Born in Manhattan, New York, United States, Apple made her break into the music industry when a friend, who babysat for a record executive, handed her employer a demo. Apple's husky voice, nimble piano skills, and mature lyrics got the attention of Sony executive Andy Slater, who signed her to a record deal.
In 1996, Apple's debut album Tidal was released by a subsidiary of Sony. The album went on to sell 3 million copies (certified triple platinum) domestically.
"Criminal," the fourth single from Tidal, became Apple's breakthrough hit. The song garnered a great deal of attention, in part for its suggestive lyrics ("I've been a bad, bad girl...") but also for the controversial music video, directed by Mark Romanek. The video featured a waifish, half-dressed Apple surrounded by the aftermath of a party, including unconscious party-goers. The video received heavy rotation on VH-1 and MTV and gained the singer immediate notoriety. Years later, Apple said, "I wasn't (comfortable). And you can see that in the video. It's not sexy. It's disturbing."
Other singles from Tidal included "Sleep to Dream," "Shadowboxer," "Never is a Promise," and "The First Taste."
In 1998, she contributed two tracks to the Pleasantville soundtrack, "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and a cover of the Beatles hit "Across the Universe".
In 1999, Apple's second album was released with the name "When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might so When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right" but it has just been commonly called "When the Pawn..." This album released the singles "Fast As You Can," "Limp," and "Paper Bag."
A third album, Extraordinary Machine, which was produced by Jon Brion, was submitted to Sony executives in May 2003. Sony was reportedly unenthusiastic about the finished product, and the project was shelved for over two years. In 2004 and 2005, tracks were leaked on the Internet in MP3 format and played on U.S. and international radio; subsequently, MP3s of the entire album believed produced by Brion (although he later claimed the leaked tracks were "tweaked" beyond his own work), went online. Although a website distributing the album was quickly taken offline via the DMCA copyright law, they soon reached P2P networks and were downloaded by fans.
In August 2005, the album was given a release date of October. Production had been completed by Mike Elizondo (though known for his work with hip-hop artists such as Dr. Dre, he had previously played bass for Apple on Pawn) and co-produced by electronica experimentalist Brian Kehew. Spin Magazine later reported: "Fans erroneously thought that Apple's record label, Epic, had rejected the first version of Extraordinary Machine... in reality, according to Elizondo, Apple was unhappy with the results, and it was her decision to redo the record, not her label's." Two of the eleven previous leaked tracks were relatively unchanged, nine were completely retooled, and one new song was also included. According to Elizondo, "Everything was done from scratch." Upon its release, the album became the highest-charting album of Apple's career (debuting at number seven), and before the end of 2005 had sold more than 300,000 copies in the United States alone.
It was revealed in late 2005 that Sony was initially unhappy with the work, and Apple and Brion sought to rework the album. Sony made caveats on the process, to which Apple balked. After a long period of waiting, she began an attempt to rework the album with close friend Kehew (also a friend and former roommate of Jon Brion). Elizondo was brought back as co-producer to complete the tracks he had begun with Brion and Apple. Despite suggestions that the album had caused a rift between Brion and Apple, they regularly perform together at Largo, a club in Los Angeles, including a joint appearance with Elizondo on bass just before the news broke of an official release. Apple went on a live tour to support the album in late 2005, and from early 2006 supported Coldplay on their tour of North America. The album has yielded four singles: "Parting Gift," "O' Sailor," "Not About Love," and "Get Him Back."
In 2006, a special edition version of "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" was released, with Fiona Apple contributing a version of "Sally's Song."
In January 2010, Fiona Apple and Jon Brion performed together at "Love and Haiti, Too: A Music Benefit", a charity concert for the people hurt by the Haiti Earthquake. Fiona sang a cover of "(S)he's Funny That Way", composed by Neil Moret, with lyrics by Richard Whiting, which is often associated with the singer Billie Holiday.
In June 2010, Fiona released a song titled "So Sleepy" produced by Jon Brion written by children involved with the non-profit organization 826LA. The song will be included in a compilation album released by the organization titled Chickens in Love. She also collaborated with Margaret Cho on Cho's album Cho Dependent.
The Every Single Night Songfacts reports that Apple began recording new material for her fourth album The Idler Wheel… in the late 2000s, keeping her sessions secret, even from her label, Epic Records. She opted to produce the album with her touring drummer, Charley Drayton, rather than her longtime collaborator Jon Brion. Executives at Epic only discovered that Apple had recorded an album in early 2012 when she presented it to them. It was released on June 19, 2012, to success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200. The album sold 72,000 copies in the first week and was nominated for Best Alternative Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. In 2020, the album was placed at number 213 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone.
In 2020, Apple's fifth studio album, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters", was released to universal acclaim. The artist earned two Grammy Awards for the album: Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance for the lead single "Shameika."
Fast As You Can
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
The song Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple explores the complexities of a toxic relationship, in which the singer's metaphorical "beast" is constantly present, overpowering her and making her feel out of control. She admits to letting the beast in too soon, and struggles to live without it, even though she fights it. She addresses a lover or someone close to her, that despite claiming to have a deep understanding of her, they cannot handle her because of how "crazy" she can be. The singer warns this person to run as fast as possible and to free themselves of her, highlighting how she has a tendency to become dependent on others, resulting in a power struggle. She is aware that she may seem gentle at first, but that she can become aggressive quickly, and she won't back down easily, even if it hurts her.
As the song progresses, we see the singer's desire to be loved and accepted, even if it means being someone's pet or through the use of drugs as an escape. However, she recognizes that she needs to fight against this and not let herself become consumed by these inner demons. The chorus structures are a repetition of the phrase "fast as you can", which emphasizes the idea that the relationship is moving too quickly, and the need for the singer and the other person to move on from each other as fast as possible. The last moment of the song seems to be a turning point for the singer, where she holds onto the idea of blooming within, suggesting that she is healing, growing, and moving forward.
Overall, the song resonates with anyone who has experienced a relationship that feels too intense and unstable, and the difficulties that come with trying to let go of someone who has a hold on your life.
Line by Line Meaning
I let the beast in too soon
I exposed my inner demons too early in our relationship
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I feel like I need to control my dark side to survive
I fight him always and still
I struggle with my dark side constantly, but it always remains present
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you can handle my craziness, and I find that endearing
You think you know how crazy
You believe you understand how wild and unpredictable I can be
How crazy I am
You have no idea how deep my inner turmoil goes
You say you don't spook easy
You claim to be fearless
You won't go
You don't plan on leaving me
But I know
I fear that you will eventually leave me
And I pray that you will
I hope you find the strength to leave me before it's too late
Fast as you can, baby
Leave me as quickly as possible
Run, free yourself of me
Escape the hold I have on you
I may be soft in your palm
I may seem fragile and vulnerable to you
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
But eventually, my temper will flare up and I'll be in the mood for an argument
And I will not let you win
And I won't back down or give in to you
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
I will use my words cunningly and strategically
That will disprove your faith in man
My words will make you doubt the goodness of people
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
If you notice me trying to get closer to you
From under your skin
Despite you rejecting me
Scratch me out, free yourself
Cut me out of your life and move on
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
Sometimes I feel calm and steady
But most of the time, it does
But usually, my mind is restless and turbulent
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
I become desperate for relief and support
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
Or I'll get lost in my thoughts and emotions
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
I'll be yours if you treat me like a precious thing
And you give me some more of your drugs
If you give me more of what I crave and desire
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
I'll play the role of your docile companion if you make me feel special
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
I'm tired of constantly questioning my inner turmoil and getting no answers
Just need a little because, because
I just need a small amount of pleasure to help me cope
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
I tried giving my inner demons a break, but it's too early to do that
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
So I'll continue to struggle and battle with my personal demons
And for a little while more
And for a little longer
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
I'll experience highs and lows, and I'll complain and hold others responsible for my troubles
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
If you're thinking about leaving me, keep it to yourself
I'm blooming within
I'm undergoing a process of transformation, even if I may not appear that way
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Be patient, I'll leave soon enough
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
I'll try to leave as soon as possible, even if it takes me longer than expected
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Leave me behind and let me deal with my problems on my own
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Move on as fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Keep moving forward, don't look back
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JoaoOliveira-id1hc
I let the beast in too soon
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You say you don't spook easy
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
@eduardam15
Lyrics
I let the beast in too soon
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You say you don't spook easy
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
@the_black_douglas9041
Everyone talks about the lyrics. For me it's the wondrous melodies she effortlessly wrests from strange, discordant chord progressions. It's jazzy but not jazzy. It's punk but not punk. Like all my favourite music, the melodies of this song make feel things I can't express.
@KimberlySmith14
Totally
@fredericklofranco8937
exactly what im trying to saayyyy
@caerbannoghare4744
so god darn true. its the lyrics AND melodies.
@gracioussunchild9877
It even has a bit of latin sounds from the beat
@raulrodriguez4559
On point dude. She is a musical mutant. A true innovator!
@richharris2864
This drummer is on God mode.
@estebanb7166
Right!? I think this drummer played for Tori Amos. Chamberlin, maybe?
@elyy0345
On this one and Limp honestly. Crazy good.
@Soskouy
Prob cuz the drummer is a machine lol..