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.
En Gallop
Joanna Newsom Lyrics
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And the halls were lined with the disembodied
And the dustly wings which fell from flesh
Gasplessly
And I go where the trees go
And I walk from a higher education
For now, and for hire
It beats me but I do not know
And it beats me but I do not know
It beats me but I do not know
I do not know
Palaces and storm clouds
And the rough straggly sage, and the smoke
And the way it will all come together
In quietness, and in time
And you laws of property
Oh, you free economy
And you unending afterthoughts,
You could've told me before
Never get so attached to a poem, you
Forget truth that lacks lyricism, and
Never draw so close to the heat, that
You forget that you must eat, oh
The lyrics of "En Gallop" by Joanna Newsom depict a bleak and eerie atmosphere in which the singer is lost and disconnected from their surroundings. The opening lines establish a sense of detachment and otherworldliness, as if the singer is already in a ghostly realm. The use of the word "disembodied" suggests a sense of separation between the body and the soul, as if there is a spiritual disconnect between the singer and the physical world.
The following lines describe a journey through a forest where the singer is seeking knowledge and enlightenment. This journey is not only physical but also symbolic, representing the search for understanding and meaning in life. The reference to "higher education" suggests that the singer is looking beyond traditional institutions to find wisdom.
The final verses of the song introduce political and economic themes, criticizing the capitalist system and those who support it. The phrase "laws of property" implies that the singer is frustrated by the way wealth and power are distributed, and the reference to an "unending afterthought" suggests that those in positions of authority are not doing enough to address these issues. The final lines of the song caution against becoming too immersed in intellectual and artistic pursuits, reminding the listener that they must also attend to more basic needs like sustenance.
Overall, the lyrics of "En Gallop" convey a sense of disorientation and disillusionment, peppered with moments of hope and wonder. The song paints a picture of a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, and encourages the listener to keep searching for meaning in the midst of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
This place is damp and ghostly, I am already gone
The atmosphere is dreary and eerie, and she feels detached and distanced from it.
And the halls were lined with the disembodied
The surroundings were shadowy and flooded with presence of unknown spirits.
And the dustly wings which fell from flesh / Gasplessly
The wings of creatures that lost their life seemed lifeless and hopeless.
And I go where the trees go / And I walk from a higher education / For now, and for hire
She follows the path that nature shows and distances herself from the formal education as it fails to provide her the answers she seeks.
It beats me but I do not know / It beats me but I do not know / It beats me but I do not know / I do not know
She is bewildered about a perplexing problem, but has no solution yet.
Palaces and storm clouds / And the rough straggly sage, and the smoke
She observes the grandeur of palaces, impending storm and harsh wilderness, and the smoke rising from them.
And the way it will all come together / In quietness, and in time
Everything eventually aligns in peace and orderliness with time.
And you laws of property / Oh, you free economy / And you unending afterthoughts, / You could've told me before
She overwhelmed with iniquitous laws that favor the rich, the dubiousness of free trade and the regret of not knowing the consequences before.
Never get so attached to a poem, you / Forget truth that lacks lyricism, and / Never draw so close to the heat, that / You forget that you must eat, oh
She cautions against only clinging to poetic beauty, which sometimes may not contain the truth and not getting too engrossed in one aspect of life, ignoring other essential parts such as basic necessities.
Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.