Raised in a Southern Baptist family, she attended church and was involved in choir singing from a young age. In mid 2017, Cain began experimenting with writing, recording and producing her own ethereal style, inspired by Christian music and Gregorian chants. After releasing various mixtapes and EPs on streaming platforms as well as sites like SoundCloud and Tumblr, she adopted a more alternative sound and began using the Ethel Cain moniker in mid 2019. Cain's lyrics focus on nostalgic and Southern Gothic themes, such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, death and transgenerational trauma. Her music has been associated with the ambient, alternative rock and dream pop genres.
In 2022, Cain released her debut studio album, Preacher's Daughter, to widespread acclaim from music critics — many of whom called it one of the best albums of the year.
Alongside the Ethel Cain moniker, Anhedönia has also released music as White Silas, Miss Anhedönia, אשמדאי, tommy, and ΛTLΛS.
Crush
Ethel Cain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So he's shooting at the glass
Keeping guns in his locker
And he denies it
Like it's actually important
But he lied 'cause I sure did watch him
Showing up wearing black
And he knows that
His daddy's on death row
But he'll say it with his chest, though
His friends move dope
He hasn't tried coke
But he's always had a problem saying no
His older brother bagged the valedictorian
His mother steady screaming he should be more like him
Can you read my mind, I've been watching you
(You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it's true)
Couldn't fight to save your life but you look so cool
Camo jacket robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too so I'd rather be with you, you, you
I owe you a black eye and two kisses
Tell me when you wanna come and get 'em
I only want him if he says it first to me
I wanna uh him in the back of his mom's mercury
He looks like he works with his hands
And smells like Marlboro Reds
It makes me so uh and I can't get enough of it
Something's been feeling weird lately
There's just something about you, baby (there's just something about you baby)
Maybe I'll just be crazy (I'll be crazy)
And piss him off 'til he hates me
(Yeah right, he fucking loves me)
Low slung bad bitch, baby come and get you some
Can you read my mind, I've been watching you
Couldn't fight to save your life but you look so cool
(You know it, you know it, you know)
Camo jacket robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too so I'd rather be with you, you, you
Oh, I'd rather be with you
Oh, I'd rather be with you
'Cause good men die too so I'd rather be with you
The lyrics of Ethel Cain's song Crush depict the singer's fascination with a man who is involved in criminal activities. The first verse describes the man as being in possession of guns, and he appears to be in denial about it. The second verse reveals that his father is on death row, and his friends are involved with selling drugs. The singer is very attracted to the man but is also aware that there is a danger in being with him.
In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that the man is not a traditional hero figure, but his appearance and demeanor make him attractive. She speaks of wanting to be with him despite his flaws, implying that it is better to be with a dangerous person than a "good man" who could die at any moment.
The third verse talks about the singer's obsession with the man in question. She is willing to get into a physical altercation with him or even piss him off, just to get his attention. The singers’ thoughts reveal that she is ready to take risks to be with him, no matter how dangerous he may be.
In summary, the lyrics of Crush speak to the seductive and dangerous attraction of people who are involved in criminal activities, even though the relationship might be harmful to both parties involved.
Line by Line Meaning
His window's already passed
He missed his chance and now he's taking it out on everything else
So he's shooting at the glass
He's trying to break through the obstacles in his way
Keeping guns in his locker
He's trying to protect himself with violence
And he denies it
He's in denial about his problems
Like it's actually important
He's trying to downplay the severity of his situation
But he lied 'cause I sure did watch him
He can't hide his true intentions from others
Showing up wearing black
He's trying to look tough and intimidating
And he knows that
He's aware of the image he's projecting
His daddy's on death row
His father is facing the ultimate consequence for his actions
But he'll say it with his chest, though
He's proud of his father's reputation and isn't afraid to show it
His friends move dope
He associates with people involved in illegal activities
He hasn't tried coke
He is resisting certain temptations
But he's always had a problem saying no
He struggles with standing up for himself
His older brother bagged the valedictorian
His brother has achieved a high level of success
His mother steady screaming he should be more like him
His mother has high expectations for him to perform at the same level as his brother
Can you read my mind, I've been watching you
She's been analyzing his behavior and trying to figure out his intentions
(You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it's true)
She's confident in her assessment of him
Couldn't fight to save your life but you look so cool
He appears cool and collected, but she doesn't think he can handle a real challenge
Camo jacket robbing corner stores
She's painting a picture of his rebellious behavior
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
It's difficult to succeed when you're on the bottom
Good men die too so I'd rather be with you, you, you
She's drawn to his dangerous nature despite the risks
I owe you a black eye and two kisses
She's teasing him with a combination of violence and affection
Tell me when you wanna come and get 'em
She's daring him to try and get what she owes him
I only want him if he says it first to me
She wants him to express his feelings before she reciprocates
I wanna uh him in the back of his mom's mercury
She's being sexually suggestive and referencing his car
He looks like he works with his hands
She's attracted to his rough, blue-collar appearance
And smells like Marlboro Reds
She's drawn to his bad boy image
It makes me so uh and I can't get enough of it
She's aroused by his presence and wants more of him
Something's been feeling weird lately
She's been experiencing unusual feelings around him
There's just something about you, baby (there's just something about you baby)
She's struggling to put into words what she finds attractive about him
Maybe I'll just be crazy (I'll be crazy)
She recognizes that her feelings may not be rational
And piss him off 'til he hates me
She's willing to provoke him to get a reaction
(Yeah right, he fucking loves me)
She's confident that he's actually attracted to her despite any negative reactions
Low slung bad bitch, baby come and get you some
She's positioning herself as a confident, sexy woman and inviting him to pursue her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Hayden Silas Anhedonia
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@avedic
Same. It made me realize something kinda big related to where I live.
I think a lot of it has to do with being Southern myself. I was born and raised in Johnson City, TN, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. And somehow....I'm still here, despite living elsewhere earlier in life. I've always had a love/hate feeling toward the South and often yearn to leave it....to go live somewhere more on my wavelength, someplace in the Pacific north-west maybe. But artists like Ethel Cain make me fall in love with my Southern home in a way hard to put to words. I used to HATE summers here. Just hot and humid....with the death rattle of countless cicadas reverberating everywhere.
Doing laundry on my days off at the dusty dilapidated laundromat, called Wash-a-Rama....of course, with the low-key racist "Here's How....to use the machines..." poster featuring a Native American that literally has a 1962 copyright in the corner. While waiting on my clothes, sweltering under the white hot sun, random vagrants stop to ask me for a smoke...or ask if I know anyone selling suboxone or nerve pills.
It's all so overwhelmingly weird and awful and gross sometimes. Corporate kitsch fucking everywhere....
And then I discover Ethel....her music, her outlook, all of it. And I see her embracing all that....owning that culture and those roots as rightfully hers too.
And it makes me realize, deep down, this IS home for me too.....and I probably would hate living in Portland or Seattle in the long run. There's a real tragic beauty in overlooked South. Real life Thelma and Louis characters everywhere. Sometimes it's scary or dangerous or genuinely awful. But it's often deeply romantic....Southern Gothic in the best and broadest sense of that term.
I might live somewhere else one day.....but for now, I'm honestly happy to be here. I belong too.....I'm a part of this too.
And Ethel's music and entire cinematic world made me realize that more than just about anything else.
It's crazy, and super cool that mere music and visuals can do that.....
@GlobalDrag
☕️ "CRUSH" ☕️
LYRICS:
His window's already passed, so he's shooting at the glass
Keeping guns in his locker, and he denies it
Like it's actually important, but he lied 'cause I sure did watch him
Showing up wearing black, and he knows that
His daddy's on death row, but he'll say it with his chest, though
His friends move dope, he hasn't tried coke
But he's always had a problem saying no
His older brother bagged the valedictorian
His mother, steady, screaming he should be more like him
Can you read my mind? I've been watching you
(You know it, you know it, you know it's true)
Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool
Camo' jacket, robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too, oh, I'd rather be with you, you, you
I owe you a black eye and two kisses
Tell me when you wanna come and get 'em
I only want him if he says it first to me
I wanna, uh, him in the back of his mom's Mercury
He looks like he works with his hands, and smells like Marlboro Reds
It makes me so, uh, and I can't get enough of it
Something's been feeling weird lately
There's just something about you, baby (there's just something about you, baby)
Maybe I'll just be crazy (I'll be crazy)
And piss him off 'til he hates me
Low slung bad bitch, baby, come and get you some
Can you read my mind? I've been watching you
Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool
(You know it, you know it, you know, oh)
Camo' jacket, robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too, so I'd rather be with you, you, you
I'd rather be with you, oh
Oh, I'd rather be with you, oh
'Cause good men die too, so I'd rather be with you
@fredenickredbeard
His window's already passed
So he's shooting at the glass
Keeping guns in his locker
And he denies it
Like it's actually important
But he lied 'cause I sure did watch him
Showing up wearing black
And he knows that
His daddy's on death row
But he'll say it with his chest, though
His friends move dope
He hasn't tried coke
But he's always had a problem saying no
His older brother bagged the valedictorian
His mother steady screaming he should be more like him
Can you read my mind? I've been watching you
(You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it's true)
Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool
Camo jacket robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too so I'd rather be with you, you, you
I owe you a black eye and two kisses
Tell me when you wanna come and get 'em
I only want him if he says it first to me
I wanna run him in the back of his mom's mercury
He looks like he works with his hands
And smells like Marlboro Reds
It makes me so, uh, and I can't get enough of it
Something's been feeling weird lately
There's just something about you, baby
(There's just something about you baby)
Maybe I'll just be crazy
(I'll be crazy)
And piss him off 'til he hates me
Low slung bad bitch, baby, come and get you some
Can you read my mind? I've been watching you
Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool
(You know it, you know it, you know)
Camo jacket robbing corner stores
Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours
Good men die too so I'd rather be with you, you, you
Oh, I'd rather be with you
Oh, I'd rather be with you
'Cause good men die too
So I'd rather be with you
@pecanpie45
This crackhead makes beautiful music
@deborahjones5289
That is the healthiest crackhead I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot.
@Toolshedthewatchdog
@@deborahjones5289 LOL!
@jonusjonus9271
right?!
@iSprayYouPrayLIVE
@@deborahjones5289 dead ass ode on da subway 😂
@lestatangel
Ethel pins the comment.
🖤 FUCK I DIED🖤
@shal6401
this song is the perfect way to describe an unhealthy but addictive interest in someone. ugh having crushes is so fun
@413XAj0n3z
I have a huge crush on a girl at work, but she has a boyfriend. We flirt so hard, I imagine her singing this to herself about me.
I thought I was too old to feel this way. Thanks Ethel. I come back to this song periodically and it’s always from a different perspective. 🖤
@AR-cz2nu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t11n96Qig74&t=19s&ab_channel=zorastorm
@Eskapismus
@@413XAj0n3z How have things been the last few months?