In 2006 Isobel released a collaborative LP (Ballad of the Broken Seas) with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, a mixture of folk and more rock-orientated music. October 2006 also saw the release of her latest album, Milkwhite Sheets, a more acoustic folk album, consisting of a mixture of traditional songs alonside Isobel's own compositions.
Isobel's band The Gentle Waves released its first album on Jeepster Records, titled The Green Fields of Foreverland, in 1999. The second Gentle Waves record, Swansong For You came out one year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holliday songs, released by Creeping Bent.
In 2003 Campbell released Amorino, the first solo album under her own name, to very good reviews. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians.
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan form a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They have released three albums so far: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. And finally their third album Hawk was released in August 2010.
Bordello Queen
Isobel Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she's talking to you and she's talking to me
The night is long and you're so all alone
Follow the trail of scent if you roam
Where the men are fools and the girls so wise
Act your age, not your shoe size, not your shoe size
Turn left at the station and right past the bend
Step inside, only talk is cheap
Under look and key, take a chance on me
Slowly make you feel fine
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Masculine women and feminine men
You be the rooster and I'll be the hen
You be the rooster and I'll be the hen
Call me your lover, don't call me a friend
Don't want to be your mother
Don't want to be your little girl
In this man's world, man's world
A woman's world in a man's world
Got to stand on your feet, rise up to defeat
If you tell a lie, I'll spit on your eye
If you want to fight, going to show you right
We all pay a price with a spin of the dice
Nothing in this god-forsaken world is free
Let's go little boy, won't you come with me
Now we skip to the finest hour
Pink colours and sunshine and rhythms and flowers
No Jack cums with a guarantee
I'm talking to you and you're talking to me
The night plays tricks when you're all alone
The lights are on, but no one's home
I'm not ornamental, it's elemental
"If you cross the line, then you're out this time"
Initiate, initiate, dominate, dominate
Communicate, don't implicate
Didn't ask to be born, might as well get along
Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong
Yet don't take fright at John's trombone song
Are you all alone
The song "Bordello Queen" by Isobel Campbell is a tale of a woman who is offering guidance to those who feel lost in life. The woman advises that no one comes with a guarantee, not even oneself. The night is long and one can feel all alone, but the woman suggests following a trail of scent if one chooses to roam. The men are foolish and the girls are wise. One should act their age, not their shoe size. The song then describes the way to the bordello, saying to turn left at the station and right past the bend, wait for a signal softly, and then climb the stairs to the final peak. The place is under lock and key, but the woman invites the listener to take a chance on her. She promises to slowly make them feel fine and to kiss them where the sun doesn't shine.
The song then delves into gender roles, describing masculine women and feminine men. The woman says she will be the hen and the listener can be the rooster, but not to call her a friend. She doesn't want to be a mother nor a little girl in a man's world. The second half of the song is about communication and not implicating others. The woman didn't ask to be born, but one might as well get along. The song ends with the woman stating that there is no guarantee, but that she is talking to the listener and that they are talking to her.
Line by Line Meaning
She says nobody comes with a guarantee
No one in this world has an assured future
And she's talking to you and she's talking to me
This is a message addressed to everyone
The night is long and you're so all alone
The darkness hides your loneliness
Follow the trail of scent if you roam
If you wander, follow your instincts
Where the men are fools and the girls so wise
People in this place possess contrasting qualities
Act your age, not your shoe size, not your shoe size
Behave according to your maturity level
Turn left at the station and right past the bend
Follow these directions to reach your destination
Wait for a signal softly and then climb the stairs to their final peak
Wait for the signal to proceed to the end of the path
Step inside, only talk is cheap
When you enter, words are the most easily accessible commodity
Under look and key, take a chance on me
Take a risk by entering a guarded place
Slowly make you feel fine
Gradually lift your spirits
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Affectionate gesture of intimacy
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Affectionate gesture of intimacy
Kiss you where the sun don't shine
Affectionate gesture of intimacy
Masculine women and feminine men
The men and women defy societal norms
You be the rooster and I'll be the hen
We can take any roles we choose
You be the rooster and I'll be the hen
We can take any roles we choose
Call me your lover, don't call me a friend
I want a more intimate relationship with you
Don't want to be your mother
I don't want to be in charge of you
Don't want to be your little girl
I don't want to be your subordinate
In this man's world, man's world
This is a male-dominated society
A woman's world in a man's world
Women exist within men's world
Got to stand on your feet, rise up to defeat
You need to be strong and able to conquer challenges
If you tell a lie, I'll spit on your eye
I won't tolerate dishonesty
If you want to fight, going to show you right
I won't back down from a challenge
We all pay a price with a spin of the dice
Life is a game of chance and has consequences
Nothing in this god-forsaken world is free
There is always a cost in everything
Let's go little boy, won't you come with me
Come with me and leave your old self behind
Now we skip to the finest hour
We fast-forward to the best moment
Pink colours and sunshine and rhythms and flowers
A description of an idyllic scene
No Jack cums with a guarantee
Nothing in this world has a complete assurance of success
I'm talking to you and you're talking to me
This is a conversation between us
The night plays tricks when you're all alone
The darkness can deceive you into having false perceptions
The lights are on, but no one's home
Someone might be there physically, but not mentally or emotionally
I'm not ornamental, it's elemental
My value is based on essential qualities rather than appearance
"If you cross the line, then you're out this time"
If you overstep the boundaries, you'll face repercussions
Initiate, initiate, dominate, dominate
Take charge of the situation
Communicate, don't implicate
Make sure your message clearly conveys your intention
Didn't ask to be born, might as well get along
Since we didn't choose to exist, we should make the most of what we have
Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong
I am uncertain and open to different possibilities
Yet don't take fright at John's trombone song
Don't be afraid of what is unfamiliar or strange
Are you all alone
Are you by yourself?
Contributed by Nicholas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eric Rottink
brilliantje