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.
Tire Swing
Kimya Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pretty sure you have a new girlfriend
It's not as if I don't like you
It just makes me sad whenever I see it
'Cause I like to be gone most of the time
And you like to be home most of the time
If I stay in one place I lose my mind
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
I had a dream that I had to drive to Madison
To deliver a painting for some silly reason
I took a wrong turn and ended up in Michigan
A pallbearer aboard took me to the giant tire swing
Gave me a push and he started singing
I sang along while I was swinging
The sound of our voices made us forget everything
That had ever hurt our feelings
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
Now I'm home for less than twenty four hours
That's hardly time to take a shower
Hug my family and take your picture off the wall
Check my email, write a song and make a few phone calls
Before it's time to leave again
I got one hand on the steering wheel, one waving out the window
If I'm a spinster for the rest of my life
My arms will keep me warm on cold and lonely nights
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
In Kimya Dawson's song "Tire Swing", the singer is reminiscing about a past relationship with someone who has moved on to a new girlfriend. While the singer doesn't dislike the person, seeing them with someone else makes them sad. The lyrics reveal that the singer and their ex had very different lifestyles - the singer likes to travel and be on the move, while their ex prefers to stay home. The singer acknowledges that they can be difficult to be with because of their wanderlust. The chorus of the song highlights the different personalities and desires of the singer's past loves - Joey loves to ride bikes, Toby is someone the singer gets along with, and Scotty trusts the singer's recommendations.
The song takes a dreamlike turn when the singer describes a dream they had about getting lost and ending up on a giant tire swing. This moment becomes a cathartic release for the singer and their companion as they sing while swinging, forgetting all of the "hurt [their] feelings". The song ends with the singer reflecting on their current situation, as they focus on fleeting moments of home before leaving again. The lyrics suggest that the singer is content being on their own, and they find comfort in their own arms on "cold and lonely nights".
Line by Line Meaning
I took the Polaroid down in my room
I removed the picture of us from my room
I'm pretty sure you have a new girlfriend
I think you have moved on to someone else
It's not as if I don't like you
I don't hate you or anything
It just makes me sad whenever I see it
Seeing you with someone else makes me upset
'Cause I like to be gone most of the time
I prefer to travel and not stay in one place
And you like to be home most of the time
You prefer to stay in one place
If I stay in one place I lose my mind
I can't handle staying in one place for too long
I'm a pretty impossible lady to be with
It's hard to be in a relationship with me
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
Joey loves riding bikes
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
I have never disliked someone named Toby
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Scotty enjoyed reading the books I suggested
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
I wouldn't be upset if Scotty didn't like the books I suggested
I had a dream that I had to drive to Madison
I dreamt I had to go to Madison for some reason
To deliver a painting for some silly reason
I had to deliver a painting for a seemingly unimportant reason
I took a wrong turn and ended up in Michigan
I made a mistake and ended up in a different state
A pallbearer aboard took me to the giant tire swing
I met someone on the way who showed me a huge tire swing
Gave me a push and he started singing
He gave me a push on the tire swing and started singing
I sang along while I was swinging
I joined in and sang while on the tire swing
The sound of our voices made us forget everything
Our singing helped us forget our worries
That had ever hurt our feelings
Anything that had ever upset us
Now I'm home for less than twenty four hours
I'm only home for less than a day
That's hardly time to take a shower
I don't have enough time to take a shower
Hug my family and take your picture off the wall
I spend time with my family and remove your picture from my wall
Check my email, write a song and make a few phone calls
I check my email, write music, and make a few calls
Before it's time to leave again
Before I have to travel again
I got one hand on the steering wheel, one waving out the window
I drive while waving out the window
If I'm a spinster for the rest of my life
If I never get married
My arms will keep me warm on cold and lonely nights
I can comfort myself on lonely nights by hugging myself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@viandhiaa820
I took the Polaroid down in my room
I'm pretty sure you have a new girlfriend
It's not as if I don't like you
It just makes me sad whenever I see it
'Cause I like to be gone most of the time
And you like to be home most of the time
If I stay in one place I lose my mind
I'm a pretty impossible lady to be with
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
I had a dream that I had to drive to Madison
To deliver a painting for some silly reason
I took a wrong turn and ended up in Michigan
A pallbearer aboard took me to the giant tire swing
Gave me a push and he started singing
I sang along while I was swinging
The sound of our voices made us forget everything
That had ever hurt our feelings
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
Now I'm home for less than twenty four hours
That's hardly time to take a shower
Hug my family and take your picture off the wall
Check my email, write a song and make a few phone calls
Before it's time to leave again
I got one hand on the steering wheel, one waving out the window
If I'm a spinster for the rest of my life
My arms will keep me warm on cold and lonely nights
Joey never met a bike that he didn't wanna ride
And I never met a Toby that I didn't like
Scotty liked all of the books that I recommended
Even if he didn't, I wouldn't be offended
@cybernoob101
all the juno songs make me tear up... i dont know why
@sofiasoler5031
omg same feeling bro
@sucisarianto2953
me too
@rieke5538
Bro this is real
@odotk
bro here tooo
@Julielauzonn
Anthony Gorman daaaamn I’m so glad I’m not alone lol
@alize0623
This is one of those movies I have to see once a year
@dakotas7643
alize0623 Ikr!
@romeo23117
I see your mom once a year
@celenelove783
Factsss