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.
Anthrax
Kimya Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is red and little kids are running, screaming in the street
I tried to run and save them but I had molasses feet
I keep having nightmares and I'm scared to go to sleep
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
In Montreal I got so mad, someone broke into the van
Stole my guitar and Aaron's bag
Then we turned on CNN, watched the towers fall again
And realized that our lives aren't so bad
This is just a test take it with love and you will pass
You will be rewarded if you do your very best
Nothing ever goes as planned so don't take anything for granted
If you do the world will kick your ass
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe in
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe that shit in
An angel named Gabriel is watching over you
He was a friend mistreated now he's dead so say you're sorry to him
When you say your prayers tonight if you make amends
The gates to heaven here on earth will open up again
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
You are my friend
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
In Kimya Dawson's song "Anthrax," the lyrics depict a world where fear and violence have become normal. The opening line refers to a recurring nightmare where the singer opens an envelope with anthrax in it. The following lines describe the chaos and destruction that appear in her dream, with red skies and children running and screaming in terror. Despite trying to help, the singer is unable to move quickly, describing her feet as "molasses." The song then shifts to a hopeful tone, with the singer promising to help a friend in need and describing how important their work is. The lyrics continue with references to real-life events, such as the 9/11 attacks, adding to the bleak and uncertain atmosphere.
The chorus of "If you fall in I'll jump down/And touch your face while we're both sinking" reveals a closeness and loyalty between the singer and her friend, as they face together the turmoil of their world. The chorus also features the phrase "stinking thinking," which refers to negative thought patterns that can lead to destructive behavior. The song ends with a message of hope, suggesting that if people make amends and are kind to others, they can find redemption.
Overall, "Anthrax" is a commentary on the state of the world and the toll that fear, violence, and uncertainty can take on individuals. The song offers a message of hope and resilience, encouraging listeners to support one another and work towards a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
There's anthrax in the envelope I opened in my dream
I dreamt of opening an envelope containing anthrax
The sky is red and little kids are running, screaming in the street
There's a chaos outside with kids running and screaming while the sky is red
I tried to run and save them but I had molasses feet
I was unable to save the kids as my feet were moving slowly like molasses
I keep having nightmares and I'm scared to go to sleep
I'm afraid to fall asleep because of these recurring nightmares
If you fall in I'll jump down
And touch your face while we're both sinking
(stinking thinking) we won't drown
You are my friend
And what we're doing's too important
For our lives to end quite yet
I'll risk my life to save you, my friend. What we're doing is very important and we can't afford to finish it yet
In Montreal I got so mad, someone broke into the van
Stole my guitar and Aaron's bag
Then we turned on CNN, watched the towers fall again
And realized that our lives aren't so bad
I got angry when someone broke into our van in Montreal and stole our things. We later saw the 9/11 attacks on CNN and realized that our lives could be worse
This is just a test take it with love and you will pass
You will be rewarded if you do your very best
Nothing ever goes as planned so don't take anything for granted
If you do the world will kick your ass
Consider everything a test and approach it with love, then you'll succeed and be rewarded. Don't take anything for granted because life has its own unexpected plans and if you do, you'll face consequences
The air is filled with computers and carpets
Skin and bones and telephones and file cabinets
Coke machines, firemen, landing gear, and cement
They say that it's okay but I say don't breathe in
The air is filled with various harmful things like computers, carpets, bones, and more. Even if people say it's okay, I still warn you not to breathe in that air
An angel named Gabriel is watching over you
He was a friend mistreated now he's dead so say you're sorry to him
When you say your prayers tonight if you make amends
The gates to heaven here on earth will open up again
An angel named Gabriel is your guardian watching over you. He was mistreated and is now dead, so you should apologize to him. If you do so and make amends, the gates to heaven will open up again
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrskimyadawson
That's a recording of The Moldy Peaches pre-show chant "One good turn deserves another", from the tour we were on when my guitar got stolen, when Aaron was in the band. The acoustic version of this song was recorded before Aaron died. I recorded this version after he died as a tribute to a friend that I bonded with over the love of a good powerballad.
@gracem.6979
Kimya Dawson I'm sorry to hear that, this song helps me cope with what demons are inside of me. I listen to it when I am troubled and questioning why I'm even here.
@tyler3196
So powerful. I always assumed it was some buddhist chant. The real story, in this cast, as is often the case, colors things so more vividly.
@henrychinaski2027
i sure hope youre not the real kimya, cos i always thought she'd be a more elegant writer.
@LorienVidal
Kimya, I just saw Meet Me in the Bathroom on my flight home from Puerto Rico (visiting my grandma) and was strangely blindsided by the inclusion of a lot of 9/11 images. It was strange in that I didn't consider that this docufilm would touch on that which touched ALL OF US who lived in NYC at that time. I was working downtown on that day; 2 blocks from the Spring Street station at 315 Hudson Street. This song played at the point in the 9/11 portion of the movie where I was just about done crying and was shaking my head the whole time (in agreement with your lyrics). It reminded me of the feeling of walking through Union Square Park amongst all the candles and "Missing" posters. Hugs and thank you.
@Chailes1
When I first heard this song, I had already listened to some of her other songs, and I liked them. I thought they were cute and polite. Then I heard this song and My life was altered. For an emotionally turned off teenager I thought back to that day and all of the emotions I had then and I shivered with chills. I couldnt stop wanting to go back and then I remembered who I am now and I returned. Now I shiver whenever I hear this song and I remember how I became me today. It, this song, fixes me.
@DeedKleptomaniac
This song always makes me teary-eyed because I heard right before I got a call that my boyfriend was in a really terrible accident. "This is just a test, take it with love and you will pass." I did, and he's fine today after spending 6 weeks in the hospital over a year ago. Oh, and we are still together and stronger than ever. "Don't take anything for granted" This song got me through all that shit. :)
@AgnesANutter
I've had this song on my ipod atleast a year and I'm just now falling in love with it. I've not heard the other version much but this one...this one I adore.
@user-kx7hr9dj1w
Discovered Kimya some time ago, and that's charming voice, I must say. I wish if my girlfriend has such a voice.
@markdodson1238
need a girlfriend first.