Jill Tracy states that some of her biggest childhood influences were film score composers such as Bernard Herrmann, and classic suspense tales, including Alfred Hitchcock and Fritz Lang films, Ray Bradbury stories, and Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.
She is listed in San Francisco Magazine’s Top 100 Creative Forces in the Bay Area.
1999's Diabolical Streak is the first studio album featuring her back up ensemble The Malcontent Orchestra. “Evil Night Together” from Diabolical Streak was awarded the SIBL international Grand Prize for songwriting. The album was listed among the "Top 10 Neo-Cabaret albums of all time" in Shift magazine. “The Fine Art of Poisoning,” from Diabolical Streak became an animated short film in 2003, a collaboration with Bay Area animator Bill Domonkos. The film has won over 30 film festival awards and continues to screen internationally.
Jill Tracy and The Malcontent Orchestra’s original score to F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent vampire classic Nosferatu debuted live at San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema in 1999 and toured Northern California theatres during Halloween season for five consecutive years. This led to the 2002 CD release Into the Land of Phantoms.
Her latest (and fourth) album, The Bittersweet Constrain (2008), explores a heavier, cinematic sonic edge with the addition of instruments such as the sarod, harmonium, and seldom-seen Chapman Stick. The recording also features percussionist Randy Odell, horn player Ralph Carney (Tom Waits/B52's), cellist Erica Mulkey (Rasputina/Unwoman), and violinist Tony Cross (Tarentel).
Produced by Alex Nahas (John Vanderslice/Zoe Keating/LaughingStock), The Bittersweet Constrain has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "devastatingly beautiful."
Domonkos served as art director/graphic designer for The Bittersweet Constrain. The CD packaging features Jill Tracy portraiture by Bay Area surrealist photographer Michael Garlington, known for his dreamy macabre imagery shot on vintage film stock.
The Water Flows So Slow
Jill Tracy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I’ll never be afraid
Just roll me over
While the undercurrents rage
Just give me something
I can hold onto
The tide is calling
I’m through pretending
Within this calculated bliss
I’m praying for something
Worth fighting for
How come I’m sinking so fast
With such a long long way to go
Sinking so fast
And still the water flows so slow
The restless ocean
And the souls that breathe within
I’m tired of treading
When there’s someplace else to swim
I’m praying for something
Worth drowning for
How come I’m sinking so fast
With such a long long way to go
Sinking so fast
And still the water flows so slow
Immerse me headfirst
And I’ll never be afraid
Just roll me over
While the undercurrents rage
Just give me something
I’m still waiting for something
How come I’m sinking so fast
With such a long long way to go
Sinking so fast
And still the water flows so slow
The song "The Water Flows So Slow" by Jill Tracy seems to be a metaphorical description of the singer's personal struggles and desires. The first stanza suggests that the singer is willing to surrender to whatever life throws at them, as long as they have something to hold on to. The second stanza indicates that the singer is tired of pretending and wants something worth fighting for. The overall sentiment seems to be one of resignation mixed with hope, as if the singer is still trying to figure out what they want out of life but is struggling to find any real direction.
The chorus talks about sinking fast and the water flowing slow, which creates a sense of helplessness and uncertainty. The singer seems to be struggling with something that is beyond their control and they are looking for something to save them. The third stanza reveals that the singer is tired of treading water and wants to find a place to swim, even if it means drowning. The lines "I’m praying for something/Worth drowning for" shows that the singer is not only looking for something worth fighting for but is also willing to sacrifice everything for it.
The final stanza repeats the first stanza, but the repetition highlights the singer's desperation for something to hold on to. The song seems to convey a sense of restlessness and frustration that comes from not knowing what to do next. It is a powerful reminder of how hard it can be to find one's way in life and how easy it is to feel lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Immerse me headfirst
I am willing to take a risk and plunge into the unknown
and I’ll never be afraid
I am fearless and confident in my actions
Just roll me over
I am willing to surrender to the power of nature
While the undercurrents rage
Even when things are chaotic and unpredictable, I remain steadfast
Just give me something
I am searching for meaning and purpose in my life
I can hold onto
I need something tangible to anchor me in this ever-changing world
The tide is calling
I feel a pull towards something greater than myself
I’ve never seen a night like this
I am experiencing something new and unfamiliar
I’m through pretending
I am tired of hiding my true self and putting up a facade
Within this calculated bliss
I am living a life that appears perfect, but is not truly fulfilling
I’m praying for something
I am hoping for a change or something to give my life meaning
Worth fighting for
I need a cause or purpose that is worth my time, effort, and energy
How come I’m sinking so fast
I am struggling to stay afloat despite my efforts
With such a long long way to go
My journey is far from over, and it feels overwhelming
Sinking so fast
I am losing hope and feel like I am drowning
And still the water flows so slow
Despite my struggles, life continues to move forward at its own pace
The restless ocean
The world and its many challenges are constantly changing and evolving
And the souls that breathe within
People are struggling just like I am, and we are all in this together
I’m tired of treading
I am exhausted from trying to keep my head above water
When there’s someplace else to swim
I know there must be a better way to live my life
I’m praying for something
I am still searching for that sense of purpose and meaning
Worth drowning for
I am looking for something worth sacrificing myself for, something that truly matters
And I’ll never be afraid
Despite my struggles, I refuse to let fear hold me back
I’m still waiting for something
I remain patient and hopeful, knowing that the right opportunity will come my way
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulhenr1
So deep i found oil, great work!
@felipemoebis5169
incredible
@nanamama152
The chorus just screams James Bond.
@debraboaze2991
wow
@bourbonfan1
the river is swift
@moridin462
<3 Come to Cincinnati!
@johnjepsen4243
"WKRP...In Cincinnatiiii."
@RafaelLindem6-9
:)