After leaving home at an early age to travel the country, Segarra eventually settled in New Orleans where they began to perform and record with a revolving cast of musicians. They released two records (2008's It Don't Mean I Don't Love You and 2010's Young Blood Blues) mostly consisting of delicate folk and country songs. In 2011, the UK record label Loose Music (Felice Brothers, Dawes, Deer Tick), released Hurray for the Riff Raff, an album that collected the best songs from those records. The Times of London named Hurray for the Riff Raff one of the Top Ten Albums of 2011. Phil Alexander, the Editor-in-Chief of Mojo Magazine, raved that they “have immense potential and seductive power” and named them second best band at SXSW 2011.
Back in the States, Alynda met up with a young honky-tonk band called the Tumbleweeds, just as they began to expand they musical palette to include rock n roll, pop, and soul. In the tradition of Bob Dylan with Band and Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Alynda recruited the Tumbleweeds to be their touring band, drastically altering the sound of Hurray for the Riff Raff.
Look Out Mama is the result of almost two years of Alynda and the Tumbleweeds criss-crossing the USA, playing over 100 shows in small bars and clubs. Recorded in Nashville by producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes), Look Out Mama is an exploration of classic American music as interpreted by Alynda lee Segarra. From the Swamp Pop of "Little Black Star" to the Classic Country of "Look Out Mama", to the Psychedelia of “Ode to John and Yoko” and even the Surf-Rock of “Lake of Fire”, Look Out Mama covers a wide array of musical ground, with every song unified by Alynda’s soulful vocals and expert songwriting.
Take Me
Hurray For The Riff Raff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You could take me cause it makes you happy
And then you throw me on the ground
Throw me on the ground
Throw me on the ground
Throw me on the ground
You could take me cause it is so easy
That's been taking up the sun
Taking up the sun
Taking up the sun
No good to anyone
You could take me cause it is so easy
You could take me and then you can leave me
Yeah you turn my head around
Turn my head around
Turn my head around
Throw me on the ground
The lyrics of "Take Me" by Hurray For The Riff Raff depict a situation where the singer pleads to be taken by someone with ease. The song describes the singer as willing to be taken even if it means being thrown on the ground, cut down like an old tree, or left alone by the person who takes them. The lyrics suggest a feeling of helplessness and willingness to be treated poorly, possibly driven by a desire for acceptance or a dependency on the other person.
The repetition of "throw me on the ground" and "turn my head around" emphasizes the disregard for the singer's feelings and well-being. The lyrics also refer to the singer as "no good to anyone," which can be interpreted as a reflection of their low self-esteem or a justification for the mistreatment they endure from others. The emotions conveyed in the song are poignant and relatable, as many people have experienced similar situations where they allow themselves to be mistreated or taken for granted.
Overall, "Take Me" is a song about the human desire for connection and acceptance, even if it means sacrificing one's own dignity and self-respect. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to be treated poorly and taken advantage of in order to feel wanted, which is a sad but common experience for many people.
Line by Line Meaning
You could take me cause it is so easy
I am vulnerable and weak, and it would be effortless for you to manipulate me.
You could take me cause it makes you happy
Your joy comes from causing me pain and suffering.
And then you throw me on the ground
Once you are done using me, you discard me like an object - with no regard for my feelings or well-being.
Throw me on the ground
You see me as disposable, and my value to you is limited.
Throw me on the ground
I am not worthy of your respect or care.
Throw me on the ground
My existence means little to you, and you have no qualms about hurting me.
You could cut me down like an old tree
You see me as something to be removed and discarded, like a nuisance or obstacle.
That's been taking up the sun
I may have been flourishing and growing, but in your eyes, I am a hindrance to your happiness.
Taking up the sun
My presence is an inconvenience to you, and you feel entitled to remove me from your path.
No good to anyone
Once I am of no use to you, I am expendable and no longer valuable.
You could take me and then you can leave me
You have no intention of staying, and your goal is to use me for your own pleasure before discarding me.
Yeah you turn my head around
Your manipulation and abuse has left me dazed and confused, unsure of my own worth and purpose.
Turn my head around
You have disrupted my life and sense of self, leaving me disoriented and struggling to make sense of what has happened to me.
Throw me on the ground
You have no empathy or regard for my well-being, and will hurt me without hesitation.
Contributed by Addison H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.