Findlay began her career in 2007 gigging around open-mic acoustic nights before soon realising she wanted a backing band. Her love for dirty guitar sounds unfolded as she discovered bands like The Stooges, The White Stripes and all sorts of post-punk, dismissing her forename and starting gigs with her band to form Findlay.
Playing with a drummer and two guitarists, but no bassist, adds to the ferocity of Findlay’s music, especially when performed live. Findlay has supported The Courteeners and Jake Bugg on tour.
'Your Sister' and 'Off & On' were her first offerings in 2012 through Manchester label Joyeux Anniversaire Records.The 'Greasy Love' EP was released in 2013.
http://findlaymusic.com
stoned and alone
Findlay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turning and turning in the morning
Stoned and alone by the evening
It's so nice to have nothing to believe in
First big love big school bully
Little one, you've become so ugly
Sit staring blindly at the sun
Cause we're gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold on hold on to my heart
Gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold on to my heart
And I haven't seen him since the summer
And he says he's lost my number
Says he's back here to serenade me
Ooh, vodka and lemonade me
He tells me to set my breath
That smoke is only smoke for an early death
He takes me on another midnight drive
Darling, this is how it feels to be alive
Cause we're gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold on hold on to my heart
Gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold on
Cause we're gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold on hold on to my heart
Gracefully falling apart
A minute to midnight it starts
Drinking coffee in the dark
Trying to hold
Trying to hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on to my heart
Coffee in the dark
The lyrics to Findlay's song "Stoned and Alone" suggest a feeling of detachment and a longing for connection. The first verse explores the themes of denial and emptiness, with the singer admitting to being stoned and alone in the evening, but finding it "nice" to have nothing to believe in. The second verse delves deeper into the singer's past, describing a painful experience with a former love interest who turned out to be a bully. The chorus highlights the idea of "gracefully falling apart," perhaps suggesting that the breakdown of relationships and personal struggles are an inevitable part of life.
The third verse introduces a new character, possibly a former lover, who has returned and is now trying to serenade the singer with vodka and lemonade. This person advises the singer to quit smoking because it is killing them, and takes them on a midnight drive, allowing them to feel alive. The song ends with a repeated plea to hold on to the heart and find connection, even in the dark.
Overall, "Stoned and Alone" is a reflective and introspective song with a melancholic edge. It grapples with the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the difficulty of finding meaningful connections in an often chaotic and confusing world.
Line by Line Meaning
Violent denial chasing
Unable to confront the truth and accepting reality, leading to a life filled with conflict and aggression.
Turning and turning in the morning
Waking up and going through the routine of everyday life, feeling like there's no way out of the cycle of monotony.
Stoned and alone by the evening
Consuming drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of loneliness and isolation.
It's so nice to have nothing to believe in
Feeling relieved to have no expectations or aspirations, without any emotional investment in life.
First big love big school bully
The first experience of romance being marred with the terror of bullying, leading to an inability to process relationships and develop trust.
Little one, you've become so ugly
Feeling unworthy and unattractive due to the negative experiences and comments of others.
Sit staring blindly at the sun
Facing the reality of life, yet being unable to see past the glaring brightness that brings work, responsibility and inevitability.
Mother of pearl, I'm not the one
Realising that you're not meant to be the shining star, but rather a pearl hidden underneath the layers of life's realities.
Cause we're gracefully falling apart
The acceptance of the slow decline of life's conditions, occurring in a graceful manner even as it disintegrates.
A minute to midnight it starts
The sudden realization of life's end approaching causing panic and anxiety which are difficult to overcome.
Drinking coffee in the dark
Finding comfort in simple things like coffee, even during dark times when things feel hopeless.
Trying to hold on hold on to my heart
Attempting to preserve the last shred of hope and love, despite the odds being against you.
And I haven't seen him since the summer
Reflecting on a relationship that was meant to last, but ended up being just another summer fling.
And he says he's lost my number
The feeling of rejection when someone you thought you would always have, cuts off all contact with you.
Says he's back here to serenade me
Rekindling old memories and using music as a way to bring past experiences back to life.
Ooh, vodka and lemonade me
Being taken out of the present moment and feeling free through the loosening effects of alcohol.
He tells me to set my breath
Giving advice to calm down and relax even in stressful situations, in order to avoid panic attack or anxiety attacks.
That smoke is only smoke for an early death
Recognising the harmful effects of smoking, and acknowledging that it will only lead to an early death.
He takes me on another midnight drive
Being taken on a mysterious journey that causes excitement and adrenaline in the middle of the night.
Darling, this is how it feels to be alive
Realising that feeling alive isn't always about happiness or positivity, but about experiencing the good and bad that life offers.
Trying to hold on to my heart
Clutching onto what little hope and life is left, even when it feels like all has been lost.
Trying to hold on, hold on
The repeated struggle to hold on to what's left, despite the inevitability of losing it all.
Hold on, hold on
The incessant drive to hold on, even when it feels like there's nothing left to cling to.
Hold on, hold on
The repeated affirmation to not give up or let go, despite the odds against you.
Hold on, hold on to my heart
The intense need to preserve the last vestiges of hope and love that are left.
Coffee in the dark
Using the simple pleasures and habits of everyday life, like coffee, to bring comfort and solace even in times of darkness.
Contributed by Josiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.