When I say, “I don’t think that they’ll be aware of it,” that’s me not getting my hopes up. I don’t expect anything to come from it. I have to express it somehow. I don’t think they’ll hear it, but I have to say it anyway. The tree has to fall, even if no one’s around.
I don’t know why I’d called it “Newspaper,” but that’s what it was named on the file of the percussion orchestra I made. I probably didn’t know what to call the file, and so I probably had a newspaper next to me and just wrote “Newspaper.”
My sister Maude’s vocals are on this, and during her vocals, she was breastfeeding.
Newspaper
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he's telling you about me
To make sure that we'll never be friends
And it's a shame, because you and I didn't get a witness
We're the only ones who know
We were cursed, the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
I grew concerned, when I saw him start to covet you
When I learned what he did, I felt close to you
In my own way, I fell in love with you
But he's made me a ghost to you
I watch him let go of your hand, I wanna stand between you
But it's not what I'm supposed to do
I watch him walk over, talk over you, be mean to you
And it makes me feel close to you
It makes me feel close to you
It makes me feel close to you
It's not what it's supposed to do
It makes me feel close to you
I too, wanted to make him proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he's telling you about me
To make sure that we'll never be friends
And it's a shame, because you and I didn't get a witness
We're the only ones who know
We were cursed, the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
From then on, it was his big show
From then on, it was his big show
And you're wearing time, like a flowery crown
Sitting that, sitting that big cat down
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
I too, used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he's telling you about me
To make sure that we'll never be friends
And it's a shame, because you and I didn't get a witness
We're the only ones who know
We were cursed, the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
I grew concerned, when I saw him start to covet you
When I learned what he did, I felt close to you
In my own way, I fell in love with you
But he's made me a ghost to you
I watch him let go of your hand, I wanna stand between you
But it's not what I'm supposed to do
I watch him walk over you, talk over you, be mean to you
And it makes me feel close to you
And you're wearing time, like a flowery crown
Sitting that, sitting that big cat down
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
Trying not to let my light go out
You're wearing time, like a flowery crown
Sitting that, sitting that big cat down
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
Oh, I too, used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he's told you about me
To make sure that we'll never be friends
To make sure that we'll never be friends
To make sure that we'll never be friends
To make sure that we'll never be friends
In "Newspaper," Fiona Apple sings about the complicated emotions that can exist between two people who have both been hurt by the same person. She starts by admitting that she used to care about what this person thought of her and wanted his approval, but as time went on all she wanted was for him to make amends for the pain he caused. She then wonders what lies this person is telling the other person in their shared experience to ensure that they never become friends, which is a shame because they are the only ones who truly understand what happened.
The song takes a turn when Apple reveals that she has grown concerned about this person's interest in the other person, and she feels a sense of closeness to them because she knows the pain they have both experienced. She admits that she has fallen in love with the other person in her own way, but this person has made her a ghost to them, and she can only watch as this person mistreats them. Through it all, Apple finds solace in feeling close to the other person, even though it's not what she's supposed to do.
The song ends with Apple speaking directly to the other person, telling them that they are wearing time like a flowery crown and sitting the big cat down, while she is alone on the summit trying not to let her light go out. She repeats that she used to want him to be proud of her, but now she just wants him to make amends and stop lying to prevent them from being friends.
Overall, "Newspaper" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that can arise when people share a painful experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I too, used to want him to be proud of me
I also hoped to gain his approval and admiration
And then I just wanted him to make amends
But after his wrongdoing, all I wanted was for him to make things right
I wonder what lies he's telling you about me
I'm suspicious about the false stories he's spinning to turn you against me
To make sure that we'll never be friends
His aim is to keep us apart, and ensure we never become friends
And it's a shame, because you and I didn't get a witness
It's a regretful situation, for only you and I know the truth
We're the only ones who know
No one else has seen what we have seen or felt what we have felt
We were cursed, the moment that he kissed us
Our bond was doomed from the time he interfered in our relationship
From then on, it was his big show
From that moment forward, he controlled the situation and made it all about himself
I grew concerned, when I saw him start to covet you
When I saw him becoming possessive of you, I started to worry
When I learned what he did, I felt close to you
When I discovered the truth, I felt a stronger connection to you
In my own way, I fell in love with you
I developed my own feelings for you, in my own unique way
But he's made me a ghost to you
But he has erased me from your life, making me invisible to you
I watch him let go of your hand, I wanna stand between you
I observe him releasing your hand, and I feel the urge to come between you both
But it's not what I'm supposed to do
But I know deep down that it's not my place to interfere
I watch him walk over, talk over you, be mean to you
I see him being disrespectful towards you, interrupting your thoughts and belittling you
And it makes me feel close to you
His rude behavior towards you brings me closer to you, emotionally
And you're wearing time, like a flowery crown
You are adorned with the ageless beauty of time, like a floral headdress
Sitting that, sitting that big cat down
You overpower him, as he is forced to sit down and listen
And I'm alone on the summit now
I am left alone on the top, looking down at the world below
Trying not to let my light go out
I am fighting to keep my own light from fading away, despite the difficult circumstances
To make sure that we'll never be friends
His goal is to keep us apart, and prevent us from ever becoming close
To make sure that we'll never be friends
To ensure that we remain distant and disconnected from each other
To make sure that we'll never be friends
To guarantee that we are kept apart, and forbidden from forming a bond
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@_siai
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
I too used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me
To make sure that we’ll never be friends
[Chorus]
And it's a shame because you and I didn’t get a witness
We’re the only ones who know!
We were cursed the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
[Post-Chorus]
I grow concern when I saw him start to covet you
When I learnt what he did, I felt close to you
In my own way, I fell in love with you
But he's made me a ghost to you
[Verse 2]
I watch him let go of your hand, I want to stand between you
But it's not what I'm supposed to do
I watch him walk over, talk over you, be mean to you
And it makes me feel close to you
[Verse 3]
It makes me feel close to you
It makes me feel close to you
It's not what its supposed to do
It makes me feel close to you
[Verse 1]
I too used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me
To make sure that we’ll never be friends!
[Chorus]
And it's a shame because you and I didn’t get a witness
We’re the only ones who know!
We were cursed the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
From then on, it was his big show
From then on, it was his big show
[Verse 4]
You're wearing time like a flowery crown
Sitting there, sitting that big cat down!
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
[Verse 1]
I too used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me
To make sure that we’ll never be friends!
[Chorus]
And it's a shame because you and I did not get a witness
We’re the only ones who know
We were cursed the moment that he kissed us
From then on, it was his big show
[Post-Chorus]
I grow concern when I saw him start to covet you
When I learnt what he did, I felt close to you
In my own way, I fell in love with you
But he's made me a ghost to you
[Verse 2]
I watch him let go of your hand, I want to stand between you
But it's not what I'm supposed to do
I watch him walk over you, talk over you, be mean to you
And it makes me feel close to you
[Verse 4]
And you're wearing time like a flowery crown
Sitting there! Sitting that big cat down!
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
Trying not to let my light go out
[Verse 4]
You're wearing time like a flowery crown
Sitting there! Sitting that big cat down!
And I'm alone on the summit now
Trying not to let my light go out
[Verse 1]
Oh, I too used to want him to be proud of me
And then I just wanted him to make amends
I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me
To make sure that we’ll never be friends
[Outro]
To make sure that we’ll never be friends
To make sure that we’ll never be friends
To make sure that we’ll never be friends
@YTSharkspeare
"I wonder what lies he's told you about me
To make sure that we'll never be friends"
Too real
@StefanWalczak
This song is terrifying in its ferocity.
@groofay
It never lets up, it's just viscerally intense.
@colnago8376
snot just flew out my nose with laughter
@vanishinglyyy
i haven't seen anyone mention this yet so...
i'm just here to say that i feel pretty sure that when she says “you’re wearing time like a flowery crown/sittin there sittin that big cat down” she’s describing the image on the “strength” tarot card: a woman, wearing a crown of flowers, who calmly stands or sometimes sits beside a ferocious lion, whom with her graceful tender strength, she has tamed. in tarot tradition this card means courage, survival; inner strength and fortitude in times of danger and distress. it can also mean compassion and patience for others at your own expense. in the context of this song, it’s a chillingly powerful image. it’s haunting, really; one of her finest lyrics.
and...it’s possible that the follow up lines, “i’m alone on the summit now/trying not to let my light go out” describe the hermit card, on which a cloaked figure stands alone atop a mountain or on a precipice, holding a lantern; this card means solitude, spiritual truth, personal growth and hard-won knowledge; seeking the answers you can find only by swimming deep where no one can follow.
strength is the 8th card in the tarot, and the hermit is the 9th.
@LilaTheNerdfighter
genuinely thank you so much this is my favorite song but i had NO IDEA what this part meant
@vvrosievv
This is so cool! Thank you for this new information :)
@monkoman4172
It may all be pure coincidence, but fascinating nonetheless.
@parmalorac
Very interesting! And, the hermit represents Virgo in tarot. Fiona is a Virgo. 🙂 ♍
@nope.4254
Wow smh