that they feel outmatched, as if their own language and ideas are not enough to fight back against dominant discourses.
Line by Line Meaning
You were careless from the start
You were never invested in this relationship from the beginning and it was evident.
I listen to voices of the death machine
I pay attention to the messages of society, which are draining and oppressive.
Important, important, important
These messages are made to appear significant and necessary, but they are not.
Listen to me
They demand my attention, but I must resist them.
I have no no ammunition when they come to me
I feel powerless in the face of these messages and their influence on me.
Oh wake me, just wake me, please wake me from this stupor
I want to be awakened from this state of apathy and resistance against these messages.
My quiet ambition takes refuge from the weight of the world
I have dreams and goals, but they are overshadowed and weakened by the burden of societal expectations.
These are the voices of progress
These messages claim to be leading society towards a better future.
But I keep on falling behind
Despite trying to keep up with these messages, I am unable to meet their standards.
These are the voices that lead us
These messages are believed to guide us towards a better future.
But I am deaf and I am blind
I am unable to fully comprehend and appreciate the messages' intentions and significance.
And I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
I have been hiding something deep inside, but I am ready to reveal it.
But you're keeping all my confessions strictly under control
Despite my urge to reveal myself, I am being held back and silenced by external forces.
I'm running from voices of the death machine
I am trying to escape from the oppressive messages of society.
Resistance, resistance, resistance I can't hear you
Despite my resistance against these messages, they are still overwhelming and deafening.
I have no real ambition, how I laugh at you
I feel like I have lost touch with my true aspirations and cannot take these messages seriously anymore.
I call myself carefree
I try to present myself as free-spirited and unattached to societal pressures.
I'm a liability
But in reality, my lack of ambition and direction is a hindrance to my growth and success.
I call myself different
I try to stand out and be unique in the face of societal norms.
But I'm just the same you see
But in the end, I am still influenced by the same societal pressures like everyone else.
You are the voices of progress
You represent the messages of society that claim to be leading us towards a better future.
But I keep on falling behind
Despite my attempts to keep up with these messages, I am still unable to meet their standards.
You are the voices that lead us
These messages are believed to guide us towards a better future.
But I am deaf and I am blind
I am unable to fully comprehend and appreciate the messages' intentions and significance.
And I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
I have been hiding something deep inside, but I am ready to reveal it.
But you're keeping all my confessions under constant control
Despite my urge to reveal myself, I am being held back and silenced by external forces.
You were careless from the start
You were never invested in this relationship from the beginning and it was evident.
I could tell we stood apart
I could sense that we were never meant to be together.
To let me think I could take part
Despite knowing that we were not suited for each other, you still let me believe that I could be a part of your life.
I have a secret that I don't think I'll keep anymore
I have been hiding something deep inside, but I am ready to reveal it.
But you're keeping all my confessions under constant control
Despite my urge to reveal myself, I am being held back and silenced by external forces.
Contributed by Carson Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.