Hoop has lived all over the map, and her rich life experience is reflected in her distinctive voice and natural gift for inventive song craft. She learned to sing at an early age, harmonising with her musical Mormon family in northern California. She began writing highly idiosyncratic songs at the age of 14 to keep her company on her long walks to school. At 16, Hoop broke away from her strict upbringing and began what she calls her 'life as a racoon', off the grid & close to nature. Rambling through the high mountain deserts of the Southwest and along the coastlines of the Northwest, she worked as a wilderness survival guide and chalked up skills in farming, surveying, and carpentry. Her songwriting continued throughout, shared on porches, in deep river canyons and around campfires.
In 2004 the desire to share these songs on a broader scale set in. She settled in Los Angeles, where she honed her songwriting craft and developed a reputation as a unique and beguiling live performer of real substance. Though she now resides in Manchester, England, Hoop returned to Los Angeles to record her third album, The House That Jack Built.
Jesca has quite the collection of fans in high places: Tom Waits described her music as being "like a four sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch or red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night". Peter Gabriel took her to South America to sing with him, and in recent years she has been hand picked to play as support on tour for Eels, Andrew Bird, Punch Brothers, Shearwater and Elbow: Elbow's Guy Garvey has even had her do stints as guest presenter on his BBC radio show, to great reception.
The follow up to 2009's critically acclaimed Hunting My Dress, "The House That Jack Built" displays a striking duality: light and dark, head and heart, it juxtaposes the macabre and visceral with a disarmingly candid intimacy. The resulting combination is powerfully evocative, with overarching themes of biology, nature and humanity - Hoop's stone-turning observations are mired in the equal beauty and violence of a nature that, for her, is clearly red in tooth and claw.
Hospital
Jesca Hoop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Today’s the day
Man, that hurt
Its worth the pain
There’s a new queen in this house
She’s plastered up
Behold the sight
Just look up
Have i gone to heaven or to hospital
Im dreamin of the hospital
Im dreamin of mom and dad
Look at me like they did back when
I’m born again
Daddy’s girl and Mama’s princess
Sister Jen
She doesn’t exist till when
I need something
She’ll bring me ice creams, I’m in hospital
I’m dreamin’ of the hospital
I’m dreamin’ of the date with the doctor is a golden ticket
I want your attention now I’m gonna get it uh huh
And now come on you cunt come come on and hit me
There’s no kind of attention that a black eye wouldn’t get me uh nuh huh
And there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
There’s nothing like a fresh abrasion to win your love
You can work on your bedside manner
And you can kiss it till it gets better
And there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
Ohhh my old friends
I’m voting you out or in
You envy me
I walk the red carpet to my cast signin’
A crayon or a marker pen
And all of the It girls ask me what it’s like in hospital
I’m dreamin’ of the hospital
I’m dreamin’ of the hospital
Its dreamy
and the date with the doctor is a golden ticket
I want your attention now I’m gonna get it uh huh
And now come on you cunt come come on and hit me
There’s no kind of attention that a black eye wouldn’t get me
And there’s nothing like a broken arm
To win your love
There’s nothing like a fresh abrasion to win your love
You can work on your bedside manner
And you can make me feel like i matter
And there’s nothing like a broken arm
To win your love
There’s nothing like a fresh abrasion to win your love
Oh now
You can work on your bedside manner
And you can kiss it till it gets better
Ad there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
I got five weeks, 41 days, 1000 glorious hours
To wave my arm and get what I want with my new found powers
But this is not a fairytale with a happy ending
When the clock strikes twelve will I ever find your love again
And there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
There’s nothing like a fresh abrasion to win your love
And You can work on your bedside manner
Can make me feel like I matter
And there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
The lyrics to Jesca Hoop's "Hospital" explore the complex emotions that are often experienced during a period of sickness or injury. The song seems to be written from the perspective of someone who has just been admitted to the hospital and is reflecting on their current situation, as well as on past experiences that have shaped their feelings about medical care.
The first verse of the song establishes a sense of painful resignation: "Just my luck / Today's the day / Man, that hurt / It's worth the pain." The singer contemplates their new station in life: "There's a new queen in this house / She's plastered up / Behold the sight / Just look up / Fluorescent light." They then reflect on childhood memories of being taken care of by their parents and sister when sick or injured. The longing for that nurturing care and attention seems to be at the heart of the song's emotional arc.
The second verse takes a surprising turn, as the singer considers the possibility of using their injury to manipulate others: "And now come on you cunt come come on and hit me / There's no kind of attention that a black eye wouldn't get me." The song then returns to its main theme, exploring the idea that injuries and hospitalization can be an opportunity to connect with others in a more intimate way: "There's nothing like a broken arm to win your love / There's nothing like a fresh abrasion to win your love / You can work on your bedside manner / And you can make me feel like I matter."
Overall, "Hospital" is a complex and emotional song that explores the intersection of physical pain, emotional need, and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Just my luck
Unfortunate events seem to revolve around me.
Today’s the day
Today marks the beginning of something significant.
Man, that hurt
The pain I am experiencing is intense.
Its worth the pain
Although it hurts, there is a purpose to the suffering.
There’s a new queen in this house
Someone else has taken charge and is now in control.
She’s plastered up
She is no longer vulnerable and has received medical attention.
Behold the sight
Look and see the transformation that has occurred.
Just look up
Direct your attention upwards to see the fluorescent light above.
Fluorescent light
The lighting in the hospital is mainly provided by fluorescent light.
Have i gone to heaven or to hospital
The scene is so surreal that it feels like being in heaven or a hospital dream.
Im dreamin of the hospital
The lines between reality and dream are blurred, and I am fantasizing about the place where I am.
Im dreamin of mom and dad
I miss the comfort and security of my parents from my childhood.
Look at me like they did back when
I want to be treated and looked after like a dependent child by my parents once again.
I’m born again
I feel like I have been given a new lease of life after experiencing medical care.
Daddy’s girl and Mama’s princess
I long for the familial love and attention of my parents during my hospital stay.
Sister Jen
My sister is someone I only turn to when I need something.
She doesn’t exist till when
I don't think about her until I need her help.
She’ll bring me ice creams, I’m in hospital
She will only show up and bring me any treats if I'm in the hospital.
I’m dreamin’ of the date with the doctor is a golden ticket
The opportunity to see the doctor feels like an exclusive golden ticket.
I want your attention now I’m gonna get it uh huh
I crave your attention and will do what it takes to get it.
And now come on you cunt come come on and hit me
I am willing to endure physical pain if it means getting the attention I crave.
There’s no kind of attention that a black eye wouldn’t get me uh nuh huh
I believe a black eye is one way to get attention from those who ignore me.
And there’s nothing like a broken arm to win your love
An injury is an effective way to receive affection and love from others.
Ohhh my old friends
My long-time friends are still in my thoughts.
I’m voting you out or in
I am reassessing and deciding whether to keep my friends around or not.
You envy me
You are jealous of me and what I have been through.
I walk the red carpet to my cast signin’
I am proud of my injury and the attention it has garnered.
A crayon or a marker pen
I am asked to sign my cast with either a crayon or marker pen.
And all of the It girls ask me what it’s like in hospital
I am treated like a celebrity and am asked about my hospital experience by those who are trendy or fashionable.
Its dreamy
The experience of being in the hospital is like a dream.
I got five weeks, 41 days, 1000 glorious hours
I have a set amount of time left in the hospital, each day filled with precious moments.
To wave my arm and get what I want with my new found powers
I have discovered the power of my injury and will use it to get what I want.
But this is not a fairytale with a happy ending
The reality of my situation is that it won't necessarily end with a happy conclusion.
When the clock strikes twelve will I ever find your love again
Once my injury is healed and the attention has faded, will I still find love and affection from others?
And You can work on your bedside manner
Medical professionals can improve their methods of care and communication with patients.
Can make me feel like I matter
Showing compassion and care to patients can make them feel valued and important.
Writer(s): Jesca Hoop Copyright: Curuja Songs, Stage Three Songs
Contributed by Elena O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GentleThunder1
God I love her. She is so talented and personable! I saw her perform at Hoxton Hall yesterday, she has this wonderful peaceful presence about her that's difficult to describe. Her lyrics are so rich and intricate, her voice is hauntingly beautiful, I don't get why she's not an inter-galactic superstar yet!
@chrisgentry9953
Yeah. I agree 100%
@chrisgentry9953
AMAZING POP SONG!!!
@rpeirce9044
Brilliant. Poppy little song with a heavy, dark topic. The only attention she gets from friends and family is when she’s hurt, so she enjoys being hurt to get the attention she desperately needs. Genius songwriting. If you’re smart enough, you get it.
@jmacs555
Jesca is the best one-arm dancer I've ever seen. Props
@shiteyanyo1111
I love this song so much, the lyrics are very brilliant
@Kosative
So wonderful. Miss Hoop is pure genius
@jamwithmates123
I've got 5 weeks, 41 days, 1000 glorious hours to wave my arm and get what I want with my new-found powers. Brilliant lyric
@hikixx
Your videos are always so whimsical! This was whimsical but so different from your past albums! Love!
@GiovanaSGG
It's a song about self harming, and gaining attention (in this case from
the parents) by getting hurt. As explained live on stage by Jesca Hoop
at the Cloudspotting festival 2013.