"I had been thinking a lot about the wild -- about instinct and intuition", Halstead says. "I knew that I wanted to capture these ideas on this album but I just wasn't sure how it would happen. Once I got to the studio and played through the songs, the answer seemed obvious."
Halstead decided to scrap all but two songs ("Building you an Altar", co-written with David Wax, and "Heart Song"). Ditching her trademark character sketches she started over, writing in first person and swapping her guitar for piano and ukulele. In ten days, she and Evan Brubaker (producer of Halstead's debut album, The River Grace) wrote and tracked nine new tunes, including "Rodeo of Sadness" and "Never Another", inspired by Elliot Smith's last moments. The result is Raised By Wolves -- Halstead’s most personal and ambitious recording thus far. "I am still surprised by it," Halstead says. "We just followed our instincts, just like I had hoped to. Even the songs like ‘River of Doubt’, that I would've normally considered 'dark' don't seem to feel that way because there is so much energy behind them."
With creative abandon, Raised By Wolves slams an old beat box into surf guitars, banjo, and ukulele; mixing a chorus of tenor guitars, handclaps, and synth bass. Drawing on influences like PJ Harvey and Kate Bush, multi-instrumentalist/producer Brubaker (Rachel Harrington & The Knockouts, Edie Carey) empties the musical space, giving all the attention to Halstead’s extraordinary voice. The twisted banjo of Danny Barnes, sly drumming of Joel Litwin, and nearly unrecognizable Dobro of Colby Sander help Raised By Wolves create a re-invigorated Dark Pop/Americana that surrounds Halstead’s vocals with a variety of surprises.
Halstead grew up in the high desert of Spokane, Washington, the daughter of hippie parents who let her find her own direction. She spent her childhood exploring her mother’s garden and singing along to records with her Dad. In middle school, she transformed into the rarest of birds; an athletic choir geek who sang medieval choral works, but loved Led Zeppelin and Dolly Parton. She wrote quietly on her own for years, moving from place to place – Spokane to Seattle to nowhere Alaska, before moving to Boston in 2007. She collected all of her songs into what would become The River Grace. Raised By Wolves reclaims the careless freedom of her childhood with a sense of wonder that is unique and fiercely engaging.
Skin
Jenee Halstead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She will not be denied
Don't touch, don't touch
Words are never enough and you cry
She is salvation
She is your friend
She only wants to
She's the only one who knows
All of the secrets you hold
She's the only one who knows, knows
She only wants to
Feel you against her skin
She goes along her way
You miss her, yet there is nothing to say
She is your friend
But she only want to feel you against her skin, against her skin
She's the only one who knows
All of the secrets you hold
She's the only one who knows, knows
She's the only one who knows
All of the secrets you hold
She's the only one who knows, knows
Whisper in her ear and let her know
All of the secrets that you hold
Whisper in her ear and let her know, know
The lyrics to Jenee Halstead's song "Skin" convey a sense of longing and desire for physical connection and intimacy. The repeated refrain of "Don't touch, don't touch" suggests a yearning for touch and closeness that cannot be denied. The singer craves a deeper connection beyond mere words, as they realize that words alone are never enough to fulfill their emotional and physical needs. The line "She is salvation, she is your friend" implies that the person they desire represents both a saving grace and a trusted confidant.
The song highlights the singer's fixation on the sensation of feeling someone against their skin, emphasizing the power and intimacy of touch. The repetition of the phrase "She's the only one who knows all of the secrets you hold" suggests that the person they desire is someone who truly understands them, someone with whom they can share their deepest secrets and desires. The singer finds solace and comfort in this person, longing for their touch and cherishing the connection they share.
Overall, the lyrics of "Skin" evoke a complex mix of longing, vulnerability, and longing for intimate connection. It explores the deep desire for physical touch and the emotional importance of finding someone who truly understands and accepts us.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't touch, don't touch
She desires to set boundaries and warns against physical contact
She will not be denied
She is resolute and will not accept being refused
Don't touch, don't touch
Her need for distance is reiterated
Words are never enough and you cry
Verbal communication fails to satisfy her, leading to emotional distress
She is salvation
She provides redemption and deliverance
She is your friend
She serves as a source of companionship and support
She only wants to feel you against her skin
The physical presence of another brings her comfort and fulfillment
She's the only one who knows all of the secrets you hold
She possesses exclusive knowledge about your hidden truths
She's the only one who knows, knows
She alone comprehends the depths of your innermost secrets
She goes along her way
She continues her journey independently
You miss her, yet there is nothing to say
You long for her presence, but find no words to express it
She is your friend
She remains a close companion to you
But she only wants to feel you against her skin, against her skin
However, her primary desire is to experience physical connection with you
She's the only one who knows all of the secrets you hold
She is the sole individual with complete awareness of your hidden truths
She's the only one who knows, knows
She possesses exclusive understanding of your innermost secrets
She's the only one who knows all of the secrets you hold
She maintains sole knowledge of the entirety of your concealed truths
She's the only one who knows, knows
She alone comprehends the depths of your innermost secrets
Whisper in her ear and let her know
Confide in her privately and make her aware
All of the secrets that you hold
Share with her the entirety of your concealed truths
Whisper in her ear and let her know, know
In a hushed tone, inform her and ensure her understanding
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dave Brophy, Jenee Halstead, Susan Cattaneo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind