Dawson became well known as a member of The Moldy Peaches. Since the Moldy Peaches took a break from performing and recording in 2004, Dawson has released a string of lo-fi homemade albums, and toured widely in North America and Europe.
In 2005 the Pharmacy and Matty Pop Chart performed as her backing band on a U.S. tour. In 2006 she collaborated with a number of friends to make a group, Antsy Pants, that recorded and released an album on Plan It X Records.
Dawson's songs are featured in the films The Guatemalan Handshake and Glue, both of which were shown at the Olympia Film Festival in November 2007. There is also some of her music in the cult movie Juno, which is the fastest selling film soundtrack since Saturday Night Fever.
Kimya's "kid's album" Alphabutt was released in 2007, and recording for her new album "Thunder Thighs" is wrapping up as of Fall 2010. The mean time she has spent writing and touring, as well as spending time with her family and singing with the Olympia Free Choir.
12/26
Kimya Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the other one was found drowned in the ocean
Her mom and dad are in their van crushed and bloated
And her husband was thrown from his fishing boat
So please give me a break from all your complaining
About who was mean to you and how your stepdad is a pain
- I care, I swear, but I just can't take it, not today
All I can think about are tsunamis and earthquakes
everything she's ever known is gone, gone, gone
Everyone she's ever loved is gone, gone, gone
The only reason she's alive is
She grabbed a palm frond and held on
And held on
you can call me crazy but it seems to me we could
Have sent more than we spend in one day killing iraqis
To help the hundreds of thousands
Who are injured and diseased
And hungry and homeless and without families
I'm appalled by our government's initial reaction
And the fact that they asked for a verbal retraction
From the folks who called them stingy
They're just covering their assets
Well, they thank their greedy god for wiping out the lower class
we'd have 12/26 tattooed across our foreheads
If something this atrocious happened on our coast instead
Well, a tragedy's a tragedy no matter where it happens
Close your eyes really tight and imagine
That everything you've ever known is gone
And everything you've ever loved is gone
And the only reason you're alive is you were lucky
And you were strong enough to hold on
While you watched your family die
While you watched your family die
While you watched your family die
While you watched your family die
The lyrics to Kimya Dawson's song "12/26" describe the devastating aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed the lives of over 230,000 people. The lyrics paint a heartbreaking picture of a woman who has lost everything- her babies, parents, and husband- as a result of the catastrophe. The line "everything she's ever known is gone" emphasizes the scale of the destruction and loss experienced by those affected by the disaster.
The song reflects on the inadequacies of relief efforts and the government's initial insufficient response to the disaster. It points out the irony of spending vast amounts of money on war while insufficient funds are provided for aid and infrastructure in developing countries. The line "we'd have 12/26 tattooed across our foreheads if something this atrocious happened on our coast instead" highlights the lack of urgency and empathy often demonstrated towards people experiencing disasters in developing countries.
Overall, this song is a powerful commentary on the human toll of natural disasters and the importance of empathy and solidarity in the face of tragedy. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in coping with unimaginable loss and encourages listeners to take action to support relief efforts.
Line by Line Meaning
One of her babies is rotting in the sun
One of her children has died and their body is decomposing in the hot sun
And the other one was found drowned in the ocean
Her other child has drowned in the ocean and their body has been discovered
Her mom and dad are in their van crushed and bloated
Her parents were in their vehicle which has been severely damaged, causing their bodies to swell and bloat
And her husband was thrown from his fishing boat
Her spouse has been thrown from their boat while fishing and their fate is unknown
So please give me a break from all your complaining
Please refrain from complaining as it seems insignificant compared to the tragedy that has occurred
About who was mean to you and how your stepdad is a pain
Your personal problems and grievances seem trivial in light of the devastating event
I care, I swear, but I just can't take it, not today
Although I care and empathize with your issues, I am overwhelmed and cannot handle any more emotional weight at the moment
All I can think about are tsunamis and earthquakes
My mind is consumed by thoughts of natural disasters and their catastrophic effects
everything she's ever known is gone, gone, gone
Her entire life has been taken away and she has nothing left
Everyone she's ever loved is gone, gone, gone
All of the people she has loved and cared for have been lost
The only reason she's alive is
The only thing that kept her alive was
She grabbed a palm frond and held on
She held onto a palm frond to save herself
you can call me crazy but it seems to me we could
You may think I'm crazy, but I believe we could
Have sent more than we spend in one day killing iraqis
Instead of spending enormous sums on military operations, we could use that money to help others in need
To help the hundreds of thousands
To aid the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragedy
Who are injured and diseased
Those who have suffered physical and health-related impacts
And hungry and homeless and without families
People who are in dire need, without food, shelter or loved ones
I'm appalled by our government's initial reaction
I am disgusted by the initial response of our government
And the fact that they asked for a verbal retraction
It is outrageous that our government demanded an apology for being criticized
From the folks who called them stingy
From those who accused them of being selfish and unhelpful
They're just covering their assets
They are simply protecting themselves
Well, they thank their greedy god for wiping out the lower class
The privileged and wealthy may rejoice in the disaster as it has eliminated the poor and disadvantaged
we'd have 12/26 tattooed across our foreheads
If this tragedy had occurred on our coast, we would be forever marked by its significance
If something this atrocious happened on our coast instead
If a catastrophic event like this occurred where we live
Well, a tragedy's a tragedy no matter where it happens
No matter where a disaster takes place, it is a terrible and heartbreaking event
Close your eyes really tight and imagine
Try to picture in your mind
That everything you've ever known is gone
All the people and places that have been familiar in your life are vanished
And everything you've ever loved is gone
All of the things and people that you have held dear are now lost
And the only reason you're alive is you were lucky
The sole reason you still live is by a stroke of luck
And you were strong enough to hold on
You showed resilience by enduring the unbearable circumstances
While you watched your family die
As you witnessed the death of your loved ones
While you watched your family die
As you witnessed the death of your loved ones
While you watched your family die
As you witnessed the death of your loved ones
While you watched your family die
As you witnessed the death of your loved ones
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind