After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, Newsom was signed to the independent label Drag City. Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004 to critical acclaim and garnered Newsom an underground following. She would receive wider exposure with the release of Ys (2006), which charted at number 134 on the Billboard 200.
She released two further albums: Have One on Me (2010) and Divers (2015), the latter of which outsold all of her previous albums. Newsom has been noted by critics for her unique musical style, sometimes characterized as psychedelic folk, and for her prominent use of harp instrumentation. She has also appeared as an actress with roles in the television series Portlandia and in the 2014 film Inherent Vice.
- Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie
Joanna Newsom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I come from
I am cold, out waiting for the day to come
I chew my lips oh, and I scratch my nose
Feels so good to be a rose
Oh don't, don't you lift me up
Just give it up
There are bats all dissolving in a row
Into the wishy-washy dark that cannot let go
And I cannot let go
So I thank the lord
And I thank his sword
Though it be mincing up the morning, slightly bored
O, morning without warning like a hole
And I watch you go
There are some mornings when the sky looks like a road
There are some dragons who were built to have and hold
And some machines are dropped from great heights lovingly
And some great bellies ache with many bumblebees
And they sting so terribly
I do as I please
Now I'm on my knees
Your skin is something that I stir into my tea
And I am watching you
And you are starry, starry, starry
And I'm tumbling down, and I check a frown
It's why I love this town
Well, just look around
To see me serenaded hourly, celebrated sourly
Dedicated dourly, waltzing with the open sea
Clam, crab, cockle, cowrie
Will you just look at me?
The lyrics of Joanna Newsom's "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" paint a rich, vivid picture of a dream-like world that is all at once mystical, whimsical, and mysterious. The opening lines set the scene, describing a cold and restless mood that emphasizes the feeling of waiting for something that hasn't yet arrived. This is a feeling that many people can relate to, and the abstract language used here does a great job of capturing this evocative sense of anticipation.
As the song progresses, the lyrics begin to delve deeper into these themes of waiting, longing, and wanting. The lines "I chew my lips, oh, and I scratch my nose / Feels so good to be a rose" suggest a subtle desire to change, to transform oneself into something new and beautiful, even if doing so is painful or difficult. This is a powerful expression of the human urge to grow and evolve, no matter the cost.
The rest of the song builds on these same themes, using a mix of lyrical imagery and witty phrasing to create a sense of playful, theatrical drama. While the meaning of some individual lines may be difficult to parse, taken as a whole, the various images and impressions woven throughout the song create an enticing, self-contained world of their own.
Some possible interpretations of the song's themes might include ideas like the beauty of transformation, the power of waiting and anticipation, and the importance of embracing change even when it is painful or difficult. Whatever interpretation listeners find for themselves, however, it is clear that "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" is a richly creative and deeply thoughtful piece of music that rewards close study and thoughtful reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
That means no
I am not willing to do it
Where I come from
In my hometown
I am cold, out waiting for the day to come
I am anxious and waiting for something to happen
I chew my lips oh, and I scratch my nose
I am nervous
Feels so good to be a rose
I enjoy feeling beautiful and admired
Oh don't, don't you lift me up
Don't try to flatter me
Like I'm that shy, no no no no no
I am not as shy as you think
Just give it up
Stop trying to persuade me
There are bats all dissolving in a row
There are things falling apart
Into the wishy-washy dark that cannot let go
The darkness is overwhelming
And I cannot let go
I am stuck and cannot move forward
So I thank the lord
I am grateful for what I have
And I thank his sword
I appreciate both the good and the bad that have helped shape me
Though it be mincing up the morning, slightly bored
Even though it feels mundane
O, morning without warning like a hole
The morning came unwelcomed
And I watch you go
I see things slipping away
There are some mornings when the sky looks like a road
The future feels uncertain
There are some dragons who were built to have and hold
Some things seem destined to be yours
And some machines are dropped from great heights lovingly
Some things are cherished even when they're being let go of
And some great bellies ache with many bumblebees
There is pain even in what brings us joy
And they sting so terribly
It hurts so much
I do as I please
I do what I want
Now I'm on my knees
I have hit a low point
Your skin is something that I stir into my tea
I love you so much I want to consume you
And I am watching you
I am always paying attention
And you are starry, starry, starry
You shine brightly and mesmerize me
And I'm tumbling down, and I check a frown
I am falling apart and trying to hide it
It's why I love this town
This chaos is what I crave
Well, just look around
Take a moment to see
To see me serenaded hourly, celebrated sourly
To see how I am adored but also resented
Dedicated dourly, waltzing with the open sea
Determinedly persisting in my way, even if it's daunting
Clam, crab, cockle, cowrie
Not sure, likely just a nonsensical list of sea creatures for poetic effect
Will you just look at me?
Am I not worth looking at?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joanna Newsom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jae
That means no
Where I come from
I am cold, out waiting for the day to come
I chew my lips
And I scratch my nose
Feels so good to be a rose
Oh don't
Don't you lift me up
Like I'm that shy no-no-no-no-no, just give it up
Oh there are bats all dissolving in a row
Into the wishy-washy dark that cannot let go
Well I cannot let go
So I thank the lord
And I thank his sword
Though it be mincing up the morning, slightly bored
Oh oh oh, morning
Without warning
Like a hole
Oh, and I watch you go
There are some mornings when the sky looks like a road
There are some dragons who were built to have and hold
And some machines are dropped from great heights lovingly
And some great bellies ache with many bumblebees
And they sting so terribly
I do as I please
And now I'm on my knees
Your skin is something that I stir into my tea
And I am watching you
And you are starry, starry, starry
And I'm tumbling down
And I check a frown
That's why I love this town
Well just look around
To see me
Serenaded hourly
Celebrated sourly
Dedicated dourly
Waltzing with the open sea
Clam, crab, cockle, cowrie
Will you just look at me!
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Andrew Williams
Top 10 Joanna Tracks:-
just my opinion:-
10) Have One On Me
9) Bridges and Balloons
8) Clam, Crab, Cockle Cowrie
7) Divers
6) Monkey and Bear
5) Time, as a Symptom
4) Baby Birch
3) In California
2) En Gallop
1) Goose Eggs
Combed Autumn
my family looked at me like I was a nut case when this album came out back in the day and I was listening to it, not the type of thing your supposed to be into when your a teenage lad from the roughest council estate in your town in the north of England 😅 still love it though all these years later 😎 I almost don't feel like I'm worthy of listening to it, I'm sullying it's purity with my shallow souls very presence 😂
skuldug1
her music sounds too pure for anyone. it's magic
animalloverabh
Combed Autumn this is my favourite comment on a youtube video, ever
J
Combed Autumn I'm a teenager and I'm in love with her music don't worry
f t
Glad I'm not the only one
Karen Varian
a shallow soul would not listen to this. thank you combed autumn
emmablowguns.
When my grandmother died, my dad played this on repeat for weeks. I started listening to it on repeat too, trying to unlock what about it resonated with him.
Jose Ruano
TheProjectMJ that's sad... this song it make me think about my life...
emmablowguns.
Jose Ruano I guess it has that effect on multiple people!
ken adams
Something about the unique words she uses for sentences gives me a rare feeling. It feels pure, soft and not really like everything else here on Earth. I am a dude, so I can relate to your gramps perhaps