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.
Chemistry
Kimya Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i said how did we end up here? you said happenstance
and i didn't understand, so i made other plans
i ran to the ocean, washed the blood off of my hands
i washed away my tears, washed away ten years
washed away the empty space in-between my ears
and you said, all that i mean is that you and me
didn't meet because of fate but rather probability
you said the schroedinger equation collapsed perfectly
and i said mercy me be patient please
'cause i don't know a goddamn thing about the birds and the bees
i just know what i'm like and i'm like what i see
even though it's hard to see because you just blinded me
and if there's one thing i learned in chemistry
it's that the gain of electrons is reduction, obviously
but you can't see electrons without machines
and you can't tell from my inflection if i'm being mean
and i don't know if i can take you seriously
sometimes elections depend on the absentees
and my family and my friends
and all the little kids that love me make me strong
and no matter how this ends
i know i'll never ever ever be alone
some day i'll be an old lady
with a big dress and an apron
a babushka and bare feet
i'll be out in my garden
on my hands and knees
and i'll be singing a song
that is really sad and sweet
mommy and daddy your baby is grown
and the smell of the cold, wet dirt reminds me of home
These lyrics speak to the confusion and uncertainty that can come with the search for meaning in life and relationships. The opening lines set the stage for this by juxtaposing the vulnerability of a heart worn on a sleeve with the ignorance of a head buried in the sand. The singer asks how they ended up where they are and the other person responds with "happenstance." This is not a satisfying answer to the singer, who makes other plans rather than accepting this explanation. Running to the ocean and washing away the past is a metaphor for trying to start over and forget the confusion of the present moment.
In the second verse, the other person tries to explain that there is no grand plan or fate that brought them together. Instead, they came together through probability. This could be seen as a comforting thought – they didn't have to meet thanks to some pressure from the universe – but the singer is still struggling to make sense of things. The mention of the Schroedinger equation, which deals with quantum mechanics, adds to the sense of uncertainty and the difficulty of finding objective truth. The singer admits that they don't know much about anything ("birds and the bees") but they do know what they see – or at least what they think they see. This line is followed by an acknowledgment that they are blinded by the other person's attractiveness, which further highlights the feeling of being out of control.
The final verse is a departure from the confusion of the earlier verses. Here, the singer finds strength in family and friends, including the "little kids that love me." There is a sense of comfort in knowing that no matter how things end up, they will never be truly alone. The image of an old lady in a garden singing a sad and sweet song feels bittersweet and evokes the passage of time. The final line, "the smell of the cold, wet dirt reminds me of home," could be seen as a metaphor for the inevitability of death and return to the earth.
Some possible themes that emerge from these lyrics include the search for meaning and control, the interplay between fate and chance, and the importance of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
my heart is on my sleeve, my head is in the sand
I am emotionally vulnerable and ignorant of reality.
i said how did we end up here? you said happenstance
I questioned the randomness of our relationship, but you believe it's a coincidence.
and i didn't understand, so i made other plans
Not understanding your response, I chose to pursue other options.
i ran to the ocean, washed the blood off of my hands
I sought personal cleansing to rid myself of emotional baggage.
i washed away my tears, washed away ten years
Through my personal cleansing, I released a decade of emotional burden.
washed away the empty space in-between my ears
Cleansing filled my mind with newfound clarity and understanding.
and you said, all that i mean is that you and me / didn't meet because of fate but rather probability
You clarified that chance, not destiny, brought us together.
and you said the truth's like corn and lies are like weeds / you said the schroedinger equation collapsed perfectly
You described the nature of truth and illusion, and that the quantum world makes sense to you.
and i said mercy me be patient please / 'cause i don't know a goddamn thing about the birds and the bees
I admit to my lack of knowledge and seek your understanding.
i just know what i'm like and i'm like what i see / even though it's hard to see because you just blinded me
I confess to being influenced by appearances, even when it clouds my judgment.
and if there's one thing i learned in chemistry / it's that the gain of electrons is reduction, obviously
I recall a basic lesson about chemistry.
but you can't see electrons without machines / and you can't tell from my inflection if i'm being mean
I highlight the limitations of perception and communication.
and i don't know if i can take you seriously / sometimes elections depend on the absentees
I express doubt in your sincerity and suggest that participation matters.
and my family and my friends / and all the little kids that love me make me strong / and no matter how this ends / i know i'll never ever ever be alone
I draw strength from my community and trust that I won't be alone.
some day i'll be an old lady / with a big dress and an apron / a babushka and bare feet / i'll be out in my garden / on my hands and knees / and i'll be singing a song / that is really sad and sweet
I envision a peaceful future where I can be myself and express my emotions.
mommy and daddy your baby is grown / and the smell of the cold, wet dirt reminds me of home
I address my parents and associate a familiar scent with fond memories of my upbringing.
Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rohit Mishra
My heart is on my sleeve, my head is in the sand
I said how did we end up here? you said happenstance
And i didn't understand, so i made other plans
I ran to the ocean, washed the blood off of my hands
I washed away my tears, washed away ten years
Washed away the empty space in-between my ears
And you said, all that i mean is that you and me
Didn't meet because of fate but rather probability
And you said the truth's like corn and lies are like weeds
You said the schroedinger equation collapsed perfectly
And i said mercy me be patient please
'cause i don't know a goddamn thing about the birds and the bees
I just know what i'm like and i'm like what i see
Even though it's hard to see because you just blinded me
And if there's one thing i learned in chemistry
It's that the gain of electrons is reduction, obviously
But you can't see electrons without machines
And you can't tell from my inflection if i'm being mean
And i don't know if i can take you seriously
Sometimes elections depend on the absentees
And my family and my friends
And all the little kids that love me make me strong
And no matter how this ends
I know i'll never ever ever be alone
Some day i'll be an old lady
With a big dress and an apron
A babushka and bare feet
I'll be out in my garden
On my hands and knees
And i'll be singing a song
That is really sad and sweet
Mommy and daddy your baby is grown
And the smell of the cold, wet dirt reminds me of home
Lily Pierson
I sound crazy, but when I listen to this song my heart just fills up, it's sooo lovely
Riley Brand
It’s been 8 years since you commented this, how are you doing now
Jon Hobler
This beautiful voice has been with me since I was 16. 34 now and my eyes still moisten often when I listen to Kimya.
Rohit Mishra
My heart is on my sleeve, my head is in the sand
I said how did we end up here? you said happenstance
And i didn't understand, so i made other plans
I ran to the ocean, washed the blood off of my hands
I washed away my tears, washed away ten years
Washed away the empty space in-between my ears
And you said, all that i mean is that you and me
Didn't meet because of fate but rather probability
And you said the truth's like corn and lies are like weeds
You said the schroedinger equation collapsed perfectly
And i said mercy me be patient please
'cause i don't know a goddamn thing about the birds and the bees
I just know what i'm like and i'm like what i see
Even though it's hard to see because you just blinded me
And if there's one thing i learned in chemistry
It's that the gain of electrons is reduction, obviously
But you can't see electrons without machines
And you can't tell from my inflection if i'm being mean
And i don't know if i can take you seriously
Sometimes elections depend on the absentees
And my family and my friends
And all the little kids that love me make me strong
And no matter how this ends
I know i'll never ever ever be alone
Some day i'll be an old lady
With a big dress and an apron
A babushka and bare feet
I'll be out in my garden
On my hands and knees
And i'll be singing a song
That is really sad and sweet
Mommy and daddy your baby is grown
And the smell of the cold, wet dirt reminds me of home
nijirosbug
Thank you so much!💜
ollie vs the world
My mom used to sing this to me when I was little, I've known every single word since I was 5.
bethlind100
I_WouldDriveOnToThe_EndWithYou I’m pregnant at the moment and sing this to my bump everyday, I hope she knows the words by the time she is 5 🙂
tw1st3d.trans1st0r
Me too, Haha.
Amanda Kennon
her lyrics are so great and meaningful ♡
sam ʕ⁎̯͡⁎ʔ
love love LOVE being a chemistry and physics major and listening to this, reminds me why i love doing what i do!! i will continue!!