In 2018, Garrett released their first EP titled "Pockets." This collection featured songs written on individual instruments, each representing different aspects of Garrett's life. While their submission for NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts series was not selected, Boston's WBUR-FM recognized their talent and chose their song "Space Girl" as their favorite submission from Massachusetts. WBUR-FM described Frances Forever's songwriting as reminiscent of smart bedroom pop, showcasing cheerful-sounding melodies that belie deeper emotions such as sadness, longing, and resentment. Frances Forever went on to perform at WBUR's CityScape event on August 23, 2019.
On March 27, 2020, "Space Girl" was officially released as a single and gained immense popularity through TikTok, amassing over 10 million streams on various streaming platforms. The song debuted at number 23 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart in December 2020. Shortly after, on December 16, 2020, Frances Forever signed with Mom + Pop Music. They collaborated with Chloe Moriondo on a remix of "Space Girl," which was released on January 29, 2021. A music video for the song followed on March 3, 2021. Frances Forever's second EP, titled "Paranoia Party," was released on July 9, 2021.
In an interview with Dork in August 2021, Frances Forever cited Taylor Swift as a musical inspiration and revealed a childhood connection to Swift's music. Frances Garrett identifies as pansexual and non-binary, using singular they pronouns. They were diagnosed with ADHD during their childhood. In 2021, Garrett obtained a degree in music and music technology from Clark University.
Frankenstein Wannabe
Frances Forever Lyrics
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Stitch them back together
I could be a girl
Who's mind is fine
I'm alright
I'm fine
Water in my eyes too many times on the weekend
Got a lot of problems
Hi, trying not to cry
I got no fucking idea where I am
And I got no fucking idea of where I'm going
I don't deserve the love that I'm getting
And I don't deserve the love that I got
I wish I could give you
All the love you gave to me
Wish we could be back in that fucking tree
Frankenstein wannabe
Don't got one original thought inside my head
Won't be alone with myself even going to bed
My pieces
Are made of other peoples pieces
My frontal lobe is from some Russian acrobat
My hippocampuses-I can't remember
A cup of this, and a pinch of that?
My cerebellum is from a girl named Sarah
But um the only part of my that's from me
Is the part that knows how to write songs
I got no fucking idea where I am
And I got no fucking idea of where I'm going
I don't deserve the love that I'm getting
And I don't deserve the love that I got
I wish I could give you
All the love you gave to me
Wish we could be back in that fucking tree
Frankenstein wannabe
Everything's fine, I'm alright
Everything's fine
Frances Forever's "Frankenstein Wannabe" is a melancholic mixture of self-deprecation, insecurity and anxiety. The song addresses the issue of identity crisis and feelings of unworthiness. The lyrics depict a desire to cut one's brain up into small pieces, stitch them back again and become somebody else entirely. The persona wishes they could be a girl whose mind is fine, which could imply that the character struggles with their mental health. The verse "don't got one original thought inside my head, won't be alone with myself even going to bed" suggests a longing for connection and an avoidance of feeling lonely. The persona talks about feeling lost and undeserving of the love that they have received, and they wish they could reciprocate it.
In the second verse, the persona describes their mind as a patchwork of other people's pieces, with various parts of their brain belonging to others. They don't entirely know who they are, but they are confident they can write songs. It is unclear who their 'pieces' belong to, but their Russian acrobat frontal lobe and Sarah's cerebellum echo the idea of creating a human being from spare body parts, much like Victor Frankenstein's monster. Despite feeling like a Frankenstein wannabe, Frances Forever reassures themselves and the listener that "Everything's fine, I'm alright, everything's fine" at the end of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish I could cut my brain up in little tiny pieces
I wish I could compartmentalize and focus on individual aspects of life, one little piece at a time.
Stitch them back together
Once I understand each piece of my life, I want to put everything back together in a way that makes sense and brings happiness and fulfillment.
I could be a girl
I want to be a different person with a refreshed perspective on life.
Who's mind is fine
I want to rid myself of negative thoughts and mend my thought processes for good.
I'm alright
I'm okay, despite the hardships I'm currently experiencing.
I'm fine
I'm okay, despite the hardships I'm currently experiencing.
Water in my eyes too many times on the weekend
I've cried frequently over the weekend and feel emotionally drained.
Got a lot of problems
I have a lot of personal problems that are weighing me down.
That I can't even tell my best friend
I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about my problems, despite having a best friend who is willing to listen.
Hi, trying not to cry
I'm currently trying to hold back my tears and keep my composure.
I got no fucking idea where I am
I feel lost in life and don't know my place in the world.
And I got no fucking idea of where I'm going
I don't know where I'm headed in life and feel scared that I'm going nowhere.
I don't deserve the love that I'm getting
I feel unworthy of receiving love and affection from others.
And I don't deserve the love that I got
I feel unworthy of the love and affection I've already received from others.
I wish I could give you
I want to show love and appreciation to someone who has shown me kindness.
All the love you gave to me
I want to reciprocate the love and kindness that someone has shown me in the past.
Wish we could be back in that fucking tree
I miss a time when things were simpler and felt more peaceful.
Frankenstein wannabe
I feel like I'm pieced together from various sources and not really my own person.
Don't got one original thought inside my head
I feel like all my thoughts are borrowed from others and not original ideas of my own.
Won't be alone with myself even going to bed
I can't stand being left alone with my thoughts, even at bedtime.
My pieces
My identity is composed of various sources.
Are made of other peoples pieces
I feel like I'm a patchwork of other people's thoughts, ideas, and personalities.
My frontal lobe is from some Russian acrobat
I feel like my intellectual capacity comes from an unknown, unlikely source.
My hippocampuses-I can't remember
I can't even remember the source of my most important memories and experiences.
A cup of this, and a pinch of that?
I feel like I'm a recipe for a person, with a specific formula and mix of ingredients.
My cerebellum is from a girl named Sarah
I feel like my physical and mental coordination come from someone I barely know or remember.
But um the only part of my that's from me
The only part of me that feels like the truest representation of myself is the part that expresses through creative work.
Is the part that knows how to write songs
The only aspect of my identity that I feel is truly unique to me is my ability to express myself through songwriting.
Everything's fine, I'm alright
Despite the chaos and uncertainty in my life, I'm doing my best to maintain composure and stay positive.
Writer(s): Frances Garrett
Contributed by Emma P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.