Her music combines soulful rich vocals with delicate guitar accompanyment on some tracks and rhythmical energetic guitar on others. She has released a self titled E.P. in 2008 and in 2010 released her first album "Cold Water Songs".
Her sound installation work combines voice, processing and visual elements to create immersive audience experiences often exploring our idea of place, memory and identity.
The Proposal
Isobel Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come pollinate me.
And just like the birds up in the trees,
I melt into honey when you sing to me.
And when I look at you I'm 16 again,
It's like I've only just discovered men.
I giggle and play with my hair,
When you look at me with that brooding stare.
I sometimes wonder if you've found yourself a girl.
Maybe you'd like the girls round here.
I think you'd like it sound here so,
Come and visit me in Belfast,
If you come once I know you'll come twice,
I don't have to be your girlfriend,
Just to know how to make you feel nice.
And if you came to visit we'd sit by the river,
And get ourselves into a drunken stuper,
And maybe we would go to a bar I sometime visit,
Maybe it would go a little like this.
Black velvet to loosen your nerves,
Whisky mac to get you saying those words,
A Baileys on ice to round of the night,
And all that's left is to head back to mine.
The Proposal by Isobel Anderson portrays a sense of infatuation and desire for the listener's attention. The writer states that she loves the listener like a flower loves a bee and wants them to come and pollinate her. She compares herself to bees and birds, melting into honey and getting lost in the listener's singing. The writer reminisces about being 16 and discovering men, and how the listener's brooding stare makes her giggle and play with her hair. Despite wondering if the listener already has a girl, the writer extends an invitation for a visit to Belfast. She assures the listener that she doesn't have to be their girlfriend to make them feel good; they would have a good time together, perhaps getting drunk by the river or going to a bar.
Overall, The Proposal is a love song that speaks of infatuation, flattery, and a desire for connection. The writer presents herself as being happy with just the listener's presence, and the invitation to Belfast is a way of expressing the desire to take things further. The song's simplicity and heartfelt lyrics create an atmosphere of vulnerability and openness, making it a memorable expression of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you like a flower loves a bee,
I have a strong affection for you, just as a flower and a bee needed each other in a symbiotic relationship.
Come pollinate me.
Please come and fulfill my desire in every way possible.
And just like the birds up in the trees,
As the birds in the trees feel joy and happiness when they hear music, I also experience a special feeling when you sing to me.
I melt into honey when you sing to me.
Your voice has the power to make me feel overwhelmingly positive and happy.
And when I look at you I'm 16 again,
Your presence and aura of masculinity make me feel young and inexperienced again.
It's like I've only just discovered men.
Meeting you makes me feel like I'm experiencing something new and exciting again.
I giggle and play with my hair,
I feel nervous and awkward in your presence, making me giggle and fidget with my hair.
When you look at me with that brooding stare.
I feel intense and mysterious scrutiny from you, making me feel fascinated by your gaze.
You've traveled all over the world,
Your extensive travels around the world makes me wonder if you have found someone special in your life.
I sometimes wonder if you've found yourself a girl.
I am curious about your current relationship status and whether there is anyone else who can make you as happy as I do.
Maybe you'd like the girls round here.
I want to show you the kind of girls you might like in Belfast.
I think you'd like it sound here so,
I believe that Belfast is a place you would enjoy visiting, and I want to persuade you to come.
Come and visit me in Belfast,
I'm inviting you to come see me, in the city that I love.
If you come once I know you'll come twice,
I have confidence that once you visit Belfast, you will want to come back again and again.
I don't have to be your girlfriend,
You don't have to give me a commitment when you come to visit.
Just to know how to make you feel nice.
I just want to make you feel good, without any expectations or demands.
And if you came to visit we'd sit by the river,
If you come to Belfast, we could spend time together watching the river flow by.
And get ourselves into a drunken stuper,
We could enjoy alcohol and partying together, perhaps drinking so much we become intoxicated.
And maybe we would go to a bar I sometime visit,
We could go to a place that I frequent and spend more time together.
Maybe it would go a little like this.
My imagination is running free and making me wonder about a possible scenario where you and I have fun together.
Black velvet to loosen your nerves,
We could start our night with a comforting drink that helps you relax.
Whisky mac to get you saying those words,
We could then move onto another drink that would loosen your tongue and make you speak freely to me.
A Baileys on ice to round of the night,
We could finish off the night with a creamy and sweet drink, enjoying the company of each other.
And all that's left is to head back to mine.
We could then go back to my place and spend more time together, enjoying each other's company further.
Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.