Jen then set out on her own and recorded her first solo album, No More Wading, followed by Getting Past the Static, Post Marked Stamps No. 6 (a split 7" with Tim Kinsella), the This Uncontainable Light E.P., and her most-recent work, Traveling through Roots. She also appeared in the hit Nothing Better by The Postal Service as a guest vocalist.
Wood's music is heavy in rich acoustic sounds, incredible harmonies, deep lyrics, and soft, calming vocals.
Pills
Jen Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Against my family doctor's will.
They said they would make me smile
But instead I feel nothing,
Nothing at all.
I see that look on your face
Wondering if I'm okay.
I promise to stay near.
You won't be there forever. (x3)
I can learn to trust.
I can learn to scream.
I can learn to say yes
If that's what you need from me.
You can learn to trust.
You can learn to scream.
I can learn to say yes
If that's what you need from me.
You won't be there forever. (x4)
The lyrics to Jen Wood's song "Pills" appear to be about the struggles of mental health and the desire to cope without medication. The opening lines, "Today I threw away my pills against my family doctor's will" suggest that the singer has been prescribed medication for their mental health but has decided to stop taking it. The next line, "They said they would make me smile, but instead I feel nothing, nothing at all" implies that the medication did not have the intended effect of improving the singer's mood. In fact, it has made them feel numb or disconnected.
Later in the song, the singer addresses someone they care about, saying "I see that look on your face, wondering if I'm okay. Mother need not fear. I promise to stay near." This suggests that the singer is aware that loved ones may be worried about their decision to stop taking medication but that they feel confident in their ability to manage their mental health without it. The repeated line, "You won't be there forever" could represent the singer's desire to prove to their loved ones that they can handle their mental health on their own, without relying on medication or anyone else.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the line "I can learn to trust, I can learn to scream, I can learn to say yes if that's what you need from me" could be interpreted as the singer's determination to work through their mental health struggles and become stronger as an individual. The line "You can learn to trust, you can learn to scream" suggests that this is a process that could benefit anyone, not just the singer.
Overall, the lyrics to "Pills" portray a complex and personal struggle with mental health, as well as a sense of hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Today I threw away my pills
I decided to stop taking the medication prescribed by my doctor.
Against my family doctor's will.
I went against the advice of my doctor and stopped taking the medication.
They said they would make me smile
The pills were supposed to improve my mood and make me feel better.
But instead I feel nothing,
However, the medication had an opposite effect on me, and I now feel emotionally numb.
Nothing at all.
I don't experience any emotions, not even sadness, because of the medication.
I see that look on your face
I notice the concerned expression on your face.
Wondering if I'm okay.
You are worried if I'm doing fine.
Mother need not to fear.
Mom, you don't need to worry about me.
I promise to stay near.
I assure you that I'll be close by and not go far away.
You won't be there forever. (x3)
I acknowledge that you won't be with me permanently, and I'll have to learn to take care of myself.
I can learn to trust.
I'm willing to learn to have faith in others.
I can learn to scream.
I'm ready to start raising my voice and expressing my feelings freely.
I can learn to say yes
I can try to get used to agreeing with things that I might not necessarily agree with.
If that's what you need from me.
If that's what you require from me, I'm willing to attempt it.
You won't be there forever. (x4)
I understand that everyone has to leave someday, and I'll have to learn to cope on my own.
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.